(1st Plenary meeting) Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) - 2026 session

Good morning. The first meeting of the 2026 session of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples is called to order. It is my pleasure to open this session of the Special Committee., and I extend a warm welcome to all participants. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General, Mr. Courtney Rattray, and of the Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and Pacific, Mr. Khalid Kheari. I now give the floor to the Chef de Cabinet to deliver a statement on behalf of Secretary-General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres.

You have the floor.

Ēksėlėnsis, dear colleagues, it is my honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General. I am pleased to address the opening of this session of the Special Committee on Decolonization. Decolonization has been an objective of the United Nations since its earliest days. This organization was created as a place where nations could meet as equals not as rulers and ruled. Our world has come a long way, with well over 100 nations gaining independence since 1945. More people than ever now enjoy the right and the dignity of self-determination. Yet the legacy of colonialism has left profound scars through deeply rooted mechanisms of economic exploitation, as well as in the form of racism, inequality and persistent exclusion from the decision-making bodies. Today, 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remain. Three priorities must guide their destiny: First, inclusive dialogue among Non-Self-Governing Territories, administering powers, member states and all stakeholders. This process must be steered by the unique aspirations and needs of each territory, and take place on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the UN Charter, the Declaration on Decolonization and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. Second, the central role of young people. The vision and leadership of the next generation is vital to building a productive and inclusive future. Third, the urgent need for climate action. The majority of the Territories are small islands, where rising sea levels, coastal erosion and more frequent extreme weather are exacting a heavy toll. I urge you to place resilience and adaptation at the heart of your discussions. Excellencies, in December we proudly marked the first International Day Against Colonialism in all its forms and manifestations. While much has changed for the better, work remains to be done. I thank you, the Committee, for your dedication, and I wish you every success for the this important session. Let us continue to work tirelessly and as one to advance decolonization for all.

Thank you. I thank the Chef de Cabinet for his statement. I wish to inform the Committee that the Chef de Cabinet will need to leave now owing to other commitments Thank you, Chef de Cabinet. Distinguished delegates, now I invite delegations to turn to the second item on the agenda for this meeting, namely the election of the Chair of the Special Committee. I understand there is a general agreement among the members of the Committee to re-elect Her Excellency Ms. Manisa Rambathli, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations, as Chair of the Special Committee for this session. Accordingly, if I hear no objection, I will declare Her Excellency Ms. Manisa Rambally, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations, elected by acclamation as the Chair of the Special Committee for the 2026 Session. I hear no objection. It is so decided. I congratulate you, Madam Chair, and wish you every success in the discharge of your responsibilities. The Secretariat looks forward to working closely with you to advance the work of the Special Committee. It is now my pleasure to invite Her Excellency Ms. Melissa Rambally, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia at the United Nations, to take her place on the podium and to preside over the rest of this meeting. Madam Chair.

