Fifty-sixth General Assembly                                        GA/9996

Plenary                                                           10 December 2001

82^nd Meeting (PM)

 

 

ISRAELI PRACTICES, PALESTINE RELIEF AGENCY, INFORMATION, DECOLONIZATION,

 

AMONG ISSUES ADDRESSED, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS 28 TEXTS

 

 

The General Assembly this afternoon adopted 25 resolutions and 3 decisions

-- all but two recommended by its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) -- concerning decolonization, information, atomic radiation, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA) and Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.

 

Five resolutions adopted this afternoon related to the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.  By a text on the work of that Committee, the Assembly deplored any policies of Israel that violated such rights and condemned the excessive use of force in the past year, which had, the text states, resulted in more than 700 Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.  The text was adopted by a recorded vote of 83 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, United States) with 58 abstentions.  (For details, see Annex VII.)

 

Adopting another text on Israeli practices the Assembly condemned all acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians. It called for the accelerated release of all arbitrarily imprisoned Palestinians and demanded that measures taken in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention cease immediately, including the practice of extra-judicial killings.  The recorded vote was 145 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States) with 2 abstentions (Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea) (See Annex X).

 

      By a text on the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons during time of war, the Assembly reaffirmed that the Convention is applicable to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  That resolution was adopted by a recorded 148 votes in favour to 4 against (Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, United States) with

2 abstentions (Nicaragua, Angola) (See Annex VIII).

 

By a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 4 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, United States) and 3 abstentions (Nicaragua, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea), the Assembly also adopted a resolution reaffirming that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal.  It demanded complete cessation of all settlement activity and reiterated its call for the prevention of acts of violence by the settlers, particularly in light of recent developments (See Annex IX.).

 

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82^nd Meeting (PM)                                            10 December 2001

 

 

In a resolution adopted by a recorded 147 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, Marshall Islands) with 3 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua, United States), the Assembly called upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and to desist from repressive measures against the local population (See Annex XI).

 

Adopting seven texts on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Assembly decided to extend the mandate of that agency until 30 June 2005, without prejudice to provisions of its resolution 194 (III), on repatriation or compensation of those refugees.  It did so by adopting a draft resolution on assistance to Palestine refugees by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 2 against (Israel, Marshall Islands), with 2 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, United States) (Annex I).

 

By that text, the Assembly also reiterated its deep concern regarding the Agency's persisting critical financial situation.  It noted that the continuing shortfall in the Agency's finances has a significant negative influence on the living conditions of the Palestine refugees most in need, with possible consequences for the Middle East peace process.  A separate text on the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, welcoming the unified budget structure for the 2002-2003 biennium, was adopted without a vote.

 

      By a further text the Assembly reaffirmed the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  It endorsed, in the meanwhile, emergency humanitarian assistance.  That text was adopted by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States) with

1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia) (Annex II).

 

      The Assembly adopted another text on the operations of UNRWA by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States) with 1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia).  It called upon Israel to compensate the Agency for damages to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side.  It also requested that the issuance of identification cards proceed, for Palestine refugees and their descendants, in the occupied Palestinian territory (See Annex IV).

 

      A resolution on offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees strongly appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to augment their special allocations for such assistance.  The recorded vote was

154 in favour to none against with 1 abstention (Israel) (See Annex III).

 

By a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States) with 1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia), the Assembly adopted a text emphasizing the need for a University of Jerusalem “Al Quds” for Palestine refugees (See Annex VI).

 

On decolonization, in a direct action this morning, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of

 

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General Assembly Plenary           - 1b -            Press Release GA/9996

82^nd Meeting (PM)                                      10 December 2001

 

 

Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by a recorded 132 votes in favour to 2 against (United Kingdom, United States) with 0 abstentions (See Annex XVII).

 

By that text, the Assembly reaffirmed that the existence of any form or manifestation of colonialism is incompatible with the United Nations Charter, the Decolonization Declaration and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It affirmed once again its support for the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence.

 

In a second direct action, the Assembly adopted a resolution on dissemination information on decolonization, approving the activities of in that area.  It requested the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs to continue to utilize all appropriate media to publicize United Nations decolonization efforts.  That draft was adopted by a recorded vote of

147 in favour to 2 against (United Kingdom, United States) with 4 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, Marshall Islands) (Annex XVI).

 

The Assembly also adopted, by a recorded 149 votes in favour, none against and 6 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom, United States), a resolution on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 (e) of the United Nations Charter.  By the terms of that text, the Assembly reaffirmed that, in the absence of its decision that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a measure of self-government, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit such information, including the fullest possible account of the political and constitutional developments in that Territory (See Annex XII).

 

      Regarding economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Assembly adopted a text reaffirming its concern about the exploitation of natural resources that are the heritage of those peoples, including indigenous populations.  That resolution was adopted by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States) with 5 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, France, Georgia, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom) (See Annex XIII).

 

      Adopting a draft decision on military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers, the General Assembly deplored 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 installations.  It adopted that text by a recorded vote of 92 in favour to 51 against with

0 abstentions (See Annex XIV).

 

      By a recorded vote of 106 in favour to 0 against with 50 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a resolution on implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by the United Nations specialized agencies.  That text requested those agencies and associated institutions to provide information on a range of problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories (See Annex XV).

 

      Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted three separate draft resolutions on the questions of Western Sahara, New Caledonia and Tokelau respectively, as well as a draft decision on the question of Gibraltar.

 

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General Assembly Plenary           - 1c -            Press Release GA/9996

82^nd Meeting (PM)                                      10 December 2001

 

 

      Again without a vote, the Assembly adopted a consolidated resolution concerning a group of small island Territories, whose first part called upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate education programmes to foster awareness of the right to self-determination.  The Assembly also reaffirmed the responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the Territories’ economic and social development, preserve their cultural identity and give priority, in consultation with the territorial governments, to strengthening and diversifying their economies.

 

      The second part of the consolidated text deals with the 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.

