GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS 24 RESOLUTIONS, 2 DECISIONS AS FOURTH COMMITTEE SUBMITS REPORTS TO PLENARY

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

72^nd Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS 24 RESOLUTIONS, 2 DECISIONS

AS FOURTH COMMITTEE SUBMITS REPORTS TO PLENARY

Session Approves Texts on Refugees, Israeli Practices,

Decolonization, Information Questions, Outer Space, Radiation

The General Assembly today adopted 24 resolutions and two decisions -– all but two recommended by its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) -– on a wide-range of agenda items, including decolonization, information, the effects of atomic radiation, the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Five of the texts related 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.  Another five focused on the work of UNRWA.

The Assembly reaffirmed the importance of UNRWA’s operations for the well-being of the Palestinian refugees and for the stability of the region, by the terms of a text on assistance to Palestine refugees and support for the Agency.  By other terms, it called upon all relevant parties to take effective measures to ensure the safety of the Agency’s personnel, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities.  The Assembly adopted that text by a recorded vote of 133 in favour, none against with 35 abstentions (for details of the voting, see Annex V).

Adopting another text by a recorded vote of 162 in favour, to 5 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States) with 8 abstentions (Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea), the Assembly urged Israel’s Government to compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side, particularly during the reporting period.  The Assembly also called upon Israel to cease obstructing the movement of Agency personnel, vehicles and supplies, as well as the levying of extra fees and charges which have a detrimental effect on the Agency’s operations (Annex III).

By a text on assistance to Palestine refugees, the Assembly noted with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees had not yet been effected, and that their situation continued to be a matter of concern.  It adopted that draft by a recorded 167 votes in favour to 1 against (Israel) with 8 abstentions (Cameroon, Federated States of Micronesia, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States) (Annex I).

A resolution on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, adopted by a recorded vote of 168 in favour to 5 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States) with 3 abstentions (Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda), the Assembly affirmed 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 (Annex II).

Adopting a text on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues by a recorded 164 votes in favour to 5 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, Rwanda) with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda), the Assembly reaffirmed that the Palestine refugees were entitled to their property and to income derived from it, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice (Annex IV).

Turning to the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, the Assembly demanded that Israel cooperate with the Special Committee and expressed grave concern at the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of Israeli practices and measures.  It adopted that text by a recorded 87 votes in favour to 7 against (Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 78 abstentions (Annex VI).

In a related text, the Assembly demanded that Israel cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people.  It took that action by a recorded vote of 150 votes in favour to 6 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 19 abstentions (Annex IX).

Adopting a text on Israeli settlements by a recorded 156 votes in favour to 6 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 13 abstentions, the Assembly reaffirmed that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and socio-economic development.  It reiterated its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

The Assembly also, by the terms of the same text, demanded that Israel stop and reverse the construction of the separation wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is in departure of the Armistice Line of 1949 and illegal under international law (Annex VIII).

By terms of a text on the occupied Syrian Golan, the Assembly called upon Israel to comply with relevant revolutions, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Syrian Golan was null and void and without legal effect.  It adopted that text by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 1 against (Israel) with 11 abstentions (Annex X).

Taking up information-related texts, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, a comprehensive resolution by which it welcomed steps taken towards restructuring the Department of Public Information and encouraged the Secretary-General to continue the reorientation exercise, as well as efforts to improve its efficiency and productivity through wide-ranging and innovative proposals.

By further terms of that resolution, the Assembly encouraged the Secretary-General to strengthen coordination between the Department and other departments and requested the Department to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, HIV/AIDS, combating terrorism, and the needs of the African continent.

Emphasizing that the United Nations information centres, or regional hubs, were the Department’s “field voice”, the Assembly welcomed ongoing efforts to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the centres, with a view to possibly transferring resources from the centres in developed countries to those in developing countries, and emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries.

Also by that text, the Assembly noted with satisfaction, the success of the pilot project on the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations, and endorsed the Secretary-General’s proposal that the pilot project be made an integral part of the Department’s activities.  The Assembly emphasized the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all official United Nations languages.  It also welcomed the Department’s contribution to publicizing the Secretary-General’s efforts to close the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries.

By the terms of a resolution on information in the service of humanity, the Assembly urged all concerned to ensure that journalists had the opportunity to freely and effectively perform their professional tasks, and condemned all attacks against them.

The Assembly also adopted a decision on the increase in the membership of the Committee on Information, deciding to appoint Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Switzerland as members of that body, thereby increasing its membership from 99 to 102.

On decolonization, the Assembly adopted in a direct action a resolution on the implementation of the Declaration of the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, by which it reaffirmed that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, was incompatible with the United Nations Charter, the Decolonization Declaration and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The recorded vote was 154 in favour to 2 against (United Kingdom, United States) with 8 abstentions (Albania, Belgium, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Israel) (Annex XV).

In a second direct action, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the dissemination of information on decolonization, by which it approved the activities in the field of dissemination of decolonization information undertaken by the Departments of Public Information and Political Affairs.  It also requested those Departments to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee on Decolonization to continue their efforts to take measures through all available media, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to publicize the work of the United Nations in that field.  The vote was 162 recorded votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States) with no abstentions (Annex XIV).

By a recorded vote of 163 in favour, none against with 6 abstentions (Angola, Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, United Kingdom, United States), the Assembly adopted a text on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter requesting the administering Powers concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General the fullest possible information on the political and constitutional developments in the Territories under their administration (Annex XI).

