Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished delegates,
It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity to address the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly to discuss the agenda items on decolonization on behalf of the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. I take this opportunity to cordially congratulate the Chairman and the other members of the Bureau on their election and for the opening of this session and I wish them success in their deliberations.
I would like to begin this statement by sending from the Chairmanship of the Committee our heartfelt condolences to and our solidarity with the families of the victims of the hurricanes that recently devastated the Caribbean and some areas of the United States. A particular mention of support in such difficult circumstances is extended to the member countries of the Committee: Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba and Dominica, to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as to the people of Puerto Rico. In due course, the Committee issued a statement of support to those who suffered due to these severe weather phenomena.
Likewise, we would like to convey our condolences and support to the people and Government of Mexico, for the unfortunate human losses and destruction caused by the earthquakes that occurred last September
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished delegates,
Turning to the matter at hand, we would like to bring into this room the words of sincere commitment to the agenda on decolonization expressed by the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, at the opening of the 2017 session. On that occasion, being the first time he had addressed the Special Committee, the Secretary-General reiterated his support for the work of this body during this year, hoping that we would continue to advance in the United Nations decolonization mandate, in view of the important role of the Committee to promote this goal.
We thank the Secretary-General for his willingness and determination to accompany us in the harsh struggle to end colonialism and, in that regard, we urge the membership of the Organization to emulate this constructive attitude of the Secretary-General in favor of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of the list of the United Nations, which expect from all of us a firm support to their desires to freely exercise their right to self-determination.
During the months of May and June, the Special Committee once again had the opportunity, within the framework of its two main events, to know the situation of
Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) within its field of competence. On the one hand, in the Caribbean Regional Seminar held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in May of this year, the process of implementing 2030 Agenda in NSGT was highlighted as one of the main points of discussion, considering the economic dimension and the coincidence of the Objectives and Goals of sustainable development with the provisions of the plan of action applicable to the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
In this regard, we would like to point out the significant link between the processes of decolonization and the objectives set out in 2030 Agenda, given the contribution that this would bring to the new political entities that could arise after the end of colonialism, in the consolidation of its development and to face the new challenges that would arise once the Territory changes its status. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the administering Powers to apply the Objectives and Goals of sustainable development in Non-Self-Governing Territories, on a case-by-case basis, as long as these Territories are under their administration, taking into account the criteria of 2030 Agenda of leaving no one behind.
It is worth mentioning that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) participated in the Regional Seminar, which represented a significant step forward with regard to previous years, considering the presence of specialized agencies of the United Nations system in the work of the Committee.
Likewise, this Seminar provided an opportunity for an objective assessment of the Committee's compliance with the mandate. In this context, together with the recognition of the work of this subsidiary body throughout its history, critical approaches and analyzes were made on the current obstacles on the road to decolonization and, as a result, there was an exchange of ideas on how to make the Committee's mandate more effective, and proposals and recommendations were presented to improve its response capacity, bearing in mind that we are only three years away from the end of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
On the other hand, at the formal session of June held in New York, the Committee had the honor to receive, at a historic event, the Puerto Rican independence leader, Oscar López Rivera, whose sentence had only recently been commuted after 36 years in American prisons and whose release represented a momentous cause for the Special Committee, which added to the just claim of the people of Puerto Rico for the release of Lopez Rivera. Hearing his passionate statement in favor of the independence of the Caribbean island was a source of pride for this Committee, and an incentive in the collective efforts of this subsidiary body to continue the struggle for self-determination and the end of colonialism.
As for other substantive topics of the formal sessions, the respectful and negotiating framework that existed allowed the successful conclusion of the work, as well as outstanding achievements in relevant aspects of the language of the resolutions on the Territories that included the old "omnibus" resolution, the consideration of a plan of visiting missions to the NSGT, on a case-by-case basis, the reference to the dispute on Gibraltar in such resolution, and the call to the administering Powers to put an end to military activities and bases in the Territories.