Good morning. I'm the Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management. Mr. Moses Albayehn, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. Mr. Mohabed Kidhari, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. On behalf of all delegations, I would like to express my gratitude to the Chef de Cabinet, the Under-Secretary-General, and the Assistant Secretary-General for your presence and participation At our first meeting, allow me to extend a warm welcome to all delegations as we continue our efforts to advance the decolonization agenda in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the mandate of the Special Committee. Likewise, I express my appreciation to all members of the committee for the continued privilege and distinction conferred upon my country and upon me personally through my reelection as Chair of this Committee. I remain committed to discharging my responsibilities in a manner that ensures the efficient and successful conduct of our work, and I look forward to our deliberations being guided by a spirit of consensus and understanding. I would now like to make a brief statement in my capacity as Chair of the Special Committee for its 2026 session. It is a profound honor for me once again to assume the position of Chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization, and I place on record my gratitude to the membership for this renewed expression of confidence. Allow me the opportunity to reiterate that Saint Lucia remains deeply committed to the cause of decolonization, guided by our region's history, our values, and our unwavering belief in the rights of all peoples to determine their own destiny. I wish at the outset to express my sincere appreciation to the Secretary-General for his enduring support to the decolonization mandate. His engagement signals the importance that the United Nations reflects on its founding principles and on the unfinished tasks that continue to define our collective responsibility. I also acknowledge the distinguished leadership of previous Bureau members whose contributions have strengthened the Committee's work and assisted our preparations to navigate the path forward. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, WTO. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, today's global environment is more complex and more demanding than at any point in recent history. The Committee now faces a range of challenges, from resource constraints and competing priorities to evolving geopolitical dynamics that directly shape our capacity to implement the mandate entrusted to us by the General Assembly. That notwithstanding, these challenges must not slow our momentum. Indeed, they underscore the urgency of our work. The decolonization agenda remains unfinished. As we enter the second half of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, we must redouble our efforts, not diminish them. The approaching conclusion of this decade places a responsibility on all of us to accelerate progress and ensure that our actions align with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on Decolonization. Saint Lucia's commitment to this cause is grounded in our own experience and in the Caribbean's broader journey towards self-government and sovereignty. I therefore approach this responsibility as Chair with humility, conviction, and a deep sense of duty. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I invite this Committee to maintain its purpose, driven by a spirit of unity and collective resolve. The challenges before us are real, but so too is the moral clarity of our mandate. Our work continues to be guided by a case-by-case approach, recognizing that each territory's circumstances, challenges, and aspirations are unique. To support this approach, open and constructive dialogue remains essential, particularly to the administering powers and with the territories themselves. The cause of decolonization is not merely an institutional obligation. It is a fundamental expression of the United Nations' founding purpose. It embodies our shared belief in dignity and equality. It is a commitment that Saint Lucia is proud to champion and one that I will continue to advance with dedication in the period ahead. Together, with renewed energy, cooperation and political will, let us remain confident that we can continue to make meaningful progress towards full implementation of the Declaration on Decolonization and the completion of the United Nations agenda. I look forward to working with you in the period ahead. Thank you for your confidence. Distinguished delegates, before proceeding to our next agenda items, members of the committee may recall that by a letter dated 10th February 2026, addressed to the chair of the special committee, the permanent representative of Ecuador to the United Nations informed of the decision of the government of the Republic of Ecuador to withdraw from membership in the Special