The Assembly also adopted, by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States) with 3 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, France, United Kingdom), a resolution on economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  It urged the administering Powers to safeguard their inalienable right to their natural resources (Annex XII).

By the terms of a resolution on implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations, the Assembly requested those bodies to review conditions in each Territory and take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in their economic and social sectors.  That text was adopted by a recorded 116 votes in favour, to none against with 55 abstentions (Annex XIII).

Acting without a vote, the Assembly also adopted a resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, by which it invited all States to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of the Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence, including the provision of travel funds.

In other action today, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, a consolidated text on small Non-Self-Governing Territories.  By the first part of that text, it reaffirmed the inalienable right of the peoples of those Territories to self-determination and called upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes in the Territories to foster their inhabitants’ awareness of their right to self-determination.

The second part of the consolidated text focused on individual 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 without a vote, the Assembly also adopted three resolutions on the questions of Western Sahara, New Caledonia and Tokelau, respectively, as well as a decision on the question of Gibraltar.

The Assembly also adopted, again without a vote, resolutions on the effects of atomic radiation, and international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Special Committee on Decolonization, and Fayssal Mekdad (Syria), its Rapporteur, introduced that body’s reports.

Damien Cole (Ireland), Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee introduced its reports.

Speaking in explanation of vote were the representatives of Thailand, Antigua and Barbuda, United States and United Kingdom.

The General Assembly will meet again at a time and date to be announced.

Background

The General Assembly met this morning to take action on draft resolutions and draft decisions contained in reports submitted by its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).

Topics addressed in those reports include the effects of atomic radiation (item 81); international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (item 82); the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (item 83); Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories (item 84); comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (item 85); and questions related to information (item 86).

Decolonization issues before the Assembly include: information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter (item 87); economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (item 88); implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by the United Nations specialized agencies and associated international institutions (item 89); report of the Economic and Social Council (chapter VII, section D) (item 12); offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (item 90); implementation of the Decolonization Declaration (item 19); question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (item 32); and election of the officers of the Main Committees (item 5).

Fourth Committee Reports

Effects of Atomic Radiation

By the terms of the draft resolution on the effects of atomic radiation (document A/58/470), the Assembly would commend the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) for the valuable contribution it has been making for the past 48 years to widen knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement.  Also according to the text, the Assembly would endorse the Scientific Committee’s plans for future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly and request that body to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation.

Further by that text, the Assembly would request the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the Scientific Committee’s work and for the dissemination of its findings to the Assembly, the scientific community and the public.  By other terms, the Assembly would urge UNEP to strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to resolution 57/115, so that it can discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the Assembly.  It would emphasize the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation, thereby providing updated information for dissemination among all States.

The Fourth Committee approved the draft resolution on 14 October without a vote.

International Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

By terms of the draft resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/58/471), the Assembly would reaffirm the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.  The Assembly would, by other terms, endorse the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and urge States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer space, to consider ratifying or acceding to those treaties, as well as incorporating them in their national legislation.

According to the text, the Assembly would endorse the Committee’s recommendation that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, consider, among other things, the status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; 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 Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Further by that text, the Assembly would endorse the Committee’s recommendation that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-seventh session, consider, among other things, the United Nations Programme on Space Applications; implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); matters relating to remote-sensing of Earth by satellite; space debris; use of nuclear power sources in outer space; and space-system-based telemedicine.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would endorse the Committee’s recommendation that the symposium to strengthen partnership with industry should be organized during the first week of the forty-first session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and should address small satellite applications in agriculture, health and human security.  It would also endorse the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2004, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications.

The Assembly would, by further terms, urge all governments, entities of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to take the necessary action for the effective implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled “The Space Millennium:  Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development”, particularly within the context of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

By other terms, the Assembly would urge all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to support activities to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III and recommend that more political support be provided to all matters relating to the protection of the outer space environment.  It would also consider it essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects and space debris, agreeing that international cooperation is needed to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would urge all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.  It would emphasize the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, in particular the developing countries.

The Assembly would also agree that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of United Nations conferences to address global issues relating to socio-economic and cultural development, and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration.  The Assembly would urge entities of the United Nations system to examine how space science and technology could contribute to attaining the goals of the Millennium Declaration.

By other terms, the Assembly would request the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-seventh session, its agenda item entitled “Space and society” and agree that a special theme for the period 2004-2006 should be “Space and education”.  It would also agree that a new item, entitled “Space and water”, should be included in the Committee’s agenda for its next session.

Also by the text, the Assembly would welcome Libya’s interest in membership in the Committee, note the need to consider the geographical distribution of the Committee’s membership and agree that consultations would be necessary among regional groups before a decision could be taken.  It would endorse the Committee’s decision to grant permanent observer status to the Regional Centre for Remote Sensing of North African States and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

The Fourth Committee approved the text on 23 October without a vote.

By the terms of draft resolution II, on the review of the implementation of UNISPACE III, the Assembly would decide to conduct the review of the progress made in the implementation of the UNISPACE III recommendations at its fifty-ninth session, under a separate agenda item entitled “Review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III)”.  It would also request the Outer Space Committee to submit its review on the implementation of the UNISPACE III recommendations to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session and decide that plenary meeting -- or meetings – would be held in October 2004.

The text was also approved on 23 October, again without a vote.

