Question of the Cook Islands

XX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2064. Question of the Cook Islands

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling its resolution 2005 (XIX) of 18 February 1965, authorizing the Secretary-General to appoint a United Nations representative to supervise the elections to be held in the Cook Islands tinder New Zealand administration and to observe the proceedings concerning the Constitution in the newly elected Legislative Assembly, Having examined the chapters of the reports 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 the Cook Islands, [1] including the statements made in the Special Committee by the Premier of the Cook Islands, Having considered the report of the United Nations Representative for the Supervision of the Elections in the Cook Islands [2] and the information on subsequent developments, [3] Having heard the statements made by the United Nations Representative for the Supervision of the Elections in the Cook Islands and the representative of New Zealand, Noting that, under the Constitution which came into force on 4 August 1965, the people of the Cook Islands have reserved their right to move to a status of complete independence,

1. Approves the chapters of the reports 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 the Cook Islands;

2. Notes the findings and conclusions of the United Nations Representative for the Supervision of the Elections in the Cook Islands and expresses its high appreciation to the Representative and his staff;

3. Expresses its appreciation of the co-operation extended to the United Nations by the Government of New Zealand in the study of the question of the Cook Islands;

4. Notes that the Constitution of the Cook Islands came into force on 4 August 1965, from which date the people of the Cook Islands have had control of their internal affairs and of their future;

5. Considers that since the Cook Islands have attained full internal self-government, the transmission of information in respect of the Cook Islands under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations is no longer necessary;

6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations, under General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), to assist the people of the Cook Islands in the eventual achievement of full independence, if they so wish, at a future date;

7. Expresses the hope that the United Nations Development Programme and the specialized agencies will endeavour to contribute in every way possible to the development and strengthening of the economy of the Cook Islands.

1398th plenary meeting,
16 December 1965.

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[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session. Annexes, annex No. 8 (part I) (A/5800/Rev.1), chapter XV; ibid., Twentieth Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 23 (A/6000/Rev.1), chapter VIII. [2] Ibid., Twentieth Session, Annexes, agenda items 23 and 24, document A/5962. [3] Ibid., document A/5961.