Both, at the Regional Seminar and the formal sessions, the points of view of stakeholders and of other Member States as well as the views of experts, individuals and representatives of civil society were heard. The lively and fruitful debates held on both occasions enabled the Special Committee to study its future work and the advancement of the decolonization process in each Territory, taking due account of its particular circumstances. In accordance with its customary practice, all resolutions and decisions were adopted by consensus, including those for the consideration of the Fourth Committee.
It is appropriate to mention that the Seminar and the substantive sessions of this year had the participation of the French Polynesia Territory, for the first time since its re-registration as Non-Self-governing Territory in 2013. We take this opportunity to encourage all NSGT to equally participate in the spaces offered by this Committee, because only in that way, we will know - first voice - their needs, urgencies, and their progress. In the same way, we call on the administering Powers to maintain a more active presence in the work of the Special Committee, considering their fundamental role in promoting the processes of decolonization in the respective Territories.
On June 30, 2017, the C-24 celebrated again the International Week of Solidarity with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with an exhibition entitled "Decolonization: Time is running out", whose main purpose was to recall that, within three years of the end of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, the peoples of the 17 NSGT still remain under the control of the administering Powers and hope that the members of the United Nations –in order to accelerate the process of decolonization- fulfill their commitments and responsibilities, in accordance with the Charter and the resolutions of the General Assembly.
On 25 July 2017, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Decolonization participated in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Coordination and Management meeting to bring to the attention of ECOSOC the report of the Secretary-General, A / 72/69, listing the specialized agencies and other international organizations invited by the Secretary-General to submit relevant information, as well as the report of the Chairman of the Council, E / 2017/59, which included information submitted by ten (10) entities of the United Nations system, four (04) more as compared to the 2016 report. This revealed the importance of the support they provide to various Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Special Committee. Also on that day, a resolution on support for Non-Self-Governing Territories was approved by specialized bodies and international institutions related to the United Nations.
With regard to future activities of the C-24, in accordance with recent practices, the Committee's Bureau plans to meet with the Secretary-General to report on the recent developments of the Special Committee. Likewise, informal consultations will be held with the administering Powers and other parties concerned to hear their views and define their cooperation within the framework of their respective responsibilities to implement self-determination in the Territories. The Committee attaches great importance to intensifying the dialogue and to encouraging a more active participation by such administering Powers towards the implementation of the decolonization mandate.
In addition, the Committee plans to carry out the visiting missions which, according to the mandate of the General Assembly in December 2016, should be carried out annually. These visiting missions, which are an effective way for the Special Committee to examine the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, could be undertaken within the framework of a plan designed by the Committee to cover the Territories of the relevant list, on a case-by-case basis.
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished delegates,
The initiatives undertaken by the Special Committee on Decolonization to promote the decolonization program should be pursued in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and taking into account the situation on a case-by-case basis. This task is not easy. However, the members of the Special Committee on Decolonization are strongly committed to the successful completion of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. This commitment is evident in the series of new proposals made by its members, both during the Regional Seminar and at the June sessions, with a view to improving the work of the Special Committee on Decolonization.
Mr. President,
Distinguished delegates,
I would like to thank the members of the Fourth Committee for their continued support for the work of the Special Committee on Decolonization and to urge them to consider favorably the recommendations sent to this Committee which are contained in the report that has just been submitted by the Rapporteur.
I would also like to thank the team of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, the Decolonization Unit of the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information for their work related to the 2017 session of the Special Committee on Decolonization.
In conclusion, let me point out that the Committee's responsibility to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to history to fully carry out its mandate demands from all its members an undeniable commitment to the cause of decolonization; we must not let indifference, misunderstood neutrality or petty interests interfere with the very high duty we have to put an end to the scourge of colonialism through diplomacy, negotiation and multilateralism provided by the United Nations. It is imperative that we redouble our efforts so that the C-24 makes tangible progress towards the full implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as all relevant resolutions on decolonization.
We respectfully urge the Fourth Committee, as member States of this Organization, to join actively in the struggle for self-determination of peoples. This Committee looks forward to the productive discussions that will take place in this room during the 72nd session of the UNGA.
Thank you very much.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.