Committee as of that date and to continue its participation in the work of the committee as an observer. This letter will be issued as Document A/AC109/2026/20 and, in line with past practice, will be transmitted to the President of the General Assembly. May I take it that the Special Committee wishes to take note of the withdrawal of Ecuador from the membership of the committee. It is so decided. Let me inform the committee at this time that I have received requests from the following countries to participate in the work of the committee this session as observers. Algeria, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Honduras, Liberia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, South Africa, Spain, Togo, the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. With the consent of the committee and in accordance with this established practice, I now invite them to take a place at the committee's table.

Thank you.

Distinguished delegates, I now invite the committee to turn its attention to the agenda for today's meeting. The provisional agenda was circulated to members on 10th February and is also published in today's journal. If I hear no objection, I will take it that the committee wishes to adopt the agenda. No objection. It is so decided. I now turn to the election of officers. Which is the next item on our agenda. It is my understanding that there is a general agreement among the members of the committee that the following representatives be elected as officers of the special committee for this session: His Excellency Ernesto Zambrano Guzmán, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations; His Excellency Umar Hadi, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations, and His Excellency Michael Imran Kanu, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, as vice chairs, and His Excellency Ibrahim Alabi, Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations, as our Rapporteur. If I hear no objections, I will declare these representatives elected by acclamation to their respective positions. I see none and I hear no objection. It is so decided. I wish to congratulate the vice chairs and the Rapporteur on the election and look forward to close collaboration with them in taking the work of our special committee forward. I wish to invite our rapporteur, Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, to take his seat at the rapporteur's podium. You are invited to join us. As our rapporteur. Thank you and welcome, Ambassador. Thank you. Before proceeding further, I would also like to express appreciation to the members of the previous Bureau for their contributions and commitment to the success of last year's session. The committee will now take up the next item on its agenda relating to the organization of its work for the 2026 substantive session. In this regard, I wish to draw the attention of delegations to Document A/AC109/2026/L1, which is circulated every year calling on the committee's attention to the resolutions and decisions relevant to its work for the current year. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The committee also has before it for consideration Document A/AC109/2026/L2/Rev 1 containing suggestions on the organization of work program and timetable of the committee for the current year based on the practice of previous years, including the premise that the consideration of the draft resolutions will take place following the discussion in the committee on the related agenda items. This will enable the committee to consider the information provided by the participants prior to the adoption of related proposals and recommendations of the Special Committee. In accordance with past practice, I propose that the Special Committee approves the tentative agenda, tentative program of work, and timetable contained in Document A/AC.109/2026/L2/Rev.1. With the understanding that it may be further revised as necessary closer to or during our substantive session in June. I hear no objection. It is so decided. Thank you, distinguished delegates. As the committee has done in previous years, I wish to propose, with your cooperation, that we continue to follow the General Assembly's practice concerning the observance of a quorum, by which the committee's meetings would be declared open without the presence of the quorum required under Rule 67 and 108 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly. This would enable the committee to avoid starting its meetings too late and to proceed expeditiously with the deliberations of its work, thereby making the most efficient use of the resources available to it. I note, however, that this will not change the requirement in Rule 108 for the presence of a majority of Committee members before decisions on its work could be taken. I count on the usual understanding, support and cooperation of all members of the committee on this matter. I hear no objection. It is therefore so decided.

