NAM Ministers encourage implementation of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism for the remaining territories, and a a genuine self-determination process for French Polynesia/Ma'ohi Nui, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands and other remaining non self-governing territories.
XVII MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT
Algiers, Algeria
26-29 May 2014
Right to Self-Determination and Decolonization
58. The Ministers reaffirmed and underscored the validity and relevance of the Movement's principled positions concerning the right to self-determination of peoples under foreign occupation and colonial or alien domination, as follows:
58.1 The Movement stressed the fundamental and inalienable right of all peoples, including all non-self governing territories, as well as those territories under foreign occupation and colonial or alien domination to self determination, the exercise of which, in the case of peoples under foreign occupation and colonial or alien domination, remains valid and essential to ensure the eradication of all these situations and to guarantee universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
58.2 The Movement reaffirmed the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence on the basis of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and expressed its unwavering support to the resolutions on Puerto Rico adopted by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization; and called for their immediate implementation.Likewise, the Movement called for the release of the Puerto Rican political prisoners, including Oscar Lopez Rivera who has served more than thirty years in prison; and welcomed the release of Carlos Alberto Torres in 2010;
58.3 The Movement remained concerned at the loss, destruction, removal, theft, pillage, illicit movement or misappropriation of and any acts of vandalism or damage, directed against cultural property in areas of armed conflict and territories that are occupied.
59. Recalling the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Ministers welcomed the General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/119 declaring the period 2011-2020 as the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and called to speed up the process of decolonization towards the complete elimination of colonialism in this decade.
60. Consistent with and guided by the aforementioned principled positions and affirming the need to preserve, defend and promote these positions, the Ministers agreed to undertake the following measures, among others:
60.1 Strongly support the work and activities of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, underlining the necessity of reinforcing the importance of its decisions and again urge the Administering Powers to grant their full support to the activities of the Committee and fully cooperate with this UN body;
60.2 Request the colonialist countries to pay full compensation for the economic, social and cultural consequences of their occupation, bearing in mind the right of all people who were or are still subjected to colonial rule or occupation to receive fair compensation for the human and material losses they suffered as a result of colonial rule or occupation;
60.3 Strongly condemn the ongoing brutal suppression of the legitimate aspirations to self-determination of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation in various regions of the world;
60.4 Urge UN Member States to fully implement the decisions and resolutions of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)concerning the return of cultural properties to the peoples who were or still under colonial rule or occupation, and in this regard, further urge UNESCO to identify the stolen or illegally exported cultural properties in accordance with the relevant conventions on the subject, and also urge the process of returning these properties to their countries of origin, in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, be expedited, bearing in mind the right of the Non-Aligned Countries to maintain and conserve their national heritage as it constitutes the foundation of their cultural identity;
60.5 Renew its call to UN Member States to speed up the process of decolonisation towards the complete elimination of colonialism, and including by supporting the effective implementation of the Plan of Action of the Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020);
60.6 The Ministers recalled the 2009 suspension of the Constitution Order of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which abolished the democratically elected House of Assembly and the Cabinet, and the subsequent institution of direct rule exercised by the administrating power for a period of three years. They took note of the provision of a new Constitution Order in 2012 providing for reduced political power to the elected government than previously maintained, and also took note of the subsequent election held in the territory in 2012. The Ministers welcomed the endorsement of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of the Government of the report of its fact finding mission to the Turk and Caicos Islands in 2013, which called for, inter alia, a referendum on self-determination and mechanism for amending the Constitution Order;
60.7 Work towards the full implementation of the principle of self-determination with respect to the remaining territories within the framework of the Programme of Action of the Special Committee on Decolonisation, on a case by case basis, and in accordance with the wishes of the people consistent with the UN Charter and the relevant UN resolutions;
60.8 Oppose any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a State, which is incompatible with the UN Charter;
60.9 Call on the Government of the United States to assume its responsibility to expedite a process that will allow the Puerto Rican people to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, and urges the Government of the United States to return the occupied land and installations on Vieques Island and at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station to the Puerto Rican people, who constitute a Latin American and Caribbean nation; and
60.10 Work actively to have the U.N. General Assembly to consider the question of Puerto Rico in all its aspects.
60.11 The Ministers affirmed the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia- Ma' ohi Nui to self- determination in accordance with Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations and the UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);
60.12 The Ministers welcomed and supported the Atlantic Regional Seminar on Decolonization held in Quito, Ecuador from 28 May to 30 May 2013 convened in Ecuador in its capacity as chair 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. The Ministers appreciated the commitment and efforts of the chair of the Committee to implement its decisions during the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism;
60.13 The Ministers appreciated the commitment and efforts of the Chair of the Committee to implement its decisions during the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
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