 

      Also without a vote, the Assembly adopted a resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities, by which it expressed its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and welcomed further such offers.

 

      In other actions without a vote this morning, the Assembly adopted resolutions relating to information, the effects of atomic radiation, international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, along with a draft decision increasing the membership of the Committee on Information.  Action on a second resolution on information was deferred.

 

      Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoue (Côte d'Ivoire, acting Chairman on the Special Decolonization Committee introduced the Special Committee's report and draft resolution on the Implementation of the Decolonization Declaration.

 

Graham Maitland (South Africa), Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee, introduced the reports of that Committee.

 

      The representatives of Brazil, Papua New Guinea, United States, Belgium, United Kingdom spoke in explanation of vote.

 

      The representative of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic also spoke.

 

      The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday,

11 December, to consider a range of issues, including the building of a better world through sport and the Olympic ideal, multilingualism, support for new or restored democracies, peace for Central America and global partnerships. 

 

 

 

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Background

 

When the General Assembly met this afternoon, it was expected to take action on the draft resolutions and draft decisions related to reports submitted by its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).

 

Topics addressed in those reports include the effects of atomic radiation (agenda item 85); international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (item 86); the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (item 87); Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories (item 88); comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (item 89); and questions relating to information (item 90).

 

Decolonization issues before the Assembly include:  information from

Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73(e) of the United Nations Charter (agenda item 91); economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (items 92 and 18); implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by the United Nations specialized agencies and associated international institutions (items 93 and 12), as well as the report of the Economic and Social Council; offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories

(item 94); and implementation of the Decolonization Declaration (item 18).

 

Fourth Committee Reports

 

By the terms of the draft resolution contained in the report on effects of atomic radiation (document A/56/547), the Assembly would note with satisfaction the completion in 2000 of the extensive report on the hereditary effects of radiation.by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.  The Assembly would also reaffirm the decision to maintain the Scientific Committee’s present functions and independent role and endorse the Committee's intentions and plans for its future activities.

 

The Assembly would also, by other terms, request the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to continue providing support for the Scientific Committee’s work and for the dissemination of its findings.  Further, the Assembly would express its appreciation for assistance to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and non-governmental organizations.

 

The Committee approved the draft resolution on 18 October without a vote.

 

By the terms of a draft on the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/56/548), the Assembly would decide that Cuba, Peru, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia should become full members of the Committee on that subject, terminating the practice of sharing seats between them.  It would also decide that Saudi Arabia and Slovakia should become members of the Outer Space Committee.

 

By other terms, the General Assembly would urge all governments, United Nations organs, bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities, to take action towards implementation of the resolutions the  third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) entitled, “The Space Millennium:  Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development”.  The Assembly would note with satisfaction that the Outer Space Committee, at its forty-fourth session, established action teams under the voluntary leadership of Member States to implement the recommendations of that Conference.

 

Also by the text, the General Assembly would note that the Outer Space Committee had brought to the Secretary-General's attention the need to consider the contributions of space science and technology to a greater extent in achieving the objectives of major United Nations conferences, taking into particular account the needs of developing countries.

 

The General Assembly would also agree that a new item entitled "Space and society" should be included on the agenda of the Outer Space Committee at its forty-fifth and forty-sixth sessions.  It would invite the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimensions in space science and technology applications.

 

According to the text, the Assembly would endorse the Outer Space Committee's recommendation that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, consider:  the status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; and the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including ways to ensure its equitable use without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

 

The Assembly would also endorse the Outer Space Committee's recommendation that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-ninth session, consider, among other items:  the United Nations Programme on Space Applications; implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; matters relating to remote-sensing of the Earth by satellites; use of nuclear power sources in outer space; implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system; and examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including in-space communications.

 

By further terms, the General Assembly would agree that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee should assess the effectiveness of existing space debris mitigation practices and the extent to which they were being implemented.  It would also urge all States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

 

The draft resolution was approved by the Committee on 25 October without a vote.

 

      UNRWA Drafts

 

The Assembly also had before it seven draft resolutions on the work of UNRWA (document A/56/549).

 

By draft resolution I on assistance to Palestine refugees, the General Assembly would decide to extend the mandate UNRWA until 30 June 2005, without prejudice to provisions of its resolution 194 (III), on repatriation of or compensation to those refugees.

 

It would recommend that the Assembly reiterate its deep concern regarding the Agency's persisting critical financial situation as outlined in the report of UNRWA's Commissioner-General.  The Assembly would note with profound concern that the continuing shortfall in the Agency's finances has a significant negative influence on the living conditions of the Palestine refugees most in need, with possible consequences for the peace process.

 

By other terms, the Assembly would note with regret that of  or compensation to the refugees, as provided for in its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, and also that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to achieve progress in the matter.  It would urge all Member States to expedite aid and assistance with a view to the economic and social development of the Palestinian people and territory.  Further, the Assembly would note the significant success of the Agency's Peace Implementation Programme since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, and stress the importance that contributions to this Programme not be at the expense of the General Fund.

 

      The draft resolution was approved by the Committee on 9 November by a recorded vote of 116 in favour to 1 against (Israel), with 2 abstentions (Marshall Islands, United States).

 

Draft resolution II on the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA recommends that the Assembly request the Working Group to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, to find a solution to the Agency’s financial situation.  It would welcome the new, unified budget structure for the 2002-2003 biennium, which can contribute significantly to improved budgetary transparency.  Also by that draft, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work.

 

The Committee approved the draft text on 9 November without a vote.

 

Under the provisions of draft resolution III on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, the Assembly would reaffirm the right of all persons displaced as a result of those hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  It would endorse, in the meanwhile, the Commissioner-General's efforts to continue to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities.

 

The Committee approved the text on 9 November by a recorded vote of 117 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with no abstentions.

 

Draft resolution IV on offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees would have the Assembly strongly appeal to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to UNRWA's regular budget.  It would also request the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for those special allocations and to award them to qualified Palestine refugee candidates.  Further, the Assembly would appeal to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to contribute generously towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees.

