8/10/2004
Press Release GA/SPD/288
Fifty-ninth General Assembly
Fourth Committee
6th Meeting (PM)
MOROCCO INVITES ALGERIA TO ENTER INTO DIRECT DIALOGUE ON WESTERN SAHARA,
AS FOURTH COMMITTEE CONCLUDES DISCUSSION OF DECOLONIZATION ISSUES
...
As the debate neared its close, most speakers also continued to stress the
importance of ending all colonialism before the 2010 term of the Second
International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. In that effort, many
called for greater cooperation by administering Powers, greater dissemination of
information concerning the situations of each Territory, the continuation of
regional seminars and an increase in missions by the Special Committee.
In that light, the representative of Timor-Leste paid tribute to the
representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, among whose ranks he had
been until recently, and recognized the patience of the representatives of
Member States who listened to their voices and provided them hope. He welcomed
progress in Tokelau. In addition, given their common struggle, he said there
were natural bonds of solidarity between his people and those of Western Sahara,
as they both shared the bitterness of suffering and exile because of common
aspirations for freedom and self-determination. He called on the leaders in the
region to work together toward a vision that erased the vestiges of colonialism.
...
Background
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this
afternoon to conclude its general debate on decolonization issues.
Statements ...
JOSE LUIS GUTERRES (Timor-Leste) paid tribute to the representatives of the
Non-Self-Governing Territories among whose ranks he had been until recently, and
recognized the patience of the delegates who had listened to their voices and
provided them with hope. There were still 16 Territories too many, and hopefully
the Second Decade would continue to call attention to their need for assistance.
Timor-Leste welcomed the progress made by the people of Tokelau and the
administering Power, New Zealand, as well as the efforts made by CARICOM to
integrate the Caribbean Territories into its institutions. It also welcomed the
support to the peoples of the Territories given by Member States and specialized
agencies of the United Nations.
He said that given their common struggle, there were natural bonds of
solidarity between his people and those of Western Sahara, as they both shared
the bitterness of suffering and exile because of their common aspirations for
freedom and self-determination. Concerned by the slow pace of progress toward
the self-determination referendum, despite the encouraging developments, such as
the release of war prisoners by the Frente POLISARIO and the maintenance of the
ceasefire, Timor-Leste looked to the leaders of the region for a vision that
would unite the peoples and countries of the Maghreb in order to erase the
remaining traces of colonialism there.
ISMAEL ABRAAO GASPAR MARTINS (Angola) expressed satisfaction at taking the
floor after the representative of Timor-Leste, who represented a heroic struggle
on the part of his people and persistent work on the part of the Special
Committee. There was, however, concern that the remaining 16 Territories would
not be able to attain self-determination before the end of the Second
International Decade. In that connection, Angola was concerned over the
situation in Western Sahara. The Settlement Plan and the Peace Plan were a good
basis to peacefully resolve the conflict in that Territory. The parties
concerned were encouraged to work together in order to achieve a peaceful
resolution of the problem. The time had come to give the people of Western
Sahara the opportunity to enjoy their inalienable right to self-determination.
Turning to other areas, he supported visiting missions of the Special
Committee to the Territories and urged full cooperation by the administering
Powers in that regard. Angola also supported further review mechanisms for
progress in implementing the relevant General Assembly resolutions. The United
Nations, the European Union and the African Union all had roles to play in
assuring adherence to international law in matters of decolonization.
...
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