UNRWA Drafts

The Assembly also had before it five draft resolutions on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

By the terms of draft resolution I, on assistance to Palestine refugees (document A/58/472), the Assembly would note with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III) in December 1948 and subsequent resolutions on the question, has not yet been effected and that the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of concern.  It would also note that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in implementing paragraph 11 of that resolution and request the Commission to exert continued efforts in that regard, and report to the Assembly not later than

1 September 2004.

Affirming the necessity of continuing the UNRWA’s work and the importance of its operations and services, the Assembly would call upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the Agency’s anticipated needs, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals.

The Fourth Committee approved the text on 14 November by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 1 against (Israel), with 8 abstentions (Cameroon, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States).

According to draft resolution II, on persons displaced as a result of June 1967 and subsequent hostilities (document A/58/472), the Assembly would reaffirm the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 hostilities, and subsequent hostilities, to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  Expressing deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties (in the 1993 Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements) on the return of displaced persons has not been effected, it would stress the necessity of an accelerated return of those persons.

In the meantime, by further terms of the text, the Assembly would endorse the Commissioner-General’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance.  It would strongly appeal to all governments, organizations and individuals to generously contribute to the Agency and other international and non-governmental organizations.

The Committee approved the text on 14 November by a recorded vote of 156 in favour to 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States) with 6 abstentions (Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu).

By the terms of draft resolution III, on the UNRWA’s operations (document A/58/472), the Assembly would express its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the increasingly difficult conditions throughout the past year.

Further, the Assembly would take note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the UNRWA for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and request the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the working group for the conduct of its work.  The Assembly would commend the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in its 2004-2005 budget and also acknowledge the support of the host governments for the Agency in the discharge of its duties.

By other terms, the Assembly would take note of the functioning of the headquarters of the Agency in Gaza City on the basis of the Headquarters Agreement between the Agency and the Palestinian Authority.  It would also call upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention on protection of civilians in time of war.

The Assembly would, by further terms, call upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, and by the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of the facilities of the Agency in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.  The Assembly would also urge the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damage to its property, and call upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which have a detrimental effect on the Agency’s operations.

Further, the Assembly would request the UNRWA Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  It would also affirm that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation.  The Assembly would also reiterate its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency through the Palestine refugee records project, and to indicate progress in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.

By further terms, the Assembly would reiterate its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency, and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees.  It would request the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships.

The Assembly would, by other terms, urge all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support the Agency’s valuable work in assistance to the Palestinian refugees.

The Committee approved the text on 14 November by a recorded vote of 150 in favour to 5 against (Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau), with 11 abstentions.

Draft resolution IV, on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues (document A/58/472), would have the Assembly reaffirm that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice.  By other terms, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel, and call once again on Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the resolution.

Further, the Assembly would call upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution.  It would urge the Palestinian and Israeli sides to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process.

The Committee approved the text by a recorded vote of 153 in favour to 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 9 abstentions (Cameroon, Fiji, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu).

By the terms of draft resolution V, on assistance to Palestine refugees and support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (document A/58/472), the Assembly would affirm the necessity for continuing the Agency’s work, and the importance of its operation and services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees.  The Assembly would also call upon all States to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the Agency’s anticipated needs, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals, and to support the Agency’s valuable work in providing assistance to the Palestine refugees.

The Assembly would endorse the efforts of UNRWA’s Commissioner-General to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of the June 1967 hostilities.  It would strongly appeal to all governments, organizations and individuals to generously contribute to the Agency and to other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, and reiterate previous appeals to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the UNRWA’s regular budget.

By other terms, the Assembly would appeal to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to extend assistance for higher education to Palestine refugee students and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and request the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships.

Further by the text, the Assembly would note the success of the Agency’s microfinance and enterprise programmes, and call upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute towards the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees.

The Committee approved the text on 14 November by a recorded vote of 109 in favour to none against, with 54 abstentions.

Israeli Practices

Before the Assembly were 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/58/473).

By the terms of draft resolution I, 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, the Assembly would reiterate its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate with the Special Committee.  By other terms, it would deplore those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories as reflected in the Special Committee’s report.  It would express grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemn the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions, which has resulted in more than 2,600 Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.

Also by that draft, the Assembly would request the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention.  The Special Committee would also be requested to consult with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples in the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General.

The text was approved on 14 November by a recorded vote of 85 in favour to 7 against (Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 73 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution II, on the applicability of the Geneva Convention, the Assembly would reaffirm that the Geneva Convention is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and demand that Israel comply scrupulously with the provisions of that Convention.  It would call upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The text was approved on 14 November by a vote of 155 in favour to 6 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 7 abstentions (Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Rwanda, Tuvalu, Vanuatu).

Also before the Assembly was draft resolution IIIon Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan.  By that text, the General Assembly would reaffirm that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development.

The Assembly would also 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, to the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, and to abide scrupulously by the provision of the Convention, in particular article 49.

Further by the text, the Assembly would reiterate its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

Regarding the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Assembly would demand that Israel stop and reverse its construction, including in and around East Jerusalem, which it states is in departure of the armistice line of 1949 and is illegal under international law.

By other terms, the Assembly would stress the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory.  The Assembly would reiterate its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers, particularly in the light of recent developments.

The text was approved on 14 November by a vote of 149 in favour to 7 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, United States), with 12 abstentions.

According to draft resolution IV, regarding Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied Palestinian territories, the Assembly would determine that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in wartime, and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity.  Further, the Assembly would demand that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation of the Convention, including extrajudicial executions.