 

The text was approved by the Committee on 9 November by a recorded vote of 119 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Israel).

 

The General Assembly would, by draft resolution V on operations of UNRWA, call upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to abide scrupulously by its provisions.

 

By other terms, it would call upon Israel to cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease its policies of closures and restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, which have had a grave impact on the economic situation of the Palestinian population, in particular the refugees.  It would call, once again, upon the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damages to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side.  It would request the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the occupied Palestinian territory.

 

The text was approved by the Committee on 9 November by a recorded vote of 117 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Marshall Islands).

 

According to draft resolution VI on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues, the Assembly would reaffirm that Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of justice and equity.  The Assembly would urge the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of the refugees' properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process.

 

The Committee approved the draft text on 9 November by a recorded vote of 118 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with no abstentions.

 

      Under the provisions of draft resolution VII relating to the University of Jerusalem “Al Quds” for Palestine refugees, the General Assembly would emphasize the need to strengthen the educational system in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem, and, specifically, the need for the establishment of the proposed university.  The Assembly would, by further terms of the text, call once more upon Israel to remove the hindrances that it has put in the way of establishing the University of Jerusalem “Al Quds”.

 

The Committee approved the draft on 9 November by a recorded vote of 118 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with no abstentions.

 

Israeli Practices

 

The Assembly had before it five draft resolutions on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (document A/56/550).

 

By draft resolution I on the work of the Special Committee, the General Assembly would deplore those policies and practices of Israel which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories.  It would especially condemn the excessive use of force in the past year, which has resulted in more than 700 Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.

 

The draft text was approved by the Committee on 9 November by a recorded vote of 73 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States) with 47 abstentions.

 

According to draft resolution II on applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons during time of war, the Assembly would reaffirm that the Convention is applicable to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  It would reiterate the need for speedy implementation of the recommendations contained in resolutions ES-10/3 of 15 July 1997, ES-10/4 of 13 November 1997, ES-10/5 of 17 March 1998 and ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999 with regard to ensuring respect by Israel for the Convention.

 

The Committee approved the draft on 9 November by a recorded vote of 121 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with no abstentions.

 

Draft resolution III, on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, would have the Assembly reaffirm that those settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace and socio-economic development.  The Assembly would, by other terms, demand complete cessation of the construction of the new settlement in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and of all Israeli settlement activities.  It would stress the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), which called upon Israel to implement measures aimed at preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and for measures to guarantee the safety and protection of Palestinian civilians.  Further, the Assembly would reiterate its call for the prevention of those illegal acts of violence by the settlers, particularly in light of recent developments.

 

The Committee approved the text on 9 November by a recorded vote of 119 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Suriname).

 

By draft resolution IV on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, the Assembly would condemn all acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians, resulting in injury and loss of human life.  The Assembly would, by other terms, call upon Israel to accelerate the release of all remaining Palestinians arbitrarily detained or imprisoned, and call for complete respect by Israel of all fundamental freedoms of the Palestinian people. It also demands that measures and actions taken in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 cease immediately, including the practice of extrajudicial killings.

 

Also, the Assembly would stress the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the occupied Palestinian territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, into and from East Jerusalem, and to and from the outside world.

 

The Committee approved the text on 9 November by a recorded vote of 117 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 2 abstentions (Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea).

 

Draft resolution V on the occupied Syrian Golan, recommends that the Assembly call upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and to desist from its repressive measures against the local population.  It would also deplore the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War.

 

By further terms, the Assembly would call upon Israel to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981) in which the Council decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect.  The Assembly would also call upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, and, in particular, to desist from the establishment of settlements.  The Assembly would determine that all legislative and administrative actions purporting to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan constitute a flagrant violation of international law.

 

      The Committee approved the text on 9 November by a vote of 120 in favour to 1 against (Israel), with 1 abstention (United States).

 

Peacekeeping

 

The Assembly had before it a report of the Fourth Committee on the comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (document A/56/551), which describes the Committee’s consideration of the item during its fifty-sixth session.  It states that no proposals were submitted and no action was taken under the item, during the current stage.

 

Information

 

Also before the Assembly were two draft resolutions and a draft decision on questions relating to information (document A/56/552).

 

Draft resolution A -- Information in the service of humanity -– would have the General Assembly urge all countries, the United Nations system and all others concerned to help to increase assistance for the development of communication capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and priorities.

 

The Assembly would also urge all concerned to:  ensure that journalists were able to work freely and effectively, and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; support strengthened training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from all media in developing countries; enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries; and strengthen communication capacities and improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in training and dissemination of information.

 

Also by the draft, the Assembly would urge all concerned to provide all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, with due regard to their interests and needs in the information field and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including:

 

-- The development of the human and technical resources for the improvement of information and communications systems in developing countries;

 

      -- The creation of conditions that will enable the developing countries, by using their national and regional resources, to have the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting;

 

      -- Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; and

 

      -- The facilitation of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market.

 

      The Assembly would, finally, urge full support for the International Programme for the Development of Communication of Developing Countries of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which should support both public and private media.

 

By draft resolution B of the text -- United Nations public information policies and activities –- the General Assembly would welcome provisions of the Millennium Declaration that indicate hope and concern in the field of information and communications.  It would call upon States, in accordance with their laws, to make every effort to prevent the use of any media and to incite hatred and contribute to extremism.

 

While taking note of the Secretary-General's report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, the Assembly would encourage him to continue, while stressing the need to take into account the views of Member States.  It would emphasize that, through its reorientation, the Department of Public Information (DPI) should improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and other countries with special needs, including those in transition.  Such reorientation should contribute to bridging the gap between the developing and developed countries in public information and communications.

 

Also by the text, the Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technologies, including the Internet, to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the dissemination of information about the Organization.  It would request the Secretary-General, until a decision had been taken on proposals for multilingual enrichment of the Web site, to ensure, to the extent possible, the equitable distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the Web site among all official languages on a continuous basis.

 

      The Assembly would also emphasize the importance of ensuring the full equitable treatment of all the official languages in the  Department of Public Information's activities.

