DRAFT APPROVED BY FOURTH COMMITTEE CALLS FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES
Press Release
GA/SPD/115
DRAFT APPROVED BY FOURTH COMMITTEE CALLS FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES
19971104 The General Assembly would call on the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes to foster the people's awareness of their electoral options in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, under a draft resolution approved this afternoon by the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).The draft resolution, which was approved without a vote as orally revised, also addresses the specific situation in the following 12 Non-Self- Governing Territories: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Tokelau, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would ask the administering Powers to protect the Territories against environmental degradation and to counter problems relating to drug trafficking, money laundering and other crimes. Priority would be given to strengthening and diversifying the Territories' economies.
Also this afternoon, the Committee continued its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. Among those addressing the subject, the representative of Iran stressed the importance of the exchange of data, equitable sharing of benefits and the non-discriminatory transfer of space-related technologies in sharing the benefits of space. Iran also welcomed consideration of a legal regime on the issue of space debris.
Statements on the peaceful uses of outer space were also made by the representatives of Japan, Ecuador, Nigeria and Kazakhstan. The oral revisions to the decolonization draft were introduced by the representative of Syria, as Rapporteur of the Special Committee on decolonization. The United States spoke in explanation of position.
The Fourth Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. tomorrow, 5 November, to continue its consideration of the peaceful uses of outer space.
GASPD115
Committee Work Programme
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. It was also expected to take action on omnibus draft resolution approved by the Special Committee on decolonization on the situation in 12 Non-Self-Governing Territories: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands and United States Virgin Islands.
By the first part of that omnibus draft resolution (document A/52/23, Part VI and Corr. 1, chap. X, para. 20), the Assembly would call on the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes to foster the people's awareness of their electoral options. The administering Powers would be asked to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes of the people regarding their future political status and to invite United Nations visiting missions to monitor the Territories. The administering Powers would also be asked to protect the Territories against environmental degradation and to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money laundering and other crimes. Priority would be given to strengthening and diversifying the Territories' economies.
The second part of the draft resolution addresses the specific conditions in each Territory.
By the section of the draft on American Samoa, the administering Power would be called upon to assist the territorial government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild management capabilities.
By the section on Anguilla, the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies would be called on to continue to assist the Territory in its social and economic development.
Regarding Bermuda, the administering Power would be called on to elaborate, in consultation with the territorial government, development programmes specifically intended to alleviate the economic, social and environmental consequences of the closure of certain military bases and installations in the Territory.
Under the section on the British Virgin Islands, the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions would be asked to continue providing development assistance, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors.
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With respect to the Cayman Islands, the administering Power and the territorial government would be called upon to continue cooperating to counter problems related to money laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking. Continued facilitation of the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the population, particularly at the decision-making level, would also be requested.
Regarding Guam, the draft's provisions would ask the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial government, to continue the orderly transfer of land to the people of the Territory and to take necessary steps to safeguard property rights. The administering Power would be asked to cooperate in establishing programmes intended to promote the sustainable development of economic programmes by the people of Guam, including the Chamorro people. The administering Power would be asked to recognize the political rights, as well as the cultural and ethnic identity, of the Chamorro people, and to respond to concerns about the immigration issue.
By the section on Montserrat, the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, would be called upon to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in order to alleviate the consequences of the recent series of volcanic eruptions.
With respect to Pitcairn, the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations would be asked to continue to support the efforts of the territorial government to address the socio-economic development of the Territory.
By the section on St. Helena, the administering Power would be asked to conduct a constitutional review of the Territory and to continue, in cooperation with relevant regional and international organizations, to address the socio-economic development of the Territory.
The Assembly would also welcome the assurances of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wish of its people with regard to their future status.
Also by the draft, the administering Power of the Turks and Caicos Islands and other relevant regional and international organizations, would be called upon to continue providing assistance for the improvement of social and economic conditions in the Territory. The administering Power would be further called upon to cooperate with the territorial government to counter problems related to money laundering, smuggling of funds and related crimes, including the traffic of illicit drugs.
Regarding the United States Virgin Islands, the administering Power would be asked to continue to assist the territorial government in its political, economic and social goals. It would also be asked to facilitate
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the Territory's participation in organizations, especially the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community.
Peaceful uses of Outer Space
MEHDI DANESH-YAZDI (Iran) said that exchange of data, equitable sharing of benefits and the non-discriminatory transfer of related technologies were among activities that could enhance internatioal cooperation in the use of space benefits. Transparency and other confidence-building measures were vitally important for preventing an arms race and for securing peace in outer space, which was the common heritage of mankind. It should not be considered to be under the domination or trusteeship of a few States.