By a further provision, the Assembly would condemn all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction.  The Assembly would also condemn the events that occurred in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants.

Further, the Assembly would demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people.  It would also 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, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world.

The Committee approved that text on 14 November by a vote of 141 in favour to 7 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, United States), with 19 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution V, on the occupied Syrian Golan, the Assembly would call upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular 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, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind its decision.

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 to desist from the establishment of settlements.  It would determine that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention, and have no legal effect.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would call upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and from its repressive measures against the population.  It would also deplore Israel’s violations of the Geneva Convention and call once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures referred to in the draft.

The Committee approved the text by a vote of 155 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Nauru, Solomon Islands), with 11 abstentions.

Information

Also before the Committee were two draft resolutions and a draft decision on questions relating to information (document A/58/475).

By terms of part A of a text entitled “Information in the service of humanity”, the Assembly would urge all countries, the United Nations system and all others concerned to cooperate and interact to reduce existing disparities in information flows, by increasing assistance for communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries.  This should be done with due regard to the needs and priorities of those countries, and in order to enable them to develop their own information and communication policies.

The Assembly would also urge all concerned to ensure that journalists have the opportunity to freely and effectively perform their professional tasks, and condemn all attacks against them.  They would also be urged to provide support for the strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists in developing countries.  Regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries and between developed and developing countries would be sought to strengthen communication capabilities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology, especially in training and information dissemination.

Among other things, the Assembly would seek all possible support and assistance for: the development of human and technical resources indispensable for improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries; the creation of conditions that will enable developing countries to have communication technology suited to their needs; establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels; and the facilitation of developing countries’ access to advanced communication technology available on the open market.

By the terms of a text entitled “United Nations public information policies and activities”, the Assembly would reaffirm that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world, that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasize the essential role of the Department of Public Information in that context.

Regarding the subject of the United Nations messages, the Assembly would reaffirm the central role of the Committee on Information in United Nations public information policies and activities, including the restructuring process of the Department, and the prioritization of its activities.  It would welcome the continued constructive interaction between the Department and Committee members.

Further, the Assembly would request the Department, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in the Medium-Term Plan and using the Millennium Declaration as its guide, to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, combating terrorism, and the needs of the African continent.

Concerning the Department’s general activities, the Assembly would welcome the steps taken towards its restructuring, and encourage the Secretary-General to continue the reorientation exercise and efforts in improving the Department’s efficiency and productivity, including wide-ranging and, possibly, new innovative proposals, taking into account the broad principles and directions contained in the present resolution.  The Assembly would welcome the progress achieved since the commencement of the reorientation exercise in enhancing the Department’s performance and effectiveness.  It would also welcome the decision to implement an annual programme impact review making self-evaluation a part of the daily work of all programme managers, with a view to institutionalizing performance management.

Under a further provision, the Assembly would appreciate the Department’s continued efforts in issuing daily press releases, and request it to continue providing that invaluable service to both Member States and media representatives, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States and the fact that other departments might be providing similar or overlapping services in that regard.

Towards bridging the digital divide, the Assembly would welcome the Department’s contribution to publicizing the Secretary-General’s efforts to close the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in that context, request it to further enhance its role in that regard.

The Assembly would also welcome initiatives undertaken by the Department for the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in December 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.  It would commend the Secretary-General for the establishment of the United Nations Information Technology Service, the Health InterNetwork, and the Information and Communications Technology Task Force, with a view to bridging the digital divide and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries.

Noting the Secretary-General’s report on programmatic aspects of the proposed programme budget for 2004-2005 for the Department, the Assembly would welcome the new subprogramme structure that includes:  strategic communications services; news services; library services; and outreach services.

Concerning United Nations information centres, the Assembly would emphasize that the centres, or regional hubs, as applicable, as the Department’s “field voice”, should promote public awareness and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in the local languages has the strongest impact on the local populations.  It would welcome ongoing efforts to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the centres, with a view to possibly transferring resources from the centres in developed countries to those in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries, and to any other activities of high priority, such as multilingualism on the Web site and evaluation of services.

Regarding promotional campaigns, the Assembly would stress the need for the renewed emphasis in support of Africa’s development, in particular, by the Department to promote awareness in the international community of the nature of the critical economic and social situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

With respect to news services, the text would have the Assembly stress that the central objective of the news services, implemented by the News and Media Division, is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media -– print, radio, television, and Internet –- to the media and other audiences worldwide, with the overall emphasis on multilingualism.

Concerning traditional means of communication, the Assembly would note, with satisfaction, the success of the pilot project on the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations and endorse the Secretary-General’s proposal that the pilot project be made an integral part of the Department’s activities.  The Assembly would also note the Department’s efforts to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, plus Portuguese, as well as, where possible, in other languages.  In that regard, it would stress the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities.

By other terms, the Assembly would reiterate its appreciation for efforts in creating a high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective Web site, and encourage it to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure accessibility to it by persons with disabilities.  It would note with concern, however, that the multilingual development and enrichment of the Web site has been slower than expected, owing to, among other factors, a lack of resources.

Regarding library services, the Assembly would welcome the creation of the Steering Committee on the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries to develop and implement strategy to achieve a more modern, efficient and accessible system.  In recognition of the importance of the depository libraries in disseminating knowledge about United Nations activities, it would urge the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in its capacity as the focal point, to take necessary initiatives towards strengthening such libraries by way of providing regional training and other assistance.