 

By further terms, the General Assembly would welcome the Secretary-General's progress report and the final report on the implementation of the pilot project for the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations.  It would concur with the Secretary-General that the project was one of the more successful examples of the reorientation of the Department of Public Information.  The Assembly would decide, building upon the pilot programme’s success, to expand the international radio broadcasting capacity in all six official languages and request the Secretary-General to convey the justification of the resource requirements, including the possibility of extrabudgetary financing and/or redeployment of resources, for such expansion for the 2002-2003 biennium.

 

By further terms, the Assembly would encourage the Department to continue to include in its radio and television programming programmes addressing the needs of developing nations.  It would emphasize that all publications of the Department should fill an identifiable need, not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and be produced in a cost-efficient manner.

 

The Assembly would, by further terms of the draft, welcome the development of the United Nations News Service and request the Secretary-General to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that the Secretariat's publications and other information services, including the Web site and the News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with General Assembly resolutions and decisions.

 

The Assembly would also take note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled “Integration of the United Nations information centres with field offices of the United Nations Development Programme”, welcome the action taken by the Department of Public Information to implement the views of those host governments as expressed in their replies to the questionnaire provided by the Secretariat, and request the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps for the continued implementation of those views and report thereon.

 

By the terms of a draft decision, the General Assembly would decide to increase the membership of the Committee on Information from 96 to 98 and to appoint Azerbaijan and Monaco as members of the Committee.

 

On 20 November, the Committee approved all three texts without a vote.

 

Decolonization Drafts

 

Among the drafts before the Committee was a text on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter (document A/56/553) by which the General Assembly would request the administering Powers concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General under

Article 73 e, the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned.  It would also request the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of working papers relating to the Territories concerned.

 

The text was approved by the Committee on 16 October by a recorded vote of 86 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (France, United Kingdom, United States).

 

By a draft on economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/56/554), the Assembly would reiterate that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, is a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories.

 

The Assembly would decide, by other terms, to follow the situation in the Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities there are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting their economic and financial viability.

 

      The Committee approved the text by a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 2 abstentions (France, United Kingdom).

 

A draft decision on military activities and arrangements (document A/56/554) would require the General Assembly to 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 installations.  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 or other weapons of mass destruction.  It would take note of the decision by some administering Powers to close or downsize some of the military bases in the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

 

The text was approved by the Committee by a recorded vote of 55 in favour to 40 against, with no abstentions.

 

According to a draft on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies (A/56/555), the General Assembly would request those bodies, as well as international and regional organizations, to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic sectors of the Territories.

 

      In addition, the Assembly would request the administering Powers to facilitate the participation of appointed and elected territorial representatives in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those bodies.

 

The Committee approved the text by a recorded vote of 65 in favour to none against, with 40 abstentions.

 

Under the provisions of a draft on offers by Member States of study and training facilities (document A/56/556), the General Assembly would invite all States to continue to make offers of study and training facilities, along with assistance for travel, to inhabitants of Territories that have not yet attained self-government, and express appreciation for those States that have already done so.  By other terms, it would urge administering Powers to ensure the dissemination of information about such offers, and provide facilities necessary for students to avail themselves of such opportunities.

 

      The text was approved without a vote on 16 October.

 

The Assembly also had before it a draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A/56/557 -- draft resolution I), which would have the Assembly reiterate its support for the Secretary-General's further efforts to organize and supervise, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU), a self-determination referendum in conformity with Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council approved the Settlement Plan for Western Sahara.

 

Also by that draft, the Assembly would urge Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO Front) to continue cooperating with the Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy and his Special Representative, and to refrain from undertaking anything that would undermine the implementation of the Settlement Plan.  It would also encourage the parties to continue their discussions under the auspices of the Personal Envoy, with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.  It would further urge the parties to solve the problem of the fate of people unaccounted for, and call on them to release without further delay all those held since the start of the Western Sahara conflict.

 

The text was approved by the Committee on 16 October without a vote.

 

A text on the question of New Caledonia (document A/56/557 –- draft ressolution II) would have the Assembly urge all parties involved, in the interest of all the people of that Territory and building on Noumea Accords, to maintain their dialogue in a spirit of harmony.  All the parties involved would, in addition, be invited 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 Noumea Accords, which are based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny.

 

      The Committee approved the text on 16 October without a vote.

 

By a draft on the question of Tokelau (document A/56/557 – draft

resolution III), the General Assembly would take note of Tokelau’s desire to move at its own pace towards self-determination.  It would also note the special challenge, inherent in the situation in Tokelau -- the smallest of the Non-Self-Governing Territories -- and how the exercise of a Territory’s inalienable right to self-determination might be brought closer, as in Tokelau, by meeting that challenge in an innovative way.

 

By further terms, the draft would welcome the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it would meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the Territory's people with regard to their future status.  By other terms, the Assembly would call upon the administering Power and the United Nations agencies to continue their assistance to the Territory.

 

The text was approved on 16 October without a vote.

 

Also before the Assembly was a consolidated text (document A/56/557 -- draft resolution IV) concerning the small island 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.

 

By Part A of that draft, the General Assembly would reaffirm the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, including -- if they so wish -- independence.  It would reaffirm also that it is ultimately for those peoples to determine freely their future political status and, in that connection, call upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes in the Territories to foster awareness of the right to self-determination.

 

      Also by that text, the Assembly would reaffirm that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories, in consultation with the administering Powers, are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories.  The administering Powers and the peoples’ elected representatives would be requested to assist the Special Committee on Decolonization in this regard.  The Assembly would reaffirm also the responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the Territories’ economic and social development, preserve their cultural identity, protect their environments, and give priority, in consultation with the territorial governments, to strengthening and diversifying their economies.

 

      Further, the Assembly would call upon the administering Powers to enter into constructive dialogue with the Special Committee to develop a framework to implement provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the decolonization Declaration, for the period 2001 to 2010.