Thank you, distinguished delegates.

I now invite the committee to take up the next item on its agenda entitled 2026 Caribbean Regional Seminar. As delegations are aware, the government of Nicaragua has expressed its interest in hosting the Caribbean Regional Seminar in Managua in 2026. Communications in this respect was circulated via e-delegate to all committee members on 5th June 2025 and 13th February 2026. May I take it that the offer by the government of Nicaragua to host The Caribbean Regional Seminar this year in Nicaragua is acceptable to all delegations. I hear no objection. It is so decided. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the government of Nicaragua for this generous gesture, which will support the work of the committee as we move forward.

Forward.

With respect to the timing of the seminar, the seminar is traditionally held in May to coincide with the annual observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, which is usually 25th to the 31st of May. In this regard, and taking into consideration the dates proposed by the host country of 25th to 27th May 2026, I recommend that the Committee consider holding the seminar this year from Monday to Wednesday, 25th to 27th May 2026. May I take it that the special committee agrees to the proposed dates for the Caribbean Regional Seminar of 25th to 27th May 2026? I hear no objection. It is so decided. I acknowledge that the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua, would like the floor. You have the floor, Ambassador.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Very good morning to you all. Madam Chair, I'd like to begin by expressing our most sincere congratulations to you on your election. We extend these congratulations to members of the Bureau, our brothers from Cuba, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, and Syria. Our thanks also to all of the members of our Secretariat for all of the support that they have provided to ensure the effective functioning of our committee. Madam Chair, on behalf of the people and government of National Unity and Reconciliation of the Republic of Nicaragua, we express our Warmest thanks to the members of the committee for the trust that they have placed in us to host the regional seminar for the Caribbean in May 2026 in Managua. This decision, which we take up with the due responsibility, we see as a gesture of friendship towards Nicaragua, as a recognition of our steadfast, consistent recent historic trajectory in fervent defense of the self-determination of peoples. Our own history, forged through anti-colonialist, anti-imperialist, and neo-colonialist struggles, joins us with the people that continue to suffer the vestiges of colonialism and that still are unable to exercise their inalienable rights to self-determination, freedom, independence, to have control over their natural resources and their own destinies. We are profoundly grateful that this seminar is being held in the context of the Fourth International Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism. This is the right time to take stock of the progress that we have made, to step up our efforts with concrete proposals that will speed up the decolonization process, and finally to be able to achieve the mandate of this committee. Madam Chair, for Nicaragua, taking up this responsibility once again after 10 years, having last hosted the seminar in 2016, is a lofty honor and one more opportunity to contribute through our experience and our solidarity to the sacred cause of decolonization. Managua has its itself borne witness to our own struggles for sovereignty, self-determination, and peace. It will therefore open its arms to all of you with the certainty that direct dialogue, fraternity, and cooperation between member states, non-self-governing territories, and other territories and experts are essential tools to eradicate colonialism. From now on, we wish to express our full readiness to begin our organizational preparations and logistical steps, including ensuring the necessary financial resources to guarantee full and effective participation for representatives from all territories, ensuring that the Managua Seminar is a space for fruitful, inclusive, and welcoming work. To conclude, Madam Pres— Madam Chair, Nicaragua will remain as it has always been, an open door to hear from peoples, and we wish to receive you with our open arms, with the warmth of our people and their characteristic happiness. 10 years on, we will once again meet in our land of lakes and volcanoes where we have evenings and nights dotted with stars that will invite you to share in kinship so that together we can enjoy— celebrate the fourth decade and share our steadfast positions against colonialism. Rubén Darío, our national hero, the father of modernism and the academic for literature, Esteban said in his poem entitled Return, while my homeland is small, it has a great dream, many illusions and desires, many hopes. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Nicaragua, and with that initial welcome, we certainly look forward to the seminar and we look forward to working with you and your delegation in preparation and anticipation of a successful seminar this year, 2026. Thank you, Excellency. Distinguished delegates, the committee will meet again on the 16th of March to consider the guidelines and rules of procedure of the seminar, including its theme and agenda in line with past practice. Distinguished delegates, I now invite the committee to turn to the last item on the agenda for this meeting, that of other matters. Does any delegation wish to take the floor under this item? I invite the distinguished representative of Indonesia to take the floor. Ambassador, you have the floor, please.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and first of all, I wish to warmly congratulate you on your reelection as chair of the special committee and extend our sincere appreciation for your instrumental stewardship of our work in the past 3 years. We are assured under your continued leadership the Committee will further advance its core mandate. I also congratulate Ambassador Ernesto Soberano Guzmán of Cuba and Ambassador Michael Imran Khanu of Sierra Leone on their reelection as Vice Chairs, as well as Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi of the Syrian Arab Republic as the Rapporteur of the Bureau. On behalf of my Permanent Representative, who regrets of being unable to attend in person as we are having a dignitary visit, I assure you that Indonesia is honored to be re-elected as Vice Chair and a member of the Bureau. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Secretariat and the Decolonization Unit for their continued dedication and support. Excellencies, Indonesia remains fully committed to decolonization as a legal, political, and moral imperative. This is in line with the spirit of the Bandung Conference, and we call the Committee to continue working with clarity and determination to make concrete progress on the remaining 17 NSGTs. Our work must focus on delivering meaningful results and ensure that perspectives and aspirations of people in the NSGTs are taken into account. Frank and constructive dialogues, underpinned by a spirit of mutual respect between the territories, the administering powers and all relevant stakeholders must continue to be strengthened to achieve concrete progress. We further welcome the hosting by Nicaragua of the upcoming Caribbean Regional Seminar. We trust the seminar will be a constructive forum for substantive exchanges that lead to measurable results. Excellencies, let us remain united and focused in promoting a principled, results-oriented approach that keeps the interests of the 17 NSGTs at the center of our efforts. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia, and I take the opportunity to thank you, especially Ambassador Harry, for your contribution during the last session. Look forward to working with your delegation in the period ahead. I recognize now the distinguished representative of Cuba. Excellency, you have the floor.