By a draft decision, the Assembly would decide to increase the membership of the Committee on Information from 99 to 102 and to appoint Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Switzerland as members.

The Fourth Committee approved the texts without a vote on 29 October.

Decolonization

By a draft resolution on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter (document A/58/476), the Assembly would request the administering Powers concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned.  It would also request the Secretary-General to ensure that adequate information be drawn from all available sources in connection with the preparation of working papers related to the Territories.

The Fourth Committee approved the text on 14 October by a recorded vote of 129 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (France, Israel, Qatar, United Kingdom, United States).

By a draft resolution on economic and other activities that affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/58/477), the Assembly would reiterate that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Territories, in violation of relevant United Nations resolutions, are a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories.  It would also invite all governments and United Nations organizations to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded.

The Assembly would also, according to the draft, urge the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources.  Administering Powers would also be requested to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

Further by that text, the Assembly would call upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration, and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in the Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interests of the peoples, including indigenous populations, and at promoting their economic and financial viability.

The Fourth Committee approved the draft on 14 October by a recorded vote of 135 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 2 abstentions (France, United Kingdom).

A draft resolution on the 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/58/478) would have the Assembly request those bodies to review conditions in each Territory, so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in their socio-economic sectors.  Specialized agencies and other United Nations system organizations and institutions would also be requested to strengthen existing support measures and formulate appropriate assistance programmes to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories.

According to the text, the Assembly would request specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide information on environmental problems facing the Territories; the impact of natural disasters; ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other criminal activity; and the illegal exploitation of their marine resources.

The Assembly would also request the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and United Nations organizations.  It would request the Secretary-General to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing relevant United Nations resolutions, and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions.

The Fourth Committee approved the draft on 14 October by a recorded vote of 93 in favour to none against, with 45 abstentions.

Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/58/479), by which the Assembly would invite all States to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of the Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence, including, wherever possible, the provision of travel funds.  It would also urge the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities, and to provide all necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers.

The Fourth Committee approved that text without a vote on 14 October.

Also before the Assembly was a draft resolution on the question of New Caledonia (document A/58/480 –- draft resolution I), which would have the Assembly urge all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Noumea Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony.  [The Noumea Accord was signed on 5 May 1998 by representatives of New Caledonia and the French Government.]

By the terms of that draft, the Assembly would invite all the parties 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 Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny.

Further, the Assembly would note positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zoneco" operation, designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia.  Acknowledging the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific, the Assembly would welcome the accession by New Caledonia to observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum.

In that regard, the text continues, the Assembly would welcome the accession by New Caledonia to observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations of countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to such countries.

The Committee approved the draft without a vote on 14 October.

A draft resolution on the question of Tokelau (document A/58/480 –- draft resolution II), would have the Assembly note the Territory’s desire to move at its own pace towards an act of self-determination.  It would also acknowledge Tokelau’s goal to return authority to its traditional leadership, and its wish to provide that leadership with the necessary support to carry out its functions in the contemporary world.

Also by that text, acknowledging progress made to that goal under the Modern House of Tokelau programme, the Assembly would welcome the decision taken by the General Fono in June 2003 to set a target date of 30 June 2004 for the transfer to each Taupulega (Village Council) full responsibility for the management of all its public services.  It would further acknowledge Tokelau’s initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2004 to advance its capacity for self-government.

Welcoming the continuing dialogue with the administering Power and the Territory with a view to develop a programme of work for Tokelau in accordance with Assembly resolution 55/147 of December 2000, the Assembly would acknowledge New Zealand’s continuing support to the Modern House of Tokelau project in 2002-2003, and the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in aligning its programmes under the project.

The Assembly would also note the special challenge inherent in the situation of Tokelau, among the smallest of the small Territories, and that a Territory’s exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination may be brought closer, as in the case of Tokelau, by the meeting of that challenge in innovative ways.  It would also acknowledge the desire of the partners to reaffirm their commitment to each other and welcome the agreement reached in Wellington on 19 June 2003 on the text of an agreement on the principles underpinning the relationship for which the formal approval of the New Zealand Government is being sought.

Also by the text, the Assembly would call upon New Zealand and Tokelau to consider developing an information programme to inform the population of Tokelau about the nature of self-determination, including the three options of integration, free association and independence, so that it may be better prepared to face a future decision on the matter.  It would welcome the invitation to the Chairman of the Special Committee on Decolonization to attend the constitutional convention to be held in Tokelau in September 2003.

The Fourth Committee approved the draft without a vote on 14 October.

Also before the Assembly was a consolidated draft resolution (document A/58/480 –- draft resolution III) concerning American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.  By Part A of that text, the Assembly would reaffirm the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination in conformity with the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.  It would also reaffirm that in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, 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 among the people of their right to self-determination.

Further by that text, the Assembly would reaffirm that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and request the administering Powers and the elected representatives of the peoples of the Territories to facilitate the Special Committee’s work in that regard.  It would also reaffirm the responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the socio-economic development and promote the cultural identity of the Territories, and request the Territories and administering Powers to protect the environment of the Territories under their administration against environmental degradation.

The Assembly would also, by the terms, call upon the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money-laundering and other offences.  Urging Member States to contribute to the United Nations’ efforts to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, it would also call upon them to give their full support to the Special Committee in that endeavour.

Also by the text, the Assembly would note that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely of amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders of Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power.

