Caribbean Regional Seminar Discusses Innovative Ways to Expedite Goals

of Third International Decade for Eradication of Colonialism

 

(Reissued as received.)

QUITO, 30 May ‑ At the conclusion of its three-day review of development and trends associated with the decolonization process today, participants in the 2013 Caribbean Regional Seminar exchanged views on the event’s impact and considered the way forward in promoting the goals of the Third International Decade.

In his closing statement, the Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, Diego Morejón-Pazmiño ( Ecuador), noted that “good, constructive discussions” had been held during the Seminar.  Representatives of territorial Governments, experts and Member States had made valuable contributions on how to move the decolonization agenda forward.  He extended the Special Committee’s appreciation to all the participants, particularly the representatives and experts from the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and the Government of Ecuador as host.

The Special Committee heard the specific concerns of territorial Governments and civil society, where unique situations warranted specific and individual attention on the part of the United Nations.  The Special Committee had reinforced the role of the regional seminars as critical to the essential analysis of the actual situation in the Territories, while facilitating an exchange of views between and among a range of stakeholders.

The Seminar stressed the Special Committee’s need to send periodic visiting missions to Non-Self-Governing Territories and called upon the administering Powers of those Territories to fully cooperate with such missions.

The Seminar once again recommended that the Special Committee, the administering Powers and the Non-Self-Governing Territories engage in constructive discussions and innovate ways to expedite implementation of the Third Decade’s goals, with participants reiterating that progress could only be achieved with the active cooperation of the administering Powers.  The action plan for the Third Decade, some participants said, should contain a clear timeline of achievable indicators for the full implementation of the Declaration.

The Seminar closed with the adoption of a resolution expressing appreciation to the Government and people of Ecuador for providing the Special Committee with the facilities for the Seminar, as well as their generous hospitality and warm reception.

Mauricio Montalvo, Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Organizations of Ecuador, said:  “We are aware that as long as the dialogue does not lead to clear actions and concrete results allowing progress in the decolonization process, these meetings will be a purely academic exercise.”  He added that once again the Seminar recognized that no general rules can be established; each case must be treated individually.

The Seminar’s draft report, including its conclusions and recommendations, would be forwarded to the Special Committee on Decolonization for review.

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For information media • not an official record