Please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, allow me to begin by expressing my most sincere thanks for the support and trust placed in Cuba to take up the vice chairmanship of this important committee. We take up this responsibility with a profound sense of commitment. At the same time, we extend our congratulations on your reelection as Chair, and also to our colleagues from Indonesia, Sierra Leone, and Syria who continue to form part of the Bureau of the Committee. You can count on our full readiness to continue to work to complete the decolonization process. Following almost 65 years of the establishment of the Special Committee on Decolonization, the historic promise to definitively eradicate colonialism remains an incompleted task. While peoples continue to be submitted to this scourge, the UN decolonization efforts deriving from the principle of equal rights and the self-determination of peoples will not be complete. The rejection of this form of domination, as well as the rejection of new colonialist and hegemonic practices, represents our moral duty to humanity and a demonstration of full respect for the values and principles on which this organization was established. The end of decolonize— the end of colonization in all of its forms and manifestations demands political will, collective action, and the eradication of blockades and unilateral coercive measures that purport to impose political systems, economic models, and regime changes. Following centuries of anti-colonialist struggle, And the Monroe Doctrine— we now continue to see force over our region that threaten international and regional peace and security and go— run counter to the Declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. The imposition of peace through force threatens horror and global destabilization. The government of the United States The United States, a country that for more than 175 years has intervened in Puerto Rico and has maintained its colonial grip on that colonial people, is in vain attempting to overcome our sovereignty to try to impose through force threats and coercion and its own neocolonialist interests. We will not cede to blackmail. We will continue to defend our independence. In this context, we reiterate our full support for the holding of the forthcoming decolonization seminar in the Kingdom Nation of Nicaragua from the 25th to the 27th of May this year. We are convinced that this will be a successful event which is highly relevant in the current scenario.— in which we see heightened attempts to impose colonialism, the acts of such brutality. The seminar, which will be hosted in another kindred country, will contribute to our collective efforts in favor of decolonization. Madam Chair, the decolonization process, which enabled the self-determination and independence of numerous peoples and territories under colonial domination is considered one of the most crucial transformations of the 20th century. We hope that the vestiges of this scourge will be eradicated in this era. We will continue to support the rights of people to self-determination and to build a future of well-being, socioeconomic progress, independence, sovereignty, and dignity. The peoples and countries in this situation look to hope. Standing passive in this situation would be an irreparable error. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Cuba, and I also take the opportunity to express my appreciation for the collaboration during the last session and look forward to working with you and your delegation during the period ahead. Thank you, Excellency. I now recognize and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. You have the floor, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation extends its warmest congratulations to you on your election as chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization. We have confidence in your ability to drive meaningful progress in advancing the mandates of the Committee during this session. Be assured of our support for a successful tenure. Let me also seize this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to members of the Committee for their trust in reelecting us as a Bureau member, and in the same vein, congratulate colleague Bureau members from Cuba, Indonesia, and Syria for their reelection. Sierra Leone extends its thanks to the Secretariat and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs for their continued support and guidance. Madam Chair, as we commence the 6th year of the 4th International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, we acknowledge the need for intensified engagement in the bid to implement the Plan of Action for the 2nd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. On that note, Sierra Leone welcomes the program of work for this session, which will guide our engagements and ensure the fulfillment of our mandate as outlined in Resolutions 1514 and 1654, respectively. My delegation remains steadfast in supporting the decolonization efforts of the United Nations, as the eradication of colonialism continues to be a key priority in the organization's work. Non-self-governing territories continue to face multidimensional challenges, including environmental, economic, social, cultural, and political, that affect their lives, livelihoods, freedom, and rights. In these circumstances, we emphasize the importance of respecting the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. All stakeholders, including the administering powers, inhabitants of the territories, and member states, must work collectively to address these challenges. In expressing our solidarity with the people of the non-self-governing territories, we look forward to participating in this year's regional seminar, which is an integral part of the work of this Committee and one of the most effective platforms used to engage all the relevant stakeholders. As we strive to achieve a just and lasting path to addressing the varying dimensions of the obstacles towards decolonization of the remaining 17 non-self-governing territories on a case-by-case basis. We welcome the expression by the Nicaragua government to host the 2026 Regional Seminar. I would like to conclude by reiterating my delegation's willingness to constantly engage in the forthcoming meetings outlined in the just adopted program of work. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone, and I also take the opportunity to thank Sierra Leone and their delegation for their continued commitment and work with the committee. Look forward to working with you during this period as well. Well, thank you very much. I now recognize the distinguished representative of the Syrian Arab Republic, who is our rapporteur, but he will also speak in his national capacity. Excellency, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, colleagues. I just wanted to make a short intervention to congratulate fellow bureau members and thank you for your trust. As you know, Syria has gone significant changes in the recent last year and a half, but one thing you can count on, not— will just not continue, but will increase, which is our engagement with the multilateral community and engagement with Syria's responsibilities, taking it above and beyond. We have been very happy for— to have consistency in this committee and for Syria to renominate itself and be reelected to it, and you can definitely count on myself and my country's constructive and objective engagement as we really pursue this complicated and noble mission at a very sensitive and crucial time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Excellencies.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic and welcome you to our team. Look forward to working with you in the period ahead. Thank you, Ambassador. I now recognize the distinguished representative of Venezuela. You have the floor, please.