He said the United Nations Space Applications Programme could bring many practical benefits of space science and technology to developing countries on a non-discriminatory basis. Iran attached great importance to the expansion of regional activities through the establishment of relevant networks in each region.
The rapid evolution of technology in recent years highlighted the need for legal instruments to secure maximum use of space for the benefit of present and future generations. The question of space environment was a matter of special concern, particularly with respect to the complicated problem of space debris. Progress in the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in considering the issue of space debris was welcome; the Legal Subcommittee should also proceed to consider the relevant legal regime.
MASAHIRO KOHARA (Japan) said that promoting the peaceful uses of outer space would benefit many countries. Japan welcomed the progress that had been made in preparing for the third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III). A particularly welcome aspect of the conference would be its consideration of ways of responding to the needs of both developing and developed countries. It was his Government's hope that genuine international cooperation would be realized in the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
SANTIAGO APUNTE (Ecuador) said his delegation would join other States in presenting a draft resolution on mitigating the effects of the "El Nino" phenomenon. The development of space technology would be helpful in that process, particularly through access to satellite technology. Remote sensing data should be made available to all countries at a reasonable cost. Addressing the question of the geostationary orbit, he said that a specific legal regime should be established regarding the definition and delimitation of outer space.
ISAAC E. AYEWAH (Nigeria) said the United Nations Space Applications Programme had been given very important responsibilities, including the development of indigenous capability. Nigeria welcomed its efforts in
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supporting the initiative to establish regional centres for space science and technology education in affiliation with the United Nations. Steady progress had been made towards the launching in Nigeria of the United Nations Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for English-speaking African countries. Facilities were already in place at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.
He drew attention to Nigeria's efforts to maximize the spin-off benefits of space technology. Nigeria was devoting enormous resources to capacity- building, and national universities were now offering post-graduate courses in meteorology, remote sensing and geodesic studies. Since 1990, the Institute of Geo Sciences and Space Technology of the River State University of Technology, Port Harcourt, had an ongoing programme in satellite geodesy and geodynamics research. It had also collaborated with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
AKMARAL KH. ARYSTANBEKOVA (Kazakhstan) said that outer space specialists in her country had maintained working contacts with the international space centres of the United States and India and had participated in theoretical and practical conferences on aerospace activity in the Russian Federation, France and Pakistan. The work of the Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) should be intensified and ways sought to make practical use of the achievements of space science and technology for environmental purposes, she said. The results of environmental research should be widely disseminated among interested States.
"We are confident that the achievements of space science and technology have enormous practical significance for the entire international community in the social, economic and environmental fields", she said. In order to maintain environmental security, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation were jointly studying the question of devising a theoretical and practical programme aimed at decreasing the harmful impacts of space activity on the natural environment.
Draft Resolution on Decolonization
FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria), Rapporteur of the Special Committee on decolonization, said the omnibus draft contained some discrepancies with respect to the consensus text adopted by the General Assembly on 27 March (document A/RES/51/224). He, therefore, proposed the following revisions. In part A of the draft resolution:
The twentieth preambular paragraph notes that the Special Committee held a Caribbean Regional Seminar in May "to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories, as well as governments and organizations in the region, in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories". The reference to the representatives of the Territories would be deleted.
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The twenty-first preambular paragraph states that "it is important for the Committee to be apprised by the administering Powers, and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories". The reference to the representatives of the Territories would be deleted.
The twenty-second preambular paragraph reads, in part: "Mindful also in this connection that the holding of regional seminars ... is a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate ...". That part would be revised to read as follows: "Mindful also in this connection that the Special Committee regards the holding of regional seminars ... as a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate ...".
The opening of operative paragraph 3 reads as follows: "3. Requests the administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter and other updated information and reports, ...". The word "updated" would be deleted.
The Rapporteur also proposed revisions to part B of the omnibus draft resolution. Specifically, two preambular paragraphs would be inserted to begin the section concerning American Samoa, as follows:
"Noting the report by the administering Power that most American Samoan leaders express satisfaction with the island's present relationship with the United States of America,
"Noting also the non-participation of representatives of the people of American Samoa in the last two regional seminars,".
The opening of the new third preambular paragraph (formerly the first preambular paragraph) would thus be changed from "Noting ..." to "Noting further".
DAVID SCOTT (United States), speaking in explanation of position, said the United States was satisfied with the amount of it communication with the Special Committee since the 27 October meeting of the Fourth Committee. His country supported the revisions just presented and looked forward to further dialogue with the Special Committee.
The draft resolution was approved without a vote, as orally revised.
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