 

      By other terms, the Assembly would take note of statements by the elected territorial representatives that their respective Territories have repeatedly shown their willingness to cooperate with all international efforts aimed at preventing abuse of the international financial system and promoting regulatory environments with highly selective licensing procedures, robust supervisory practices and well-established anti-money-laundering regimes.

 

      The Assembly would, by further terms, call upon the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to engage the concerned territorial governments in a constructive dialogue, with a view to removing them from the list of harmful tax jurisdictions, and request the administering Power concerned to assist those Non-Self-Governing Territories in resolving the matter.

 

      Part B of the consolidated draft resolution deals with the individual Territories.  Regarding American Samoa, the General Assembly would call upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial government in the Territory's economic and social development, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other functions of the territorial government.  Also, the Assembly would welcome the invitation from the territorial governor to the Special Committee to send a visiting mission to the Territory.

 

      By the text on Anguilla, the Assembly would request the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the Territory's people ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status.  It would call upon the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies to continue to assist the Territory in social and economic development.

 

      The draft on Bermuda would have the Assembly call upon the administering Power to continue to work with the Territory for its socio-economic development.  It would also request the administering Power to elaborate, in consultation with the territorial government, programmes specifically intended to alleviate the economic, social and environmental consequences of the closure of United States military bases and installations in the Territory;

 

      According to the text on the British Virgin Islands, the Assembly would request the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies, and all financial institutions to continue to assist the Territory’s socio-economic and human resources development, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors.

 

      By the draft on the Cayman Islands, the Assembly would call upon the administering Power and the territorial government to cooperate in countering problems related to money laundering, and smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking.  It would request the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial government, to continue to facilitate the expansion of the employment programme.

 

      Under the provisions on the text relating to Guam, the Assembly would call upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law.  It would request the administering Power to cooperate with Guam's Commission on Decolonization for the Implementation and Exercise of Chamorro Self-Determination, with a view to facilitating Guam’s decolonization.

 

      Also by the text, the Assembly would further request the administering Power to continue to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial government with regard to the immigration issue, and to continue to transfer land to the Territory's original landowners.  The Assembly would request the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in Guam's development.

 

      The text on Montserrat would have the Assembly call upon the administering Power, and the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory to alleviate the consequences of the 1996 volcanic eruption.  It would welcome the support of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the construction of housing in the safe zone, to alleviate a shortage caused by the eruption, as well as the material and financial support of the international community.

 

      By the draft resolution on Pitcairn, the Assembly would request the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the Territory’s population.  It would call upon the administering Power to continue its discussion with the representatives of Pitcairn Island on how best to support their economic security.

 

      By the draft on Saint Helena, the Assembly would request the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial government to address the Territory’s high unemployment, limited transport, communications and other socio-economic development problems.  It would note that the administering Power had taken note of statements by members of the Legislative Council of Saint Helena about the constitution and is prepared to discuss them further with the Territory's people.

 

      According to the text on the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Assembly would invite the administering Power to take fully into account the wishes and interests of the Government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Territory's governance.  It would welcome the assessment of the Caribbean Development Bank, in its 1998 report, that the economy continued to expand with considerable output and low inflation.

 

      By the draft on the United States Virgin Islands, the Assembly would express concern that the Territory, which is already heavily indebted, had to borrow

$21 million from a commercial bank to carry out its year 2000 computer compliance programme, and call for the United Nations year 2000 programme to be made available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  Further, the Assembly would express concern that the territorial government is facing severe fiscal problems, resulting in debt of more than $1 billion.  It would welcome the measures being taken by the territorial government to address the crisis, including the adoption of a five-year operating and strategic financial plan, and call upon the administering Power to provide assistance, including the provision of debt relief and loans.

 

The Committee approved the consolidated text on 12 October without a vote.

 

By a draft decision on the question of Gibraltar (document A/56/557), the General Assembly would urge Spain and the United Kingdom to continue their negotiations on a range of matters related to that question, including the issue of sovereignty, with the aim of reaching a definitive solution.  In that regard, the Assembly would take note of annual meetings held alternately in each capital, the most recent of which was held in London on 26 July.

 

      By the terms of the draft resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization (document A/56/23, part III, section G -- draft resolution VII), the General Assembly would approve the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs.  It would further request the two departments to take into account the suggestions 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 to continue their efforts to take measures through all media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization.

 

Finally by the terms of a draft resolution on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/56/L.40) the Assembly would reaffirm once again that the existence of any form or manifestation of colonialism is incompatible with the United Nations Charter, the Decolonization Declaration and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

By other terms it would affirm once again its support for the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, which included independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on Decolonization.  It would also approve the work programme of the Special Committee on Decolonization for 2002.

 

      Statements on Return of Cultural Property

 

      IVAN SIMONOVIC (Croatia) said many States were exposed to the illicit export and trafficking of cultural artifacts, thus being deprived of their historical identities and traditions.  He stressed that the fight against that crime could only be successfully achieved through cooperation, solidarity and organized initiatives at the international level.

 

      More cultural artifacts had been destroyed in Croatia during the first seven months of war in 1991 to 1992 than during the entire duration of the Second World War, he said.  However, after being deprived of a significant part of its heritage for almost 10 years, bilateral negotiations with the new Government of Belgrade had been successfully concluded and cultural property taken away should be immediately returned to Vukovar and other parts of Croatia.

 

      The beauty of the world was its diversity, he continued.  People lived in different countries, spoke different languages, had different customs and enjoyed different cultures.  That diverse global heritage, which all people should admire and learn about, connected and enriched all.  That was one reason why protecting cultural property should be a common task, he said.

 

      SOTOS ZACKHEOS (Cyprus) said that combating illicit trafficking in cultural property was a task that required perseverance and multifaceted collaborative efforts.  One of the major areas in that direction was the promotion of international documentation for recording data on cultural property and the dissemination of information in order to assist in its recovery.  He supported the view that, in order to halt illicit trafficking, Member States should ensure that officials of customs and border control were trained to apply the rules of the relevant UNESCO Convention and that they report any cases of illicit activity to the appropriate authorities.

