The Secretary-General thanked the Government and people of Ecuador for having hosted the last two annual regional seminars on decolonization, and reaffirmed the Secretariat’s readiness to assist the Special Committee in carrying out its mandate.

The Secretary-General encouraged the Special Committee to devise effective approaches to mobilize the political will indispensable to advance the decolonization agenda, and to find ways to ensure the involvement of all concerned, including the Special Committee, administering Powers and Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Among other issues, the Secretary-General noted the importance the Special Committee attaches to the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). In that regard, he reiterated that his good offices remain available if both parties engage.