Part B of the consolidated draft 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 economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the territorial government.  The Assembly would also welcome the assistance from the administering Power to the Territory in its recovery efforts following the recent floods.

By the text on Anguilla, the Assembly would welcome the emphasis placed in the initial stages of the constitutional and electoral reform review process on participation, information and education, and the support provided by the UNDP and the United Kingdom Government Fund for Good Government.  The Assembly would also welcome the cooperation of the territorial Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom in holding the 2003 Caribbean Regional Seminar in Anguilla.  It would note that the staging of the seminar in a Non-Self-Governing Territory for the first time, as well as a town hall meeting between the people of Anguilla and the Special Committee during the seminar, had contributed to its success.

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 welcome the agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and the Territory in June 2002, formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government and the provision of financial resources to address some of the Territory’s environmental problems.  The Assembly would also welcome the convening in the Territory in March 2003 of an international conference on conservation in overseas territories and other small island States, which included governmental and non-governmental organizations, to address issues of common concern.

The text on the British Virgin Islands would have the administering Power, the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions -- bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors -- continue to provide the Territory with assistance for socio-economic and human resources development.

By the draft on the Cayman Islands, the Assembly would welcome the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which conducted an extensive review of the current Constitution, and the recommended changes, following public discussions with community groups and individuals, pursuant to the recommendations of the administering Power as stated in its White Paper entitled “Partnership for Progress and Prosperity:  Britain and the Overseas Territories”.  The Assembly would also request that the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level.

According to 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, and to encourage the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter.

By further terms, the Assembly would request the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory.  It would further request the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration.  In addition, it 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 the development of Guam.

The text on Montserrat would have the Assembly call upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption.  The Assembly would also take note of the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission prepared after extensive consultations with the people of Montserrat, living both in the Territory and abroad, and the consensus that, while the people of Montserrat reserve the right to future self-determination, independence is not a priority, given the present socio-economic status of the Territory.

By the text 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 population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security.

According to the text on the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Assembly would welcome the establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission, which embarked on a public education programme on the Constitution, ascertained the views of the population and made recommendations as stated in its White Paper entitled “Partnership for Progress and Prosperity:  Britain and the Overseas Territories”.  Also by the text, the Assembly would call upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking.

By the draft text on the United States Virgin Islands, the Assembly would request the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States.  The Assembly would also note the economic difficulties being experienced by the territorial Government and the fiscal austerity measure being implemented, and others proposed, to relieve the Territory’s cash flow shortage, and would call upon the administering Power to continue to provide every assistance required by the Territory to further alleviate the difficult economic situation, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans.

Further, the Assembly would note with interest the entering into force in 2001 of the joint memorandum of cooperation on the exchange of artefacts between the Territory and Denmark, the Territory’s former administering Power, as a companion agreement to the 1999 memorandum for the repatriation of archival material from the Danish colonial period, consistent with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001, and once again would request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), under its records and archives management programme, to assist the Territory in carrying out its archival and artefacts initiative.

By other terms, the Assembly would note with concern that the 2000 consensus figures for the Territory indicate that 32.5 per cent of the population is living in poverty.

The Fourth Committee approved the two-part text without a vote on

14 October.

The Assembly also had before it a draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A/58/480 -– draft resolution IV), by which it would reaffirm the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, underlining, in that regard, the validity of the Settlement Plan, while noting the fundamental differences between the parties on its implementation.  It would commend the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts.

Further by the text, the Assembly would continue to strongly support both the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy and their peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties.

By other terms, the Assembly would call upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of the people unaccounted for, and call on the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release, without further delay, all those held since the start of the conflict.

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

By a draft decision on the question of Gibraltar (document A/58/480), the Assembly would take note of the fact that as part of the Brussels negotiating process, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Spain and the United Kingdom hold annual meetings alternatively in each country, the most recent of which were held in Barcelona on 20 November 2001 and in London on 4 February 2002.  It would urge both Governments to continue their negotiations with the object of reaching a definitive solution to the problem of Gibraltar in light of relevant Assembly resolutions and in the spirit of the United Nations Charter.

The Fourth Committee approved the text without a vote on 14 October.

A draft resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization (document A/58/23, part III, section G –- draft resolution VII), would have the Assembly approve activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs.  Those Departments would be requested to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the decolonization field.

Also before the Assembly was a draft resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/58/L.21), by which it would reaffirm its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including resolution 55/146 in which it declares the period 2000-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and call upon the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully, as soon as possible, their right to self-determination, including independence.

Further by that draft, the Assembly would reaffirm once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the United Nations Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

By other terms, the Assembly would approve the report of the Special Committee, including its envisaged work programme for 2004 and call upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with that body to finalize before the end of 2004 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Territories to facilitate the implementation of the Committee’s mandate and the relevant decolonization resolutions.

The Assembly would request the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out General Assembly-approved actions regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including by:  formulating specific proposals to end colonization; to finalize before the end of 2004 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Territories to facilitate the implementation of the Special Committee’s mandate; to continue to dispatch visiting missions to the Territories; and to conduct seminars for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the Special Committee’s work.

According to the text, the Assembly would call upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other United Nations organizations, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the Special Committee’s recommendations for the implementation of the Declaration.  It would also call upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination.

The Assembly would also urge the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources.  It would also urge all States to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Territories and request that the administering Powers take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, both on a bilateral and multilateral basis, in strengthening the economies of the Territories.