 

      Many of the artifacts of his country's rich cultural history had become the object of illicit trafficking, he continued, especially those removed illegally from the territory of the island under foreign occupation since 1974.  His country’s determination to investigate the fate of those artifacts and to pursue the return of every illegally removed object to its rightful owner was unshakeable.  He hoped the international community would extend its solidarity and support his country's efforts to protect an invaluable part of the cultural heritage of humanity.

 

 

      GUMA AMER (Libya) said the international community had established rules in international law to protect the cultural heritage of all countries.  There were several conventions to this effect and it was gratifying to see that there was an increased international recognition of the importance of this issue.  He commended the United Nations system, especially UNESCO, for its important work, both in negotiations and in the establishment of the fund for the return of stolen cultural heritage.  However, he stressed that further efforts were required to ensure that cultural property was repatriated to its rightful owners.  Libya had suffered considerably from the pillaging of its heritage due to colonialism, which in essence facilitated the organized and systematic theft of the Libyan heritage.

 

      He said the report of the Secretary-General detailed the work that had been undertaken by the international community on the repatriation of pieces of art and cultural goods.  Member States must ensure the implementation of measures to repatriate the stolen cultural goods.  He said progress remained limited, and the majority of countries that had acquired cultural goods from others had not observed international rules and regulations.  Moreover, most of the countries which kept cultural property belonging to other nations were still refusing to join relevant conventions.  Libya, he said, had a rich cultural heritage and it deserved to regain ownership of its many cultural goods, including manuscripts, artefacts, and jewellery.

 

      VOLODYMYR KROKHMAL (Ukraine) said that his country attached great significance to finding practical solutions to the complex problems that hindered the restitution of stolen or illicitly removed cultural property.  Numerous pieces of valuable cultural property had been removed from Ukraine’s territory and dispersed throughout the world, thus becoming inaccessible to his country and withdrawn from its scientific and cultural life.  The return of cultural property was a delicate problem politically, legally and ethically.  That was why Ukraine was prepared to address every individual case appropriately, with due regard for the conditions under which a masterpiece had been relocated from its territory.

 

      An active policy on protection of cultural heritage was one of the high priorities of the Ukrainian Government.  Recently, it had adopted State programmes and projects envisaging wide cooperation with foreign partners, scientific research by museums, libraries and archives on the return of cultural property.  Persistent work to protect the historical and cultural values of human civilization was not only a vital necessity for the contemporary world, it was also a moral obligation owed to both past and future generations.

 

      KIM CHANG GUK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) said that national cultural heritage created throughout long historical periods was imbued with the wisdom and ingenuity of the nation, and showed the history of its development.  The significance of preserving national cultural heritage lay in inheriting and developing the cultural tradition of each nation and guiding people to have national pride and confidence.

 

He said his country was abundant with cultural properties, as its time-honoured history spanned 5,000 years.  From the very beginning of human civilization, his nation had created its indigenous culture and thus contributed to the development of culture and science of humankind.  There were many cultural properties in his country, including royal tombs, temples, stone pagodas, paintings and calligraphic works and folk artifacts, all showing the history and development of the national and the national wisdom.

      However, many of those valuable cultural properties were damaged or lost during the aggression and colonial rule of Japan, he said.  Japan had plundered and destroyed numerous cultural properties of the national treasure of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  In order to extinguish the Korean nation, he went on, Japan had prohibited education of the Korean language and history, and forcibly confiscated the history and geography, through the burning of books.  Japan had also severely ravaged such cultural properties as monuments and architectural buildings.  He said Japan must return the cultural properties it had taken from Korea and make due compensation for the destruction of the properties, starting with the recognition of its past crimes.

 

      ABOUL GHEIT (Egypt) said that recovering cultural property was closely connected with the right of people to safeguard their roots and cultural heritage.  Egypt had one of the oldest civilizations of history, a crossroads where diverse cultures had met.  It had given the world works of art that were inestimable in value and milestones in Egyptian civilization.  No one but the children of that civilization could safeguard those works.  Were it not for the abundance of those cultural objects and new discoveries made daily, there would be few works left after the intense illicit trafficking over the years.

 

Egypt had worked hard to recover cultural property that had left the country, he continued.  It had entered into bilateral and multilateral dialogue with countries where it was located.  He saluted the role played by UNESCO in recovering cultural property.  Both States and individuals must respect international laws that governed cultural heritage.  In that respect, he welcomed the adoption in 2000 of the international code of ethics for dealers in cultural property, and hoped that all museums, dealers and state cultural institutions would respect it.

 

      Action by Assembly

 

BERNARD TANOH-BOUTCHOUÉ (Côte d’Ivoire), Acting Chairman of the Special Committee on Decolonization, gave an overview of its activities and introduced its report (A/56/23, Parts I-III) in the absence of Rapporteur Fayssal Mekdad of Syria.

 

Noting that the decolonization process was still incomplete, he said that in opening the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, the Special Committee's deliberations had again focused on the political, economic and social situation prevailing in the remaining 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories.  At the end of the session, it had approved 10 resolutions by consensus, including those on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and Puerto Rico and one decision on military activities and arrangements.

 

He said the Special Committee was very encouraged by the record number of participants from the Territories who attended the Caribbean Regional Seminar held in Cuba last May and emphasized that their views must be taken fully into account in any future decolonization work programme.

 

Noting that the United Kingdom had, for the first time, officially attended the regional seminar, he underscored the need for cooperation by the administering Powers.  The Special Committee continued to enjoy the constructive cooperation of New Zealand and representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States had also attended some meetings, albeit informally.  France had attended meetings devoted to New Caledonia and Portugal, the former administering Power of East Timor, had also attended meetings.

 

Introducing the draft resolution on the implementation of the Decolonization Declaration (document A/56/L.40), he said it was similar to the text adopted by the Assembly last year, but contained a new addition in operative paragraph 7.  That addition welcomed the ongoing consultations between the Special Committee and the representatives of the New Zealand Government and the people of Tokelau, leading to a programme of work on the question of Tokelau.