Muchas gracias, señora.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, whose member states congratulate you and the entire Bureau on your recent reelection. At the same time, we pledge our full support in the pursuit of the important mandate entrusted upon this special committee. We also take this opportunity to once again thank the Republic of Nicaragua for its offer to host the Caribbean Decolonization Seminar in 2026. We take note of the recently agreed dates and we wish them every success as they host this important important event. At the same time, we express our determination to participate actively and constructively to that end. Madam Chair, allow us to begin by reaffirming our firm and principled commitment to the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination, and the efforts to ensure the full eradication of colonialism in all of its forms and manifestations. In the same vein, we express our continued solidarity with all peoples of the 17 non-self-governing territories and others, as well as others that have not yet attained their independence in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 1514. This, for instance, was— is the case of Puerto Rico. Having said this, Like all member states of the Special Committee, we grant particular importance, among other things, to the issue of the development of a constructive program of work for the non-self-governing territories on a case-by-case basis. As is well known, this is nothing new. On the contrary, this is a standing mandate, a permanent mandate of the General Assembly. We have— that has been constantly reaffirmed for at least a quarter of a century, beginning, Madam Chair, with Resolution 5491 adopted in 2000 and most recently reiterated in Resolution 80/105 in this session. Operative paragraph 6 of Resolution 80/105 calls on the administering powers to cooperate fully with this Special Committee to develop and to finalize as soon as possible, and I insist, as soon as possible, such constructive programs of work, while operative paragraph 7 explicitly requests this Special Committee to do this in cooperation with the administering power and the territory concerned. This mandate is clear, specific, and operational in nature. Madam Chair, in the interest of transparency, particularly on such an important matter, we would like to inform all member states of this special committee that in late November 2025, a group of states, including the members of our grouping, dispatched a joint communication to the United Nations Decolonization Unit requesting information on the progress achieved to on the steps taken and/or planned to ensure the full and effective implementation of this longstanding mandate. In this context, we advised that in early December 2025, the Secretariat provided written responses to our query in which it correctly restated the relevant provisions of General Assembly Resolution 80/105 and the responsibilities entrusted to this Special Committee in that regard. That is to say that the development of a constructive program of work for the non-self-governing territories on a case-by-case basis is a task that rests exclusively on the C24 and its member states. Moreover, it's worth recalling the provisions of the report of the Special Committee for 2025, which clearly envisages in its program of work for 2026 contained in Document A/80/23, the development and finalization of constructive programs of work for the non-self-governing territories in cooperation with the administering powers and the territories concerned. In our view, this represents both an opportunity and a responsibility, particularly as we are now embarking on the last part of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. I insist this is a responsibility, as you have already flagged, Madam Chair, in your opening statement. Madam Chair, our group of friends is of the view that the time has come to move decisively from reiteration to implementation. After 25 years since the General Assembly first established this mandate, the lack of a finalized operational specific territory-specific program of work cannot be reconciled with the urgency that the eradication of colonialism demands. As we've stated in the past, we cannot expect different outcomes or advancements on the field of colonialization— decolonization— if we are to continue with a business-as-usual approach. In our view, such programs of work should be practical, results-oriented, and firmly anchored in the expressed wishes and interests of the peoples of the non-self-governing territories. They should address in Tiralia political education and awareness raising on the full range of self-determination options. They should also issue— address issues such as socioeconomic development, institution building, and cooperation with the UN system strictly in accordance with the Charter. And its relevant resolutions. Against this backdrop, we today announce our intention to present a new draft resolution for the consideration of the Special Committee at its forthcoming substantive session in June 2026. That is in 4 months' time. This draft resolution will be specifically devoted to advancing this long overdue issue. Including through agreeing on the development content and modalities of implementation of the constructive programs of work with the non-self-governing territories in line with existing General Assembly mandates. Madam Chair, our sole intention here is to contribute to strengthening the effectiveness, credibility, and relevance of this special committee while ensuring that its work produces tangible benefits for the peoples concerned, whose yearns for freedom and justice have been far too prolonged. We will approach this initiative in a spirit of openness, inclusivity, and dialogue, and we look forward to engaging constructively with all member states of the C24 in the coming months. We will put all of our efforts in producing a consensus in line with the spirit that has always guided our endeavors. But we are also at the same time prepared to weigh different scenarios if need be. As the United Nations continues to observe the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and in light of the historic legacy of Resolution 1514, the credibility of our collective commitment will be measured by our ability to translate mandates into concrete action. We are committed to doing our part, and we stand ready to work with each and every one of you, including the Secretariat, to ensure that 2026 marks a genuine step forward in the realization of self-determination for the peoples of the non-self-governing territories and others which have not yet attained independence. Together, we can guarantee that we do not lose the hope that entire peoples have placed in this special committee. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the representative of Venezuela and certainly take note of your intentions. We look forward to working constructively in the period ahead. Thank you. I recognize the representative of Fiji. Fiji, you have the floor. Please.

