Statement by Ambassador Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan in the General Debate of the Special Political and Decolonization (4th) Committee on the Decolonization Items (9 October 2009)

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the Pakistan delegation, I would like to congratulate you and other members of the Bureau, on the assumption of your offices. It is a matter of immense pleasure to see you as the Chair of this important Committee, and I am certain that we all will benefit from your experience and professionalism during the course of its proceedings.

  1. I also avail myself of this opportunity to express our gratitude to the former Chairman for his able handling of the Committee in the last session. We express our appreciation to Ambassador Basher Ja’afari for his statement on 5th October. Pakistan supports the recommendations contained in the Report A/64/23.

Mr. Chairman,

  1. The General Assembly has reaffirmed time and again that colonialism in any form or manifestation is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In its historic Declaration contained in Resolution 1514 of 14 December 1960, the General Assembly had declared: “the subjection of people to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation”.
  2. In pursuing the decolonization agenda for a better and more peaceful world, Pakistan values the role and contribution of the Special Committee on Decolonization, particularly its position as the focal point for a comprehensive, system-wide effort of engaging UN bodies and agencies, the peoples of the Territories, the administering powers, the Member States and the wider international community.

Mr. Chairman,

  1. The United Nations is seen as a beacon of hope and justice in many parts of the world. It is our premier peace-building institution. It has peace building commitments, post conflict stabilization responsibilities, and broad and diverse expertise in the field of rule of law. It has programmes in over one hundred twenty (122) countries and rule of law related programme in about thirty (30) countries. Above all, it is the most important trend setting Member State institution at the international level and enjoys unique symbolism.
  2. The United Nations should, therefore, play a lead role in upholding and promoting the rule of law by setting examples. Concerted efforts should be made to ensure that the resolutions and decisions of the Security Council are implemented uniformly and without discrimination, irrespective of their adoption under Chapter VI or Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Selective implementation must be avoided as it creates an unjust environment, which deepens conflicts and compounds sufferings of peoples. It also erodes confidence in the system and undermines credibility of the organization.

Mr. Chairman,

  1. Mindful of our Committee’s central role, Pakistan sincerely hopes that our deliberations this year will review the status of implementation of earlier United Nations’ resolutions and decisions with regard to the unfinished decolonization agenda. Unfortunately, progress on this issue in the last few years has not matched the goals we all had set for ourselves. The Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010) is coming to an end but colonialism continues. The reason is not any dearth of resolutions or decisions but lack of political will to implement them. We have seen in the past that decolonization has a way only where there is a political will. As status quo powers, the administrating powers must show this political will to engage positively with their respective territories. In this context, the case of Tokelau and the Government of New Zealand can set a benchmark for all others to emulate.

Mr. Chairman,

  1. Achieving the goal of universal decolonization would require that the Administering Powers and the United Nations System fulfill respective responsibilities. In this equation, the administering powers must create conditions in the Territories that would enable the people to exercise freely and without interference, their inalienable right to self-determination. On its part, the United Nations system has a two-fold responsibility: Firstly, it should address the special needs of the Territories through assistance by the specialized agencies and international institutions and secondly, keep the people of the Territories, cognizant of options available to them with regard to self-determination.

Mr. Chairman,

  1. The right to self-determination is the fundamental principle driving the struggle against colonial domination and foreign occupation. It is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the Charter, and recognized under the relevant human rights conventions. Decolonization and the right to self-determination are objectives of such importance, scope and global relevance, that they cannot be limited to the Non-Self Governing Territories alone. Their application is universal. Our leaders at the 2005 World Summit rededicated themselves to uphold the right to self-determination of peoples, which remain under colonial domination and foreign occupation.
  2. Negation of the right to self-determination breeds discontent, ignites conflicts and threatens peace and security. Unfortunately, South Asia and Middle East have witnessed it directly.
  3. In South Asia, the inalienable right to self-determination of the People of Jammu and Kashmir is recognized by a number of Security Council Resolutions. Pakistan is committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute acceptable to all sides --- India, Pakistan and above all Kashmiri people. A peaceful resolution of this dispute is imperative for durable peace, stability and progress in South Asia. The decolonization agenda of the United Nations would be incomplete without resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
  4. In the Middle East, the continued denial of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people is the core underlying cause of conflict and the primary impediment to comprehensive peace. Pakistan continues to support the just struggle of the Palestinian people for peace and freedom.
  5. Similarly, Pakistan believes that a just and mutually acceptable settlement of the issue of Western Sahara will bring peace for the region and better opportunities for millions of its inhabitants. We sincerely hope that the relevant parties of this dispute will achieve this peace through ongoing negotiations in the spirit of accommodation and goodwill.

Thank you.