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Statement by
Almost forty three years after the historic United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 1514 (XV) and 1541 (XV), the Committee has amassed a creditable record of achievements. Out of 114 territories subject to the United Nations Trusteeship Agreements or listed by the General Assembly as non-self governing since 1945, most of them have been successfully resolved either through independence or change in status. However, the task and mandate of this Committee remain unfulfilled as there remain 16 non-self governing territories that are yet to be resolved. Therefore, it is imperative that the status of the remaining non-self-governing territories including the Committee’s agenda item today, the question Falkland Islands (Malvinas), be resolved expeditiously and comprehensively. While the process of decolonization should be the principle of the inalienable right of peoples of the territories to self-determination, the Special Committee has always recognized that no universal criteria can be applied for decolonization questions since each issue is unique, with its special characteristics and subject to prevailing realities. The case of Falkland Islands (Malvinas) is no exception since the General Assembly has long considered this item to be a special case in its resolutions 2065 (XX) and 3160 (XXVIII). The Resolutions took note of the existence of sovereignty dispute over the islands between Argentina and the United Kingdom, exhorted them to seek a peaceful solution and declared the need to accelerate negotiations in order to put an end to the colonial situation without delay. Despite the lapse of many years since their adoption and the Assembly’s continued consideration of this question, a final solution on this matter is yet to be worked out. We are heartened, however, at some positive developments that have taken place in the bilateral relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom as reflected in the joint press release of the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of 16 May 2002 on the occasion of the exchange of letter regarding visits of Argentine nationals to South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and during the Caribbean Regional Seminar in Anguilla 20-23 May of this year. We note, in particular, the exchange of visits by high-level officials of both countries (including the official visit to the United Kingdom of the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, HE Mr. Carlos F. Ruckauf, on 4 and 5 November 2002), the sharing of information with regard to the feasibility study to clear land mines, and the on-going negotiations to explore other areas of differences in a spirit of mutual trust and confidence. My delegation is aware that this question can only be resolved speedily through peaceful means in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations as well as the principles of the Charter and international law. Only on this basis would it be possible to seek a fair, equitable and durable solution to this long-pending problem. It is gratifying to note that both parties have expressed the willingness to resume negotiations. In line with this spirit, it is my delegation’s hope that the Committee would again reach a consensus on the draft resolution before us. Thank you Mr. Chairman. New
York, 16 June 2003
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