 

The Assembly then took action on a draft resolution on the effects of atomic radiation (document A/56/547), adopting that text without a vote.

 

Also without a vote, it adopted a draft on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/56/548).

 

      Speaking in explanation of position, ENIO CORDEIRO (Brazil) said he had joined the consensus on the resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space but had reservations regarding the Spanish version of the second preambular paragraph.  Specifically, he cited the language that characterized outer space as the patrimony of all mankind, or “patrimonio de toda la humanidad”, which was not the sense of the English and French versions.

 

      As long as there was no consensus on such a concept, he said, that paragraph should follow the language of the Outer Space Treaty adopted by the twenty-first session of the General Assembly.  He reaffirmed Brazil’s support to the activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

 

The Assembly then took up the Fourth Committee’s report on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (document A/56/549) which contained seven draft resolutions.

 

It adopted draft resolution I, on assistance to Palestine refugees, by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 2 against (Israel, Marshall Islands), with

2 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, United States).  (For details see Annex I.)

 

Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted draft resolution II on the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA.

 

It then adopted draft resolution III, on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to

3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States), with 1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia) (Annex II).

 

Draft resolution IV, on offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees, was adopted by a recorded vote of 154 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Israel) (Annex III).

 

The Assembly adopted draft resolution V, on the operations of UNRWA, by a recorded 151 votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States), with 1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia) (Annex IV).

 

By a recorded vote of 150 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States) with 1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia), the Assembly adopted draft resolution VI on Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues (Annex V).

 

Concluding its action on UNRWA-related draft resolutions, the Assembly adopted a draft on the University of Jerusalem "Al Quds" for Palestine refugees.  It adopted that text by 151 votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States, Marshall Islands), with 1 abstention (Federated States of Micronesia) (Annex VI).

 

The Assembly then took up five draft resolutions contained in the Fourth Committee's report relating to the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (document A/56/550).

 

It adopted draft resolution I, on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, by a recorded vote of 83 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with

58 abstentions (Annex VII).

 

By a recorded 148 votes in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 2 abstentions (Angola, Nicaragua), the Assembly adopted draft resolution II, on applicability of the Geneva Convention (Annex VIII).

 

Draft III, on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, was adopted by a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 3 abstentions (Nicaragua, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea) (Annex IX).

 

The Assembly adopted draft resolution IV, on Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, by a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 2 abstentions (Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea) (Annex X).

 

JIMMY OVIA (Papua New Guinea), explaining his delegation’s abstention on resolution I, said Israel must recognize the right of Palestinians to exercise their right of self-determination, but Israel also had a right to exist within safe and secure borders.

 

He said it was wrong to commit suicide or to use one’s own body as a weapon of destruction.  Extrajudicial killings had no place in a society founded on the rule of law.  By the same token, there was concern over the implementation of the rule of law inside Palestinian-controlled areas.  Furthermore, there could not be a peaceful outcome if elements in the conflict did not recognize the right of Israel to exist within secure borders.  Those matters were not properly reflected in the resolutions.

 

Concluding its actions on drafts relating to Israeli practices, the Assembly adopted, by 147 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, Marshall Islands), with

3 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua, United States), draft resolution V, on the occupied Syrian Golan (Annex XI).

DUMISANI KUMALO (South Africa), Vice-President of the General Assembly, noted that the Fourth Committee had not made any recommendations regarding the question of comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.  The Assembly therefore deferred action on that agenda item.

 

Taking up the Fourth Committee's report on questions relating to information (document A/56/552), the Assembly adopted -- without a vote -- the first of two draft resolutions, entitled "Information in the service of humanity".  However, it deferred action on the second, "United Nations public information policies and activities", to allow time for consideration of programme budget implications.

 

In another information-related action, the Assembly adopted, again without a vote, a draft decision on an increase in the membership of the Committee on Information.

 

The Assembly then took up a draft resolution contained in document A/56/553, on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter.  It adopted that text by a recorded 149 votes in favour, none against, with 6 abstentions (France, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom, United States) (Annex XII).

 

Taking up a draft resolution (document A/56/554) on economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, adopting it by 147 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 5 abstentions (France, Georgia, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United Kingdom) (Annex XIII).

 

By 92 votes in favour to 51 against with no abstentions, it then adopted a draft decision on military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration (Annex XIV).

 

Taking up a draft resolution on implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by the United Nations specialized agencies and associated international institutions, (document A/56/555), the Assembly adopted the relevant draft resolution by a 106 votes in favour to none against, with 50 abstentions (Annex XV).

 

Acting without a vote, the Assembly then adopted a text on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/55/556).

 

Taking up draft resolutions on the implementation of the Decolonization Declaration with regard to specific Territories (documents A/56/557), the Assembly adopted, without a vote, three texts relating to the questions of Western Sahara, New Caledonia and Tokelau.

 

Also without a vote, it adopted a consolidated text relating to 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.

 

Acting again without a vote, the Assembly then adopted a draft decision on the question of Gibraltar.

 

WILLIAM HYBL (United States), explaining his delegation's position before the vote, said his country was fully supportive when countries chose independence and was proud to work with them on an equal and sovereign basis.  For Territories that did not choose independence, however, the United States also supported the right of people in those Territories to the options of integration and free association.  A single standard of decolonization should not be applied to every territory.

 

      In that regard, he said, the United States could not support the text on the implementation of the Decolonization Declaration, which unfairly applied a single and narrow standard for decolonization.  The term "non-self-governing" was of questionable applicability to those who were able to establish their own constitution, elect their public officers, have representation in Washington and choose their own economic path.

 

      Moreover, he said, the United States could not agree with the implication that the mere presence of military activities and bases in the Non-Self-Governing Territories was harmful to the rights and interests of the people of those Territories.  The United States could not support language that would infringe on the sovereign right of the United States Government to plan its military activities in accordance with its national security interests.

