Question of New Caledonia : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of New Caledonia,

Having examined the chapter 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 New Caledonia,

Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960,

Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination,

Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia,

1.         Approves the section 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 New Caledonia;

2.         Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain their dialogue in a spirit of harmony;

3.         Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians;

4.         Welcomes measures taken recently and those anticipated to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields;

5.         Also welcomes the call by the Committee to Monitor the Matignon Agreement, at its meeting held in Paris on 17 and 18 October 1991, for greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia;

6.         Commends the decision to establish a Melanesian cultural centre as a contribution to preserving the indigenous culture of New Caledonia;

7.         Takes note of the recent positive initiatives aimed at protecting New Caledonia's natural environment, notably the "Zoneco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia;

8.         Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the member countries of the South Pacific Forum;

9.         Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this question at its next session and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session.