Also, the Assembly would call upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the Special Committee’s work to do so at its 2004 session.

Action by Assembly

FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria), Rapporteur of the Special Committee on Decolonization, outlined its activities and introduced its report (document A/58/23, parts I-III).

BRUNO RODRIGUEZ PARRILLA (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Special Committee, then introduced the draft resolution on the implementation of the Decolonization Declaration (document A/58/L.21).

DAMIEN COLE (Ireland), Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee, then introduced its reports.

The Assembly then took up a draft resolution on the effects of atomic radiation (document A/58/470), adopting it without a vote.

Taking up two draft resolutions on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/58/471 I and II), the Assembly adopted them, also without a vote.

Explanation of Position

The representative of Thailand, speaking in explanation of position after the vote, recalled that in 1999 the United Nations had held UNISPACE III, which had set out a series of important recommendations.  Thailand had joined some of the action teams on the implementation of UNISPACE III, cooperated with several regional workshops and had hosted a workshop on bridging the digital divide.  Those activities represented the country’s wish to participate in the work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.  It was hoped that the resolution would pave the way for the Committee’s future enlargement, based on the principle of equitable geographic distribution and a country’s activity in the field.

The Assembly then took up the Fourth Committee’s reports on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (document A/58/472), which contained five draft resolutions.

By a recorded vote of 167 in favour to 1 against (Israel), with 8 abstentions (Cameroon, Federated States of Micronesia, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States), the Assembly adopted draft resolution I, on assistance to Palestine refugees.  (For details, see Annex I.)

The Assembly then adopted draft resolution II, on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, by a recorded vote of 168 in favour to 5 against (Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States), with 3 abstentions (Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda) (Annex II).

It then acted on draft resolution III, on the operations of the UNRWA, adopting it by a recorded 162 votes in favour to 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 8 abstentions (Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda) (Annex III).

The Assembly next adopted draft resolution IV on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Rwanda), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda) (Annex IV).

Concluding its action on UNRWA-related texts, the Assembly adopted draft resolution V on assistance to Palestine refugees and support for the UNRWA by a recorded vote of 133 in favour, none against and 35 abstentions (Annex V).

The Assembly then took up five draft resolutions contained in the Fourth Committee’s report 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/58/473).

It first adopted draft resolution I, on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 7 against (Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 78 abstentions (Annex VI).

Turning to draft resolution II, on the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilians in time of war, the Assembly adopted that text by a recorded 164 votes in favour to 6 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda) (Annex VII).

It then adopted draft resolution III, on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan, by a recorded vote of 156 in favour to 6 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 13 abstentions (Annex VIII).

The Assembly then 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 150 in favour to 6 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 19 abstentions (Annex IX).

Concluding its action on drafts relating to Israeli practices, the Assembly adopted, by a recorded vote of 163 in favour, to one against (Israel) with 11 abstentions, draft resolution V, on the occupied Syrian Golan (Annex X).

The Assembly next took note of the Fourth Committee’s report on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (document A/58/474).

Taking up the Fourth Committee’s report on questions relating to information (document A/58/475), the Assembly then adopted, without a vote, a draft resolution entitled “Information in the service of humanity”, as orally revised, and another entitled, “United Nations public information policies and activities”, also as orally revised.

Acting again without a vote, it then adopted a draft on an increase in the membership of the Committee on Information.

The Assembly next took up a draft resolution contained in document A/58/476, on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter.  It adopted that text by a recorded vote of 163 in favour, none against, with 6 abstentions (Angola, France, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, United Kingdom, United States) (Annex XI).

It then took up a draft resolution contained in document A/58/477 on economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  It adopted that text by a recorded vote of 164 in favour, 2 against (Israel, United States) and 3 abstentions (France, Federated States of Micronesia, United Kingdom) (Annex XII).

By a recorded vote of 116 in favour, none against with 55 abstentions, the Assembly then adopted a draft resolution on the 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/58/478) (Annex XIII).

Explanation of Position

Speaking in explanation of position after that vote, the representative of Antigua and Barbuda said he had voted in favour of the resolution because it served as the legislative mandate for the wider United Nations system to provide support to the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  The Economic and Social Council continued to adopt a similar resolution on the issue and a number of United Nations bodies had specific provisions within their rules of procedure to provide such assistance.  The number of reports on the resolution’s implementation, however, continued to be insufficient.

Taking up a draft resolution on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/58/479), the Assembly adopted that text without a vote.

Taking up draft resolutions on implementation of the Decolonization Declaration with regard to specific Territories (document A/58/480), the Assembly adopted, without a vote, draft resolutions I and II on the questions of New Caledonia and Tokelau respectively.

It then adopted a consolidated draft resolution 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 without a vote, the Assembly then adopted draft resolution IV on the question of Western Sahara.

The Assembly next adopted a draft decision on the question of Gibraltar, again without a vote.

In its final action on Fourth Committee reports, the Assembly took note of the nomination of Saint Kitts and Nevis as a member of the Special Committee on Decolonization.

Change of Vote

The representatives of Algeria, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Niger, Guinea, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Lesotho, Iran and Somalia requested that meeting records reflect that they wished to abstain from voting on the draft resolution relating to assistance to Palestine refugees and support for the UNRWA.  The representative of Honduras said his delegation had voted in favour of the resolution but its vote had not been correctly recorded.

JULIAN HUNTE (Saint Lucia), Assembly President, requested that other delegations wishing to change their vote should approach conference staff after the meeting.

