DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL"S ADDRESS AT OPENING OF SPECIAL DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE SESSION

Press Release
DSG/SM/85/Rev.1*
GA/COL/3022/Rev.1*

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S ADDRESS AT OPENING OF SPECIAL DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE SESSION

Following is the text of Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette’s statement to open the first meeting of the 2000 substantive session of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples:

This is a particularly important year for the work of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism comes to a close at the end of December 2000. During this final year, the Special Committee will have the opportunity not only to assess the progress made so far in achieving the objectives of the Decade, but also to chart the course for its future work..

During this past year, the Committee has carried out a critical review of its work. The General Assembly has stressed the importance of the participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee. And it has noted with satisfaction that some administering Powers participate in the work of the Committee, while others have now agreed to work informally with it.

This is a welcome sign, and should give renewed impetus to your efforts. Let us hope that, during this final year of the International Decade, you will be able make lasting progress in implementing the Declaration for each individual Territory. You have a challenging task ahead. But I am confident that with the good faith shown by all parties, you will be able to develop a programme of work for each Non-Self-Governing Territory before the end of the year. I wish you success in your endeavours.

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* Revised for technical reasons.