Special Committee on Decolonization Decides to Hold Pacific Regional Seminar in Managua, Nicaragua, 31 May-2 June

The Special Committee on Decolonization today decided to hold its Pacific Regional Seminar in Managua, Nicaragua, from 31 May to 2 June, and approved the theme, agenda and other organizational issues related to the modalities of the biennial meeting.

Approving a set of guidelines and rules of procedure (document A/AC.109/2016/19), the body — known formally as the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples — decided that the theme of the Seminar would be “Implementation of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism:  commitments and actions for decolonization in the Non-Self-Governing Territories”.

The body also decided that its delegation to the Pacific Regional Seminar would be made up of 10 Special Committee members hailing from the four regional groups:  the Group of African States, the Group of Asia-Pacific States, the Group of Eastern European States and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Special Committee Chair Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño (Venezuela) recalled that no Asia-Pacific member of the Committee had offered to host the seminar by the deadline of 14 March.  As previously agreed, other members were then invited to make offers to host the meeting, and Nicaragua had transmitted its offer through a formal correspondence.  Bureau members had unanimously expressed their strong support for the offer.  The subsequent “no objection” outcome of the 4-5 April silent procedure had signified the Committee’s wish to proceed with Nicaragua’s offer.

On a related matter, he said the Special Committee, through its Bureau, would invite up to six experts and representatives of non-governmental organizations to attend the seminar.

Sierra Leone’s representative then sought clarification as to how experts had been removed from the list maintained by the Special Committee.  The Chair said a response would be circulated to members.

Nicaragua’s representative said that, since her country had both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast, it was pleased to be able to host the Seminar.  Nicaragua had fought for liberation and was committed to the decolonization process.  The Seminar would be an opportunity to strengthen efforts to rid the world of colonialism once and for all.

Several speakers, including representatives of Indonesia, Chile and China, took the floor to express gratitude to the Government and people of Nicaragua for their offer to host the seminar.

The Special Committee will reconvene in a formal meeting on 13 June.