FOURTH COMMITTEE, ACTING ON DECOLONIZATION ISSUES, APPROVES EIGHT DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AND TWO DRAFT DECISIONS

Press Release
GA/SPD/161

FOURTH COMMITTEE, ACTING ON DECOLONIZATION ISSUES, APPROVES EIGHT DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AND TWO DRAFT DECISIONS

Eight draft resolutions and two draft decisions on decolonization issues were approved by the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this morning.

By a recorded vote of 97 in favour, to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (France, Monaco, United Kingdom), the Committee approved a draft resolution on economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories. (For details of the voting, see Annex III.) By the terms of that draft, the General Assembly would reaffirm the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of Non-Self-Governing Territories, as well as the rights of their peoples over their natural resources.

In a separate recorded vote related to the same text, the proposed deletion of an operative paragraph relating to "damaging exploitation of and plundering" of the marine and other natural resources of the Non- Self-Governing Territories was retained by a vote of 52 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom and United States), with 38 abstentions (Annex II).

The Committee then approved by a recorded vote of 61 in favour to 40 against, with 1 abstention (Belarus) a draft decision on military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration. By that text, the General Assembly would deplore the continued alienation of land in colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories, particularly in the small island Territories of the Pacific and Caribbean regions, for military purposes (Annex IV).

By the terms of a draft resolution on information from Non-Self- Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73e, which the Committee approved by a vote of 84 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (France, Israel, Monaco, United Kingdom, United States) (Annex I), the General Assembly would request the administering Powers concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article

Fourth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SPD/161 7th Meeting (AM) 8 October 1999

73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned.

A draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies was approved by 67 votes in favour, to none against, with 39 abstentions (Annex V). Acting without a vote, the Committee also approved a draft resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Also without a vote, the Committee approved a draft decision on the question of Gibraltar, and draft resolutions on Western Sahara, New Caledonia, (as orally revised), Tokelau, as well as an omnibus resolution on the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.

Statements in explanation of position were made by the representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Finland (on behalf of the European Union and associated States) and Saint Lucia.

Speaking on points of order were the representatives of Pakistan and India. The representatives of Nepal, Côte d’Ivoire, Philippines, Lithuania, Cambodia, Venezuela, Botswana, Greece, Russian Federation, Georgia, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Grenada, Uganda, Burundi and Benin spoke to make known their voting preference regarding the text on information.

The representative of Syria introduced amendments to the draft on New Caledonia. The representatives of Papua New Guinea and Cuba also spoke.

The Secretary of the Committee, Mohammed Sattar, addressed the question of budget implications of proposed drafts.

The Fourth Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. on Monday, 11 October, to start consideration of the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.

Committee Work Programme

The Fourth Committee met this morning to conclude its consideration of decolonization issues. It had before it eight draft resolutions and two draft decisions on related matters.

By the terms of a draft resolution on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter, (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII), the General Assembly would request the administering Powers concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned. Also, by that draft, the Secretary-General would be requested to continue to ensure that adequate information was drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of working papers relating to the Territories concerned.

According to a draft resolution on economic and other activities which affect the interests of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document 54/23, Part III, chap. XIII), the General Assembly would reaffirm the right of the peoples of Non- Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on decolonization. The Assembly would also reaffirm the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of Non-Self-Governing Territories, as well as the rights of their peoples over their natural resources.

By a draf decision on military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration (document A/54/23 Part III, chap. XIII), the General Assembly would deplore the continued alienation of land in colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories, particularly in the small island Territories of the Pacific and Caribbean regions, for military purposes. The large-scale utilization of the local resources for that purpose could adversely affect the economic development of the Territories concerned. The Assembly would reiterate that the colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories and adjacent areas should not be used for nuclear testing, dumping of nuclear wastes or deployment of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The Assembly would urge the administering Powers concerned to continue to take all necessary measures not to involve those Territories in offensive acts or interference against other States.

A draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII) would have the Assembly request those bodies to provide information on environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; the impact of natural disasters, beach and coastal erosion and drought on those Territories; ways to assist the Territories in fighting drug trafficking, money laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; and the illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories.

By other terms of that text, the Assembly would request the administering Powers to facilitate the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other United Nations organizations so that the Territories could benefit from the activities of those bodies.

According to a draft resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/C.4/54/L.5), the General Assembly would express its appreciation to those States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories. It would invite all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to all inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students.

Also by that text, the Assembly would urge the administering Powers to take measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States, and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers. The Secretary-General would be requested to report to the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Argentina, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Philippines, Singapore and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Also by that text, the Assembly would urge the administering Powers to take measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers. The Secretary-General would be requested to report to the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Argentina, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Philippines, Singapore and the United Republic of Tanzania.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A.C.4/54/L.3) submitted by the Chairman, the General Assembly would again note with satisfaction the agreements reached between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO Front) for the implementation of the Settlement Plan during their private direct talks under the auspices of James Baker III, Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General, and would urge the parties to implement those agreements fully and in good faith.

