Question of American Samoa : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of American Samoa,

Having examined the relevant 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,

Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to American Samoa, in particular General Assembly resolution 41/23 of 31 October 1986,

Taking into account the statement of the representative of the administering Power relating to American Samoa,

Conscious of the need to promote progress towards the full implementation of the Declaration in respect of American Samoa,

Noting the continuing process of constitutional reviews, through consultations with the people and through the work of a constitutional review committee,

Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of the Territory and bearing in mind the necessity of diversifying and strengthening further its economy as a matter of priority in order to promote economic stability,

Recalling the dispatch in 1981 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory,

Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and considering that the possibility of sending a further visiting mission to American Samoa at an appropriate time should be kept under review,

1.         Approves 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 American Samoa;

2.         Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of American Samoa to self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

3.         Reiterates the view that such factors as territorial size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy exercise by the people of the Territory of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration, which fully applies to American Samoa;

4.         Calls upon the Government of the United States of America, as the administering Power, to take all necessary steps, taking into account the rights, interests and wishes of the people of American Samoa as expressed freely in conditions leading to real self-determination, to expedite the process of decolonization of the Territory in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration and reaffirms the importance of fostering an awareness among the people of American Samoa of the possibilities open to them in the exercise of their right to self-determination and independence;

5.         Calls upon the administering Power to consider favourably the expressed request of the people of American Samoa to appoint the Chief Justice and other members of the judiciary of the Territory themselves;

6.         Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power, under the Charter, to promote the economic and social development of American Samoa and calls upon the administering Power to intensify its efforts to strengthen and diversify the economy of the Territory and to make it more viable in order to reduce its heavy economic and financial dependence on the United States and to create more employment opportunities for the people of the Territory;

7.         Expresses the hope that the development planning process initiated under the first five-year development plan will be strengthened;

8.         Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government, to safeguard the inalienable right of the people of American Samoa to the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures to ensure their right to own and dispose of those resources and to establish and maintain control of their future development with a view to creating conditions for a balanced, diversified and viable economy;

9.         Urges the administering Power to continue to promote close relations between the people of the Territory and the neighbouring island communities and to facilitate co-operation between the Government of American Samoa and the regional institutions in order to enhance the economic and social welfare of the people of the Territory;

10.       Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this question at its next session, including the dispatch of a further visiting mission to American Samoa at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, taking into account, in particular, the wishes of the people of the Territory, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-third session.