AFAPREDESA
The Association for the Families of Saharawi Prisoners and the Disappeared
PRAGMATIC STEPS NEEDED TO CLOSE COLONIAL CHAPTER IN HUMAN AFFAIRS - says Deputy Secretary-General to Decolonization Commitee of the United Nations
Asha-Rose Migiro’s
remarks at the opening of the 2007 session of the Special Committee on decolonization
in New York, 22 February:
The decolonization movement is one with which the United Nations is closely identified, and indeed was part of the Organization’s founding mission.
That quest gained clear momentum in the early 1960s, with the adoption of
the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples, and the establishment of this Special Committee.
Four decades later, decolonization is a United Nations success story, albeit
an unfinished one.
Today, there are still 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories, in Africa,
Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Thus, there clearly
remains work to do.
The United Nations and the international community have a responsibility
to bring about a speedy, successful and sustainable solution for the total
eradication of colonialism. And, if we are to close this chapter in human
affairs, we need to focus on pragmatic steps.
One of the most promising opportunities for progress in the year ahead is
the Pacific Territory of Tokelau. Last February, as you know, Tokelau held
a referendum on a measure designed to ensure its attainment of self-government
in free association with New Zealand, the administering Power. That referendum
did not result in the two-thirds majority needed to effect a change in status.
Nevertheless, New Zealand and Tokelau subsequently agreed to move the process
forward by holding another referendum in November of this year. This demonstrates
the indispensability of political will on the part of the administering
Power.
I know you share my hope that the example of Tokelau, and the parties’
renewed efforts to hold a referendum, will inspire other administering Powers
and Territories to move towards self-determination for the peoples in the
Territories concerned. Needless to say, the cooperation of the administering
Powers will be crucial. They must ensure that the views of the peoples of
these Territories are heard. They should take due account of the political
aspirations of the peoples, and assist them in the progressive development
of their free political institutions. Towards that end, I urge all administering
Powers to adopt a constructive attitude. They should do their utmost to
muster the political will necessary for implementing the principles enshrined
in the UN Charter.
I commend the Special Committee for its important work and for its steadfast
commitment to the Declaration and the UN Charter. As you begin your new
session, let me assure you that we in the Secretariat will continue to fully
support your efforts.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/dsgsm300.doc.htm