 

      The Assembly then adopted, by a recorded vote of 147 in favour, to

2 against (United Kingdom, United States), with 4 abstentions (France, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands) a draft resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization. (Annex XVI)

 

In its final action this afternoon, the Assembly adopted, by a recorded vote of 132 in favour to 2 against (United Kingdom, United States) with 21 abstentions, a draft resolution entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples" (Annex XVII).

 

      M.S. SCHELSTRAETE (Belgium), on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said that the Union was pleased that the resolution on Western Sahara had once again been adopted by consensus.  He also welcomed Security Council resolution 1359 (2001) on the issue, which invites discussions between the parties under the auspices of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on proposals for a mutually acceptable political solution.

 

He said the Union encouraged the parties to participate constructively in the talks in progress under the auspices of the Personal Envoy, adding that there was no need to await the end of those talks before settling certain humanitarian issues, such as the exchange of family visits for prisoners of war still in detention.

 

ALISTAIR HARRISON (United Kingdom), explaining his delegation's vote against the drafts on implementation of the Decolonization Declaration and dissemination of information on decolonization, said the United Kingdom continued to find some elements of those texts unacceptable.  Those included, but were not limited to, calls for administering Powers to eliminate the remaining military bases in the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  That language was drawn from the

Military Activities Division, which the United Kingdom had also voted against this year.

 

He said the United Kingdom remained of the view that the obligation that the second text placed on the Secretariat to publicize decolonization issues represented an unwarranted drain on the scarce resources of the United Nations.  The text was therefore unacceptable.  Despite its negative votes, the United Kingdom remained sincerely committed to furthering informal dialogue with the Fourth Committee over the coming year.

 

LUIS GRAVELEY (Dominican Republic) said he had intended to vote in favour of the draft decision on military activities and arrangements, but had inadvertently cast a negative vote.

 

 

 

 

(annexes follow)

 

ANNEX I

 

 

      Vote on Assistance to Palestine Refugees

 

      The draft resolution on assistance to Palestine refugees (document

A/56/549-I) was adopted by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 2 against, with

2 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia,

San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia, United States.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX I)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX II

 

 

      Vote on Persons Displaced by 1967 Hostilities

 

      The draft resolution on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities (document A/56/549-III) was adopted by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 3 against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia,

San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX II)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX III

 

 

      Vote on Scholarships for Palestinian Refugees

 

      The draft resolution on offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees (document A/56/549-IV) was adopted by a recorded vote of 154 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia,

San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  None.

 

Abstaining:  Israel.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

 (END OF ANNEX III)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX IV

 

 

      Vote on UNRWA Operations

 

      The draft resolution on the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (document

A/56/549 - V) was adopted by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 3 against, with

1 abstention, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia,     San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX IV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX V

 

 

Vote on Palestine Refugee Properties

 

The draft resolution on Palestine refugee properties and their revenues (document A/56/549-VI) was adopted by a recorded vote of 150 in favour to          3 against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia,

San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Grenada, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX V)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX VI

 

 

      Vote on University of Jerusalem ‘Al Quds’

 

      The draft resolution on the University of Jerusalem “Al-Quds” for Palestine refugees (document A/56/549 – VII) was adopted by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 3 against, with one abstention, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX VI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX VII

 

 

Vote on Special Committee on Israeli Practices

     

The draft resolution on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (document A/56/550-I) was adopted by a recorded vote of 83 in favour to 4 against, with 58 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Yugoslavia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, El Salvador, Gambia, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX VII)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX VIII

 

 

      Vote on Geneva Convention

 

      The draft resolution on the applicability of the Geneva Convention, relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory (document A/56/550-II) was adopted by a recorded vote of 148 in favour to 4 against, with 2 abstentions, as follows:

 

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Angola, Nicaragua.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX VIII)

 

 

 

 

 

Annex IX

 

 

      Vote on Israeli Settlements

 

      The draft resolution on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem and the Occupied Syrian Golan (document A/56/550-III) was adopted by a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 4 against, with

3 abstentions, as follows: 

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX IX)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX X

 

 

      Vote on Israeli Practices

 

      The draft resolution on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian peoples in the occupied Palestinian territory (document A/56/550-IV) was adopted by a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 4 against, with 2 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,

Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX X)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XI

 

 

      Vote on Occupied Syrian Golan

 

      The draft resolution on the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/56/550 – V) was adopted by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to 2 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

 

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua, United States.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX XI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XII

 

 

Vote on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories

 

The draft resolution on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter (document A/56/553) was adopted by a recorded vote of 149 in favour to none against, with 6 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

Against:  None.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom, United States.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX XII)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XIII

 

 

      Vote on Economic Activities

 

      The draft resolution on economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/56/554) was adopted by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to 2 against, with 5 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

Against:  Israel, United States.

 

Abstaining: Federated States of Micronesia, France, Georgia, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX XIII)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XIV

 

 

      Vote on Military Activities

 

      The draft decision on military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in territories under their administration (document A/56/554) was adopted by a recorded vote of 92 in favour to 51 against, with no abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

Against:  Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Chad, Comoros, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, Peru, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX XIV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XV

 

 

      Vote on Agency Implementation of Decolonization Declaration

 

      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/56/555) was adopted by a recorded vote of 106 in favour to none against, with

60 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

Against:  None.

 

Abstaining:  Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX XV)

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XVI

 

 

      Vote on Dissemination of Information on Decolonization

 

      The draft resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization (document A/56/23 (Part III), Chapter XII, G-para 7) was adopted by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to 2 against, with 4 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,

Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

Against:  United Kingdom, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, Marshall Islands.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

 

 

 

(END OF ANNEX XVI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX XVII

 

 

      Vote on Implementation of Decolonization Declaration

 

      The draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/56/L.40) was adopted by a recorded vote of 132 in favour to 2 against, with 21 abstentions, as follows:

 

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

Against:  United Kingdom, United States.

 

Abstaining:  Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey.

 

Absent:  Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Monaco, Nauru, Niger, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Suriname, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

 

 

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