SPECIAL DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE TO HOLD CARIBBEAN REGIONAL SEMINAR ON NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES FROM 25 TO 27 MAY
Press Release
GA/COL/2998
SPECIAL DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE TO HOLD CARIBBEAN REGIONAL SEMINAR ON NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES FROM 25 TO 27 MAY
19990519 NEW YORK, 19 May -- The Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, also known as the Special Committee of 24, will hold a Caribbean Regional Seminar in Castries, St. Lucia, from 25 to 27 May. It will focus on the constitutional status, the political advancement and the social and economic development of nearly 2 million people in the remaining 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories*. The seminar is taking place within the framework of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (1990-2000), and in accordance with the Plan of Action adopted under General Assembly resolutions 46/181 and 53/68. It is being hosted by the Government of St. Lucia.Peter D. Donigi, the Permanent Representative of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations and the Chairman of the Special Committee, will preside over the seminar. He will be assisted by six members of the Special Committee -- Chile, Cuba, Iraq, Mali, Russian Federation and Syria, who are participating in the seminar.
The Special Committee has invited the representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Administering Powers, Member States, regional organizations, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, experts, specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations, to participate in the discussions at the seminar. The participants are expected to address questions and issues relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, including (i) the meaning of "non-self-governing" under the laws of each Administering Power as applied in their respective territories; (ii) the political, economic, social and educational development in the Non-Self- Governing Territories and the role of United Nations Specialized Agencies; (iii) the relationship of Trust Territories and Non-Self-Governing Territories under Article 73 and Chapter XII of the United Nations Charter and the impact on the mandate of the Special Committee; and (iv) the nature and effects of measures that impact on offshore banking in the Non-Self-Governing Territories.
The discussions will contribute to the formulation of concrete proposals for measures that can be taken by the Special Committee, the Administering Powers and the specialized agencies which would enable the peoples of these
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territories to exercise their right to choose their own political future. The conclusions or recommendations of the seminar will also assist the Special Committee of 24 in carrying out the critical review it is conducting of its own work.
The opening of the seminar will coincide with the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Colonial Territories Fighting for Freedom and Human Rights, which will also be commemorated at the seminar.
*Western Sahara in Africa; American Samoa (United States), East Timor (Portugal), Guam (United States), New Caledonia (France), Pitcairn (United Kingdom), and Tokelau (New Zealand) in Asia and the Pacific; Anguilla (United Kingdom), Bermuda (United Kingdom), British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom), Cayman Islands (United Kingdom), Falkland Islands/Malvinas (United Kingdom), Gibraltar (United Kingdom), Montserrat (United Kingdom), St. Helena (United Kingdom), Turks and Caicos Islands (United Kingdom), and United States Virgin Islands (United States) in the Atlantic.
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