Action on Drafts

The Assembly then took direct action on a number of draft resolutions.

Explanation of Position

The representative of the United States, speaking in explanation of position before the vote, said his country could not support the draft resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.  By adopting a narrow definition of decolonization, the draft resolution failed to take into account the complex reality of Non-Self-Governing Territories, he added.

For the United States, he said, the term “non-self-governing” seemed inappropriate for those who could establish their own constitution, elect their own public officers, have representation in Washington and choose their own economic path.  The United States supported those countries that chose independence and welcomed them as equal and sovereign partners.  At the same time, it reiterated its support for the right of those Territories that did not choose independence to a full measure of self-government, including the rights to integration and free association.

The Assembly then acted on a text entitled “Dissemination of information on decolonization”, adopting it by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 2 against (United Kingdom, United States), with no abstentions (Annex XIV).

By a recorded vote of 154 in favour to 2 against (United Kingdom, United States), with 8 abstentions (Albania, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia), the Assembly then adopted a draft entitled “implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” (document A/58/L.21) (Annex XV).

Explanation of Position

The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking in explanation of position after vote, said he had voted against the resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization because it remained of the view that the obligation that the text placed on the Secretariat represented an unwarranted drain on the scant resources of the United Nations.

He said the United Kingdom had also voted against the text draft resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples because it considered some elements of the text to be unacceptable.  Despite his country’s negative votes on these two resolutions, he reiterated its commitment to modernizing its relationship with the people of the Territories.

The representative of Antigua and Barbuda said he had voted in favour of the drafts because they reiterated the relevance of the principles of self-determination for the Territories.  He called on the Department of Political Affairs to ensure that the studies it had commissioned on the situation of the Territories were completed.

The representative of France said he had voted in favour of resolution A/58/23 but had intended to abstain.  He asked for the change to be reflected in the meeting’s official records.

ANNEX I

Vote on Assistance to Palestine Refugees

The draft resolution on assistance to Palestine refugees (document A/58/472-I) was adopted by a recorded vote of 167 in favour to 1 against, with 8 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel.

Abstain:  Cameroon, Federated States of Micronesia, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States.

Absent:  Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX II

Vote on Displaced Persons

The draft resolution on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities (document A/58/472-II) was adopted by a recorded vote of 168 in favour to 5 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda.

Absent:  Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX III

Vote on UNRWA’s Operations

The draft resolution on UNRWA’s operations (document A/58/472-III) was adopted by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 5 against, with 8 abstentions, as follows:

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

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

Abstain:  Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda.

Absent:  Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX IV

Vote on Palestine Refugees’ Properties and Revenues

The draft resolution on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues (document A/58/472-IV) was adopted by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 5 against, with 4 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda.

Absent:  Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX V

Vote on Assistance to Palestine Refugees/Support for UNRWA

The draft resolution on assistance to Palestine refuges and support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (document A/58/472-V) was adopted by a recorded vote of 133 in favour to none against, with 35 abstentions as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, 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, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  None.

Abstain:  Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, China, Comoros, Cuba, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen.

Absent:  Azerbaijan, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Gambia, Honduras, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam.

ANNEX VI

Vote on Work of Special Committee to Investigate 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/58/473-I) was adopted by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 7 against, with 78 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan.

Absent:  Barbados, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Eritrea, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vanuatu.

ANNEX VII

Vote on Applicability of Geneva Convention

The draft resolution on the applicability of the Geneva Convention (document A/58/473-II) was adopted by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 6 against, with 4 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda.

Absent:  Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX VIII

Vote on Israeli Settlements in Occupied Territories

The draft resolution on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/58/473-III) was adopted by a recorded vote of 156 in favour to 6 against, with 13 abstentions, as follows:

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

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

Abstain:  Australia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu.

Absent:  Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX IX

Vote on Israeli Practices affecting Human Rights

The draft resolution on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied Palestinian territories (document A/58/473-IV) was adopted by a recorded vote of 150 in favour to 6 against, with 19 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom.

Absent:  Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX X

Vote on Occupied Syrian Golan

The draft resolution on the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/58/473-V) was adopted by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 1 against, with 11 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, 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, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel.

Abstain:  Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States.

Absent:  Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX XI

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 United Nations Charter (document A/58/476) was adopted by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to none against, with 6 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  None

Abstain:  Angola, Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent:  Azerbaijan, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gabon, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Palau, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX XII

Vote on Activities Affecting People of Non-Self-Governing Territories

The draft resolution on economic and other activities that affect the interests of the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/58/477) was adopted by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 2 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, United States.

Abstain:  Federated States of Micronesia, France, United Kingdom.

Absent:  Azerbaijan, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gabon, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Palau, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX XIII

Vote on Implementation of Declaration

The draft resolution on the 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/58/478) was adopted by a recorded vote of 116 in favour to none against, with 55 abstentions, as follows:

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

Against:  None.

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent:  Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gabon, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Palau, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX XIV

Vote on Dissemination of Information on Decolonization

The draft resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization (document A/58/23-VII, part III, Section G) was adopted by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 3 against, with no abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstain:  None.

Absent:  Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Palau, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX XV

Vote on Implementation of Declaration

The draft resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/58/L.21) was adopted by a recorded vote of 154 in favour to 2 against, with 8 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 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, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  United Kingdom, United States.

Abstain:  Albania, Belgium, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Israel.

Absent:  Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Palau, Portugal, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

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