Thank you, thank you, Madam Chair. Fiji wishes to first of all congratulate you, Madam Chair, Ambassador Minister Mbali of Saint Lucia, for your successful reelection as Chair of this Committee. And your reelection actually speaks for itself, testament for your steadfast leadership and commitment. And with that, we wish you a successful year ahead. Fiji also would like to acknowledge and thank Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Ratri, for delivering his remarks this morning, and also the presence of USG and AASG, including their leadership and presence. Also would like to thank the DPPA, DGECM, for the smooth process of our meeting in as far as the organizational meeting this morning. Madam Chair, let me now turn to organizational arrangement for our committee meeting this year. In that regard, we would like to congratulate the Vice Chairs for their successful reappointment, Excellencies Ambassador Guzmán of Cuba, Ambassador Khan of Sierra Leone, and Ambassador Hadi of Indonesia. I would also like to recognize and congratulate Excellency Ambassador Olabi of Syria for his appointment as Rapporteur of the Bureau. Regarding our work plan, Madam Chair, Fiji welcomes the adoption of the C24 program of work, and also we have taken note of the appointments of the key dates before us. The mandate of this committee is quite clear, that is to address the 17 NSGT. While each NSGT presents a unique case, we need to remain committed and be guided by the UN Charter and the respective General Assembly resolutions. We have also taken due note of the SG's remarks as presented by the Cabinet this morning, which is quite clear, and we are devoted to achieving those goals in this Fourth Committee International Decade of the Eradication of Colonialism. Madam Chair, we are also acutely aware of the current geopolitical environment we are in, which is unprecedented, and even having noted in the Fourth Committee sessions in November last the other new developments in the resolutions, most of which were previously adopted by consensus but a new twist has been taken. And in as far as the Committee is concerned, this is something that the Committee needs to also look into quite closely this year. As for the COP24 this year, it will be important to review our work to ensure that we try and progress the work of this Committee. Forward, cognizant of the resource constraint and other challenges before us. And this will not undermine the urgency of our work in this committee, as you have clearly indicated, Madam Chair. Um, also, um, in relation to the upcoming Caribbean regional seminar this year from the 25th to the 27th of May, Fiji wishes to recognize and thank His Excellency the Ambassador of Nicaragua for the update, including the communications and the commitment to host this seminar in Managua, and we look forward to be engaged in this process. Madam Chair, on another note, you may also be aware of the pending visiting mission to New Caledonia, which we want to put forward for the record of this Committee, noting as part of the— in particular to note as part of the records of this organizational meeting. And Fiji is also cognizant of the number of NSGTs in our Pacific region. As for us, we will continue to assess and assist these NSGTs in line with the political decisions of each NSGT, taking into account that these are mostly small islands who are highly vulnerable to climate change, sea level rise, connectivity, and other challenges, who will continue to require our support and assistance as far as the committee's resolutions and outcomes is concerned. In closing, Madam Chair, Fiji wishes to underscore again the significant role of this committee. Despite the lack of progress over the years, we need to remain engaged, need to be inclusive with our approach and transparent with our work. And with this, we wish the committee, with your leadership, every success. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Fiji and also take note of your contribution this morning. I see no further request for the floor, so that leaves me now, distinguished delegates, to indicate that we are coming to the end of our deliberations today. And as we do so, I wish to take the opportunity to express again my own gratitude to the committee for its confidence reposed in me. Look forward to working with all of the members of the committee. Look forward to engaging as well with the observers and working towards advancing our mandate. Particularly want to thank the vice chairs and the rapporteur for taking on the responsibility again and the task of working with us during the period ahead. Allow me to especially welcome the new Secretary of the C24, Ms. Lynn. I will get her last name correct eventually, and she's going to help me with it. For now, I call her Lynn. And Zahid, you see, I'm not getting it perfect yet, but we're going to work on that. But Lynn has already been very active in the work of the AC24 as our secretary, and I thank her already for hitting the road running, like they say from my region, and she's been very engaged. Thank you, Lynn. You may recall our last secretary, Claudia Gross, who served us for, I think, 2 or 3 years. She is now the secretary to the to the Fourth Committee. So we look forward to working with Lynn, and I also want to thank Josiane and her team and all of those who make the work of this committee efficient. I thank all of you. As mentioned earlier, the next meeting of the Special Committee will take place on Monday, 16th March, and it will be announced in the journal via e-delegate. It leaves me now to wish you a wonderful day and to indicate that our Our meeting is adjourned.