Question of Tokelau : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of Tokelau,

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 Tokelau, in particular General Assembly resolution 41/26 of 31 October 1986,

Having heard the statement of the representative of New Zealand, the administering Power,

Welcoming the participation of the Chairman of the General Fono (Council) of Tokelau in the work of the Special Committee relating to the Territory,

Noting the continuing development of the General Fono as the highest political body of Tokelau and taking note of the view of the General Fono that such development of the indigenous political institutions of the Territory must proceed in full recognition of the distinct and valued cultural heritage and traditions of Tokelau and that further economic development is a prerequisite for continued devolution of political authority in Tokelau,

Noting with satisfaction the continued progress being made towards the drafting of a legal code to conform with the traditional laws and cultural values of Tokelau,

Expressing its sympathy to the people of Tokelau for the losses incurred in natural disasters in 1987,

Taking note of the decision of the General Fono to include Tokelau in the Multilateral Fisheries Treaty between the United States of America and States members of the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency,

Welcoming the appointment of a Tokelauan as head of the Tokelau Public Service,

Taking note of the strong opposition in Tokelau to nuclear testing in the Pacific area as it constitutes a grave threat to the natural resources of the Territory and its social and economic development,

Noting with satisfaction the assistance extended to Tokelau by the United Nations Development Programme and other regional and international institutions,

Recalling the dispatch in 1976, 1981 and 1986 of United Nations visiting missions 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 Tokelau 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 Tokelau;

2.         Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Tokelau to self-determination and independence in accordance 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 implementation of the Declaration, which fully applies to Tokelau;

4.         Welcomes the statement of the Chairman of the General Fono (Council) of Tokelau that Tokelau wishes to see the devolution of authority to the General Fono consolidated and continued;

5.         Notes that the people of the Territory are determined to manage their economic and political development in such a way as to ensure the preservation of the social, cultural and traditional heritage of Tokelau, and urges the administering Power and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to respect fully the wishes of the people of Tokelau in this regard;

6.         Urges Member States, relevant specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to extend to Tokelau the maximum assistance possible to help in its rehabilitation and reconstruction in order to overcome the losses incurred in natural disasters in 1987;

7.         Urges the Government of New Zealand, the administering Power, in co-operation with the General Fono, to ensure that the traditional fishing grounds of the people of Tokelau are protected in accordance with the Multilateral Fisheries Treaty between the United States of America and States members of the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency;

8.         Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the General Fono, to continue and expand its development assistance to Tokelau;

9.         Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the regional institutions concerned, to continue to take all necessary measures, in close consultation with the Office for Tokelau Affairs, and taking due account of the decisions of the General Fono on the allocation of resources and development priorities, to accelerate progress in the social and the economic life of the Territory;

10. Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this question at its next session, including the possible dispatch of a further visiting mission to Tokelau at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-third session.