Also by the text, the Assembly would urge the two parties to implement faithfully and loyally the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters, the appeals process and the revised implementation timetable. The parties would be urged to continue their cooperation with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, as well as with his Special Representative, and to refrain from undertaking anything that would undermine the implementation of the Settlement Plan and the agreements reached for its implementation.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would reiterate its support for further efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and supervision by the United Nations, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU), of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara that is impartial and free of all constraints, in conformity with Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council approved the Settlement Plan for Western Sahara.

By the terms of a draft decision submitted by the Chairman on the question of Gibraltar (document A/C.4/54/L.4), the General Assembly would stipulate, among other things, that the establishment of a negotiating process aimed at overcoming all the differences between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Spain over Gibraltar and at promoting cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis on economic, cultural, touristic, aviation, military and environmental matters. Both sides accept that the issues of sovereignty will be discussed in that process. The British Government will fully maintain its commitment to honour the wishes of the people of Gibraltar as set out in the preamble of the 1969 Constitution.

According to the text, the Assembly would take note of the fact that, as part of that process, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Spain and the United Kingdom hold annual meetings alternately in each capital, the most recent of which took place in London on 10 December 1997. Both Governments would be urged to continue their negotiations with the object of reaching a definitive solution to the problem of Gibraltar in the light of General Assembly resolutions and in the spirit of the United Nations Charter.

By a draft resolution on New Caledonia (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII), the Assembly would urge all parties involved, in the interest of all the people of that Territory and building on the positive outcome of the review of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords, to maintain their dialogue in a spirit of harmony. The Assembly would invite all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self- determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians according to the letter and spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords, which are based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny.

A draft resolution on Tokelau (document A/543/23, Part III, chap. XIII) would have the General Assembly acknowledge that Territory’s need for reassurance, given that local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self- determination, and the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau’s external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance. The Assembly would welcome New Zealand’s assurances that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of its people with regard to their future status.

Also before the Committee was a two-part omnibus draft resolution on the questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII). In the draft's first part, the General Assembly would call upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the respective territorial governments, to continue to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money laundering and other offences. The Assembly would also call upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate programmes of political education in the Territories in order to foster awareness among the people of their right to self-determination.

The second part of the resolution deals with specific conditions in each Territory. By the terms of the draft on American Samoa, the General Assembly would call upon the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status.

By the terms of the draft on Anguilla, the Assembly would request the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial government, ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people of the Territory regarding their future political status.

Regarding Bermuda, the Assembly would request the administering Power to elaborate, in consultation with the territorial government, programmes of development specifically intended to alleviate the economic, social and environmental consequences of the closure of certain military bases and installations in the Territory.

Under the terms of the draft regarding the British Virgin Islands, the Assembly would request the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide assistance to the Territory for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of he Territory to external factors.

The draft on the Cayman Islands would have the Assembly call upon the administering Power and the territorial government to cooperate in countering problems related to money laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking. The administering Power, in consultation with the territorial government, would also be requested to continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level.

By the terms of the draft on Montserrat, the General Assembly would call upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption.

By the terms of the draft on Pitcairn, the Assembly would request the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status. The administering Power would also be requested to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the Territory's population.

The draft on Saint Helena would have the Assembly request the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial government to address the socio-economic development of the Territory.

By the draft on the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Assembly would call upon the administering Power and the territorial government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking. The administering Power would also be invited to take fully into account the wishes and interests of the government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the governance of the Territory.

The draft on the United States Virgin Islands would have the General Assembly request the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It would also welcome the conclusions of the negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial government on the question of Water Island.

By the terms of the draft on the question of Guam, the General Assembly would call upon the administering Power to cooperate with Guam's Commission on Decolonization for the Implementation and Exercise of Chamorro Self-Determination in order to facilitate Guam's decolonization and to keep the Secretary-General informed of progress to that end. The administering Power would also be asked to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial government with regard to the immigration issue.

Also by that draft, the Assembly would request the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises by the Chamorro people of Guam. The administering Power would also be asked to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities.

Action on Texts Before Committee

The Committee first took up the draft resolution on Information from Non- Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations (document A/54/23, Part III).

The representative of the United States said his delegation would abstain on the draft, as it had in the past, because by its text, the General Assembly determined when the peoples of the Territory had achieved sufficient level of self- government. It was up to the administering Power and the people of the Territory to make an ultimate decision regarding when its obligations under article 73 e of the Charter had been fulfilled.

The Committee then approved the draft by a vote of 84 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (France, Israel, Monaco, United Kingdom, United States). (For details of the voting, see Annex I.)

