Question of Belize

XXX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
3432. Question of Belize

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Belize, Having examined the relevant 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,[1] Having heard the statements of the representatives of Belize,[2] Reaffirming the principles, established in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples set out in its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, in particular the principle that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by, virtue of which right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Firmly convinced that the principles referred to above apply to the people of Belize with no less force than to the people of other colonial Territories, Noting the firm desire of the Government and people of Belize, which has been frequently expressed for many years past, to exercise their right to self-determination and to proceed to independence as soon as possible in peace and security and with their territory intact, Bearing in mind the repeated assurances by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, as the administering Power, that it stands ready, in accordance with resolution 1514 (XV), to take the formal steps necessary for Belize to exercise its right to self-determination and independence, Regretting that certain differences of opinion between the administering Power and the Government of Guatemala concerning the future of Belize have hitherto prevented the people of Belize from exercising their right to self-determination and independence in peace and security, in accordance with their freely expressed wishes, Considering that these differences of opinion can and should now be speedily resolved by negotiations carried out in close consultation with the Government of Belize, and in full acceptance of the principles referred to above, to above,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Belize to self-determination and independence;

2. Declares that the inviolability and territorial integrity of Belize must be preserved;

3. Calls upon all States to respect the right of the people of Belize to self-determination, independence pad territorial integrity and to facilitate the attainment by them of their goal of a secure independence;

4. Calls also upon the Government of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power, acting in close consultation with the Government of Belize, and upon the Government of Guatemala to pursue urgently their negotiations for the earliest possible resolution of their differences of opinion concerning the future of Belize in order to remove such obstacles as have hitherto prevented the people of Belize from exercising freely and without fear their inalienable right to self-determination and independence;

5. Declares that any proposals for the resolution of these differences of opinion that may emerge from the negotiations between the administering Power and the Government of Guatemala must be in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 above;

6. Requests the two Governments concerned to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session on the progress made in implementing the present resolution;

7. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard, to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue its examination of the question.

2431st plenary meeting
8 December 1975

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[1] Ibid., chap. XXX. [2] Ibid., Thirtieth Session, Fourth Committee, 2162nd and 2173rd meetings.