Programme for special UN Decade on decolonization considered.

Colonialism in all its forms is incompatible with the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1960 Declaration on decolonization and poses a serious threat to international peace and security.

So stated the General Assembly on 11 December in taking action on a wide range of decolonization issues, including work on an action plan for the international Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. Twenty-one to twenty-five texts on decolonization were adopted by the Assembly on the recommendation of its Fourth Committee (Decolonization).

Committee Chairman Robert Van Lierop Of Vanuatu said the process of decolonization was like a marathon race: in both cases it was more difficult to finish than to start. Namibia's impending independence was a step closer to the completion of the decolonization process, the Organization's own "marathon", he went on. The international community must guarantee the timely completion of the final stages of Namibia's evolution to independence.

The Decade to end colonialism "encompassed one of the most laudable goals of the UN", he said. The completion of the decolonization process was the greatest assurance of the security and peaceful development of countries which had already attained their political independence.

The Assembly reaffirmed its determination to act to ensure "the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism," as well as its recognition of the legitimacy of the struggle of the peoples under colonial and alien domination to exercise their right to self-determination and independence "by all the necessary means at their disposal".

In 1988, the Assembly declared the 1990s as the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. In 1989, it requested suggestions from Member States and UN organizations as input for an action plan for the Decade aimed at ushering in the twenty-first century as a world free from colonialism".

The Assembly also endorsed the programme of activities recommended by the Special Committee on decolonization in observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the 1960 Declaration on decolonization. Among other things, a special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly will be held in October 1990, at which a special declaration is scheduled for adoption.

New Caledonia, 13 small Territories

Noting the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, the Assembly urged all the parties involved to maintain a dialogue and to refrain from acts of violence. All parties were also invited 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".

The Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom were asked to continue their negotiations to reach a definitive solution to the problem of Gibraltar.

The United Kingdom, administering Power of several Territories, was asked to counter problems related to drug trafficking in Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. As administering Power of Pitcairn, it was also asked to continue to respect "the very individual life-style that the people of the Territory have chosen" and to preserve, promote and protect it.

New Zealand, administering Power of Tokelau, was urged to preserve the inhabitants' social, cultural and traditional heritage in carrying out the Territory's political and economic development.

The Assembly noted with concern the trade and transportation dependency of St. Helena and the continued presence of military facilities on the dependency of Ascension Island. The presence of military bases and installations in Bermuda and Guam was considered a possible obstacle to implementation of the decolonization Declaration.

Continued assistance to Territories ravaged by Hurricane Hugo-the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and the United States Virgin Islands-was urged.

In adopting resolutions on all small Territories, the Assembly reiterated its view that such factors as territorial size, geographical location, population size and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy exercise by the peoples of those Territories of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.

With regard to certain Territories, such as American Samoa, administering Powers were urged to promote their social and economic development.

Other action

In other action, colonial Powers were asked to withdraw military installations from Territories they supervised and to refrain from establishing new ones. All States were urged to end collaboration with South Africa in the political, economic, military and nuclear fields.

All States, specialized agencies and other UN bodies were called on to provide moral and material assistance to the people of Namibia, both during the transitional period and after independence. Assistance to the colonial peoples was also asked for.

Other action concerned the dissemination of information on decolonization; and implementation of the decolonization Declaration by specialized agencies. Also dealt with were issues relating to information from Non-Self-Governing Territories; the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa; and offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of NonSelf-Governing Territories.