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Questions of American Samoa, Antigua, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Dominica, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Grenada, Guam, Montserrat, New Hebrides, Niue, Pitcairn, St. Helena, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tokelau Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands

Publisher UN General Assembly
Author UN General Assembly
Publication Date 14 December 1970
Citation / Document Symbol A/RES/2709
Reference Twenty-Fifth Session
Cite as UN General Assembly, Questions of American Samoa, Antigua, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Dominica, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Grenada, Guam, Montserrat, New Hebrides, Niue, Pitcairn, St. Helena, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tokelau Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, 14 December 1970, A/RES/2709, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f04d5c.html [accessed 21 May 2023]

XXV. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2709. Questions of American Samoa, Antigua, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Dominica, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Grenada, Guam, Montserrat, New Hebrides, Niue, Pitcairn, St. Helena, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tokelau Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of American Samoa, Antigua, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Dominica, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Grenada, Guam, Montserrat, New Hebrides, Niue, Pitcairn, St. Helena, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tokelau Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands,

Having examined the chapters of the report 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 relating to these Territories,[1]

Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other relevant resolutions, as well as the relevant provisions of its resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970 containing the programme of action for the full implementation of the Declaration,

Deeply concerned at the policy of some administering Powers in establishing and maintaining military bases in some of the Territories under their administration, in contravention of the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly,

Deploring the attitude of those administering Powers which continue to refuse to allow United Nations visiting missions to visit the Territories under their administration,

Reaffirming the vital importance of visiting missions as a means of securing adequate and first-hand information in regard to political, economic and social conditions in the Territories and to the views, wishes and aspirations of the people in these Territories,

Conscious that these Territories require the continued attention and assistance of the United Nations

in the achievement by their peoples of the objectives embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/8023/Rev.1), chapters XVIl and XVIIII.

in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of these Territories,

1. Approves the chapters of the report 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 relating to these Territories;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of these Territories to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

3. Calls upon the administering Powers to implement with respect to these Territories, and without further delay, resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

4. Expresses its conviction that the questions of territorial size, geographical isolation and limited resources should in no way delay the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples with respect to these Territories;

5. Reiterates its declaration that any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of colonial Territories and the establishment of military bases and installations in these Territories is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and resolution 1514 (XV);

6. Strongly urges the administering Powers to reconsider their attitude towards the receiving of visiting missions to the above-mentioned Territories and to permit access by such visiting missions to Territories under their administration;

7. Decides that the United Nations should render all help to the peoples of these Territories in their efforts freely to decide their future status;

8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to pay special attention to these Territories and to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

1929th plenary meeting,
14 December 1970.



[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fifth

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