Speaking after the vote, the representative of the United Kingdom said that her delegation had abstained, as it had in previous years. It did not take issue with the main objective of the text, which was to seek compliance with Article 73 e of the Charter. It would continue to fulfil its obligations fully in that regard in respect to the United Kingdom overseas Territories. However, the decision as to whether a Non-Self-Governing Territory had reached a level of self-government sufficient to relieve the administering Power of the obligation to submit information under article 73 e of the Charter, was ultimately for the government of the Territory and the administering Power and not the General Assembly.

The Committee then took up the text on Economic and Other Activities which Affect the Interests of the Peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/54/23, Part III).

The representative of the United States proposed removing operative paragraph 7 of the draft on the exploitation of marine and other natural resources of Non- Self-Governing Territories. He noted all the hard work that had gone into the preparation of the draft. While his delegation objected to the main premise of the draft -- that military presence somehow impeded the right to self-determination -- it was prepared to continue the dialogue with the Special Committee o decolonization.

He said that operative paragraph 7 was redundant, for its main idea had already been spelled out in operative paragraphs 4 and 5. The rhetorical language of the paragraph was outdated. The paragraph was also written in a presumptive way, because it implied that such problems were endemic to Non-Self-Governing Territories just because of their status. If operative paragraph 7 was not deleted or changed, his country would have to vote against the draft. Illegal fishing activities were always harmful, and the situation was not endemic to Non-Self- Governing Territories. His country was committed to preservation of marine life and the environment.

A separate vote was held on the motion to remove operative paragraph 7 of the draft. The paragraph was retained by a vote of 52 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom and United States), with 38 abstentions. (See Annex II.)

A vote was then taken on the draft as a whole. The draft was approved by a vote of 97 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (France, Monaco, United Kingdom). (See Annex III.)

The Committee next took up the draft decision on military activities and arrangements (document A/54/23, Part III.)

Speaking on a point of order, the representative of Pakistan said that fewer votes were being cast than last year. He was concerned with the low participation in the vote. It was necessary to determine the reason.

The representative of India said that, according to his notes, the numbers were lower, but not to the extent that had been indicated by the representative of Pakistan.

SOTIRIOS ZACKHEOS (Cyprus), Committee Chairman, said that the voting had been conducted according to the rules and he would proceed with the voting.

The Committee then approved the draft by a vote of 61 in favour to 40 against, with 1 abstention (Belarus). (See Annex IV.)

The representative of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said that for some years now, the Union had been conducting a dialogue with the Special Committee with a view to establishing a greater consensus in some areas of concern to the Committee. Improvement had indeed been made in recent years, and she hoped that the Special Committee on decolonization would continue its efforts to ensure that future texts submitted by it would be balanced in order to get the widest possible support. In that regard, she wanted to reiterate the Union’s support for the adoption without a vote of the “omnibus” resolution on small Territories for two consecutive years now. She also welcomed the progress towards greater consensus on the draft on economic activities.

She regretted that, as in previous years, the European Union was compelled to repeat its objections to the draft decision on military activities. She recalled that the issue covered by the draft did not figure on the list of items assigned by the General Assembly to the Fourth Committee, and thus did not fall under its competence. The Member States of the European Union had therefore voted against the draft decision.

The representative of Nepal said that he was not speaking in explanation of vote. He wanted to clarify that his delegation would have voted in favour of the text on information, had it been present during the voting.

The representatives of Nepal, Côte d’Ivoire, Philippines, Lithuania, Cambodia, Venezuela, Botswana, Greece, Russian Federation, Georgia, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Grenada, Uganda, Burundi and Benin said that had they been present, they too would have voted in favour of that text.

The representative of the United States said that his delegation had voted against the draft on military activities, for it was firmly opposed to the premise that a military presence was detrimental to the self-determination of Non-Self- Governing Territories. Each case needed to be considered individually.

The Committee then turned its attention to the draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations (document A/54/23, Part III).

The representative of the United States said that his delegation intended to abstain. Specialized agencies did not require guidance beyond that set out in their respective mandates.

The Committee then approved the draft by a vote of 67 in favour to none against, with 39 abstentions. (See Annex V.)

The representative of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, reiterated the Union’s support for the specialized agencies in their respective efforts to offer assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in the humanitarian, technical and educational fields. She believed, however, that the statutes of those agencies must be carefully respected. Therefore, the member States of the European Union had abstained in the voting on that item of the agenda.

The representative of Saint Lucia said that his delegation had voted in favour of the draft resolution. It was aware that the mandate of many of the specialized agencies provided for humanitarian, technical and educational assistance.

The Committee next took up the draft resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/C.4/54/L.5).

It was informed that Iran and Thailand had joined the number of co-sponsors of the draft.

