Africa-Press – Angola. Angola’s permanent representative to the UN in New York stated that the country supports the UN’s ongoing effort to accelerate the complete decolonization process, including the work of the Special Committee and all activities to implement the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Peoples, as well as the Plan of Action for the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
Ambassador Maria de Jesus Ferreira was speaking, on Monday, at the Substantial Session of the Decolonization Committee, which takes place in New York and reiterated Angola’s support for the Committee’s efforts to implement the principles of the United Nations Charter and the objectives of the Resolution of the General Assembly 1514, of December 14, 1960, regarding the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence.
He considered that the independence, sovereignty and unity of States are legitimate rights of all peoples: “Any violation of these principles will harm, not only the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence, but also the emergence of new conflicts in the Northern Region of Africa and Africa in general, in addition to preventing the opportunity for development, integration and stability in the Territory”.
For the diplomat, cited in a press release issued by the Angolan mission to the UN, the constructive political dialogue between the Sahara Republic and Morocco is relevant, at the moment, to reach a realistic, legitimate and mutually acceptable solution, taking into account the interests of the inhabitants of the Territory.
“The peaceful resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara also requires the implementation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles set out in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, including respect for existing borders and decolonization, through a genuine process of self-determination under the under the auspices of the UN and the AU,” he added.
In this regard, he appealed to the Secretary General’s special envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to continue to negotiate with the parties (the Polisario Front and Morocco), to advance the peace process, initiated by Horst Kohler to guarantee the people Saharawi the inalienable right to self-determination and independence, through the holding of the referendum agreed by the international community.
In this context, Maria de Jesus Ferreira encouraged the United Nations to put into practice the UNOAU Resolution Plan accepted by both parties (Polisario Front and Morocco) in 1988 and approved by the Security Council in 1990 and 1991, in order to reach a peaceful solution. and lasting in Western Sahara, encouraging the Committee to continue coordination with Member States and Non-Self-Governing Territories to obtain significant results on the issues of the decolonization agenda.
Topics Under Debate
On the first day of the work of the Substantive Session of the Special Committee on Decolonization, topics such as “the dissemination of information on decolonization”, “information on autonomous territories transmitted under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter”, “the issue of sending of missions to visit the territories”, “the issue of Gibraltar”, “the issue of Tokelau” and “the issue of Western Sahara”.
The Session will run until the 24th of this month and will cover, among other topics, the issue of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and French Polynesia.
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 1654 (XVI), the Special Committee on the Decolonization and Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (C-24) was mandated to review the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples , make suggestions and recommendations on the progress and extent of implementation of the Declaration. The C-24 began service in 1962.
There are currently 17 Non-Autonomous Territories under the auspices of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, namely Western Sahara, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam , Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands and US Virgin Islands.
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