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Excellency Secretary-General,
I should also like to express my appreciation to the Special Committee for its support by consensus of Indonesia’s candidacy for the Chair. At the same time, I would like to extend my congratulations
to Bureau members on the assumption of their duties, namely, His
Excellency Ambassador Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, the Permanent Representative
of Cuba, and Mr. Luc Joseph Okio of the Republic of Congo, as Vice-Chairmen;
and to the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic,
His Excellency Ambassador Bashir Ja’afari as Rapporteur. I
trust that we have in the Committee the right mix of experience
-- a blend of continuity and fresh ideas -- to make this year a
success as we work together to seek progress in the area of decolonization,
and I therefore look forward to working closely with them in the
discharge of my mandates. Excellencies, Despite all the achievements made, decolonization remains an unfinished business of the United Nations. We must therefore continue to give decolonization a high priority and seek effective ways to accelerate the process of decolonization in the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories. With less than three years to the end of the Second Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, we face a formidable challenge to resolve their “permanent” international political status in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions. As the main UN body to pursue the cause of decolonization,
it is essential that the Special Committee keeps its responsibilities
towards the Non-Self-Governing Territories around the world that
remain under its purview. In view of the limited progress in the
area of decolonization in recent years, there is now an urgent need
for the international community to establish a compelling and promising
basis for its approach to decolonizing the Territories that would
directly involve all concerned. There is therefore an urgent need
for the Special Committee to identify innovative ways, means and
options to move forward. It bears repeating what many have come to realize in recent years: the full implementation and completion of the United Nations’ decolonization mandate can succeed only as a collaborative effort by the international community, the administering Powers and the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories themselves. The people of the Territories must have information on the range of decolonization options open to them under the General Assembly’s resolutions in order to be in a position to express their will on the matter. Administering Powers need to work within the parameters of the options enshrined in the General Assembly resolutions to advance status-related discussions in their respective Non-Self-Governing Territories in a manner that is suitable to prospective international scrutiny and approval. In light of this, let me extend my appreciation to New Zealand for its much lauded example of Tokelau. Although the Territory is in a period of reflection after the results of last year’s referendum, New Zealand has committed itself to continuing its constructive support of Tokelau in its search for a self-governing future. We encourage other administering Powers to follow suit in pursuing real and meaningful collaboration with the Committee. From our part, let us, members of the Committee, reaffirm our commitment for genuine and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders. Let us also reaffirm our continued commitment to give all possible support to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in establishing conditions that will enable them, through an internationally valid act of self-determination, to demonstrate their preference regarding their respective status. We also look forward to convening the annual regional seminar on decolonization this year in the Asia and Pacific region in May, as well as the Special Committee’s substantive session the following month. The Special Committee will make every effort to put together action-oriented and focused recommendations to the General Assembly in order to promote the aspirations of the Non-Self-Governing Territories. The venue of the seminar will be explored and decided upon in due course, and let us aim to fully utilizing the seminar as a forum to explore innovative ideas in pursuing the course of decolonization.
Indonesia is indeed privileged to have the opportunity to Chair the Special Committee in 2008. Indonesia attaches great importance to the work of C-24, as it is our constitutional mandate to take part actively in international order based on independence, lasting peace, and social justice, of which decolonization is a fundamental element. Not long after our own independence from colonial rule, as a very young nation, Indonesia took a bold step of hosting of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, 1955. The Conference produced the 10 Bandung Principles which inter alia laid a new foundation for the cause of decolonization across the globe. Let me quote the statement of His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, “The assembled leaders underlined the fundamental right of all peoples to self-determination. They pledged their solidarity with each other in the fight against colonialism and in the struggle for economic and social development”. Indonesia has come a long way, with all of its ups and downs, since we started to embark upon our path in fulfilling our Constitutional mandate. Yet, we have always kept the Bandung spirit alive in our heart, and it is with the spirit of the Bandung Principles that we have decided to accept this honour to Chair the Special Committee on Decolonization, and I thank you for your trust upon us. With your help, I shall strive to fulfill our responsibilities to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their peoples so as to further the complete eradication of colonialism. I shall be most grateful for the cooperation extended to me by the members of the Special Committee and each of the administering Powers in helping to advance the United Nations’ work on decolonization. Thank you.
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