The Committee approved the draft without a vote.

The Committee took up the draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A/C.4/54/L.3).

MOHAMMAD SATTAR, Secretary of the Committee, spoke about budget implications of the proposed drafts regarding particular Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The Committee then approved the draft without a vote.

The representative of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said that the Union welcomed that fact that again this year the draft had been approved without a vote. She reiterated the Union’s support for the United Nations settlement plan, which aimed at the holding of a free, fair and impartial referendum on the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. She noted with satisfaction the resumption of the identification process and the beginning of the appeals process. The Union looked forward to the finalization of those processes in order for the referendum to take place in accordance with the provisional timetable.

The European Union welcomed the assessment by the Secretary-General that, while some delays had occurred, the continuation of the appeals process and the resumption of the identification operation could be considered as positive indications that both parties intended to maintain progress towards the referendum. The Union called for the conclusion of all outstanding agreements and the implementation of confidence-building measures. It encouraged the parties to continue their cooperation with the High Commissioner for Refugees in order to carry out the necessary preparatory work for the repatriation of Saharan refugees. It also called on the parties to fully cooperate with the settlement plan. The role of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) remained crucial, and the parties’ full cooperation with MINURSO remained of utmost importance.

The representative of Morocco said that the question of Western Sahara was being resolved in the context of finalization of territorial integrity and was not a case of decolonization. For that reason, his Government did not feel itself bound by all the provisions of the draft, which was a draft on decolonization. His Government was going to cooperate with all the bodies involved in the preparation of the referendum and MINURSO on the basis of the relevant Security Council decisions. It was concerned with refugees, who should be allowed to vote. People who had blood relations with the Territory should also be able to make their will known, he stressed.

Taking up the question of Gibraltar, the Committee approved the related draft decision (document A/C.4/54/L.4), without a vote.

FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria), Rapporteur of the Special Committee on decolonization, then introduced amendments to the draft resolution on the question of New Caledonia (document A/54/23, Part III).

Those changes were the following:

-- Delete preambular paragraph 6 (“Welcoming the strengthening of theprocess of review of the Matigon Accords,…”).

-- Replace paragraph 7 by “Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in the spirit of harmony”, and place this modified paragraph as a paragraph 1 bis;

-- Replace paragraph 5 by “Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region;”

-- In paragraph 8 (line 4), replace “of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords” by “of the Nouméa Accord”;

-- Replace paragraph 14 by “Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer to the South Pacific Forum, continuing high level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries membres of the South Pacific Forum”.

Acting without a vote, the Committee then approved that text as orally revised.

The draft resolution on the question of Tokelau (document A/54/23, Part III) was then approved without a vote.

As the Committee took up the omnibus resolution on 11 Non-Self- Governing Territories, the representative of Cuba asked why there was no mention of Guam in the Journal.

Mr. ZACKHEOS (Cyprus), Committee Chairman, expressed regret for the omission.

The Committee then approved the consolidated draft resolution, as orally revised, without a vote. T

(annexes follow) Fourth Committee Press Release GA/SPD/161 7th Meeting (AM) 8 October 1999

ANNEX I

Vote on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories

The draft resolution on information on Non-Self-Governing Territories provided by administering Powers (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII) was approved by a recorded vote of 84 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

Against: None.

Abstain: France, Israel, Monaco, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

(END OF ANNEX I)

Fourth Committee Press Release GA/SPD/161 7th Meeting (AM) 8 October 1999

ANNEX II

Vote on Deleting Operative Paragraph 7

The proposal to delete operative paragraph 7 of the draft resolution on economic and other activities (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII) was defeated by a recorded vote of 52 in favour to 3 against, with 38 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Bahamas, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Singapore, South Africa, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstain: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Greece, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Viet Nam.

(END OF ANNEX II)

Fourth Committee Press Release GA/SPD/161 7th Meeting (AM) 8 October 1999

ANNEX III

Vote on Economic and Other Activities

The draft resolution on economic and other activities (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII) was approved, as a whole, by a recorded vote of 97 in favour to 2 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstain: France, Monaco, United Kingdom.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Viet Nam.

(END OF ANNEX III)

Fourth Committee Press Release GA/SPD/161 7th Meeting (AM) 8 October 1999

ANNEX IV

Vote on Military Activities

The draft decision on military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII) was approved by a recorded vote of 61 in favour to 40 against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan.

Abstain: Belarus.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Viet Nam.

(END OF ANNEX IV)

Fourth Committee Press Release GA/SPD/161 7th Meeting (AM) 8 October 1999

ANNEX V

Vote on Implementation by Specialized Agencies

The draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on decolonization by the specialized agencies (document A/54/23, Part III, chap. XIII) was approved by a recorded vote of 67 in favour to none against, with 39 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: None

Abstain: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Viet Nam.

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