Fourth Committee, 2nd plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Excellencies, the second meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, Fourth Committee, for the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. This morning, the committee will first hear an address by the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Kailu Rahma. Afterwards, the committee will begin the consideration of the agenda items 52 to 56 relating to decolonization. We shall there take up the request for hearing by petitioners. These requests have been issued as committee documents A/C.4/81/2 to A/C.4/81/12. Subsequently, we will commence the general debate on the decolonization cluster. It gives me great pleasure to welcome the President of the General Assembly for the 81st session, His Excellency, Hallelu Rahman, and to invite him to address the committee. You have the floor, Excellency.

Thank you, Your Excellency, the Chair of the Fourth Committee. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor to address the Fourth Committee. Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. Chair, and other members of the Bureau on your election. You can count on my full support at all times as you guide the committee's work. The Fourth Committee's broad agenda concerns self-determination, information integrity and accessibility, peace operations, the dignity of the Palestinian refugees, and the peaceful uses of outer space. All of these are very critical to the agenda of the United Nations and the General Assembly. Our work must remain anchored in the principles and commitments that have guided this organization since its founding. The UN Charter, the right to self-determination, and the full implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Resolution 1514, the cornerstone of our Organization's decolonization agenda. Throughout, our common objective will be to advance these mandates inclusively and sustainably. As you are aware, the theme of this session is Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation, a United Nations that Delivers for All. This committee can play a critical role in translating this aspiration into practice. Trust must be earned through commitments honored and results delivered. Excellencies, allow me to offer three reflections on our work ahead. First, our mandates must deliver for the people they were created to serve. Few issues illustrate this more clearly than the mandate of UNRWA. As this committee considers UNRWA, its deliberation must remain grounded in international law, including international humanitarian law, and relevant UN resolutions. Last December, the Assembly renewed UNRWA's mandate until 30 June 2029. The significance of this decision will be measured in terms of the contribution that UNRWA makes to the lives of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In Gaza, UNRWA remains the largest humanitarian agency, and it is operationally irreplaceable. Across the region, its continued presence provides a crucial measure of stability amidst prolonged crisis. As I stressed at last week's ministerial meeting of UNRWA, we have a moral, legal, and practical responsibility to sustain UNRWA. Moral, because of millions it serves. Legal because of the mandate established by this Assembly, and practical because of its stabilizing role across the region. The Agency continues to deliver under extraordinary pressure, even as financial and operational constraints place essential services at risk. It needs predictable resources and the operational space to fulfill its mandate. I commend the Commissioner General ad interim and the entire UNRWA personnel for their service. Sustaining UNRWA is indispensable. Humanitarian action and essential public services must preserve life and dignity, and diplomacy should address the conflict that perpetuates the need for it. Second, we must protect and adopt the tools of peace. And peace is the word that occurred more, appeared more in the statements our leaders made during the general debate. Peacekeeping operations and special political missions remain vital, yet they face more complex conflicts, weaponized new technologies, political fragmentation, and severe financial constraints. We need peace operations that are more effective, efficient, and responsive to today's challenges. The Pact for the Future called for a review of the future of all forms of peace operations, including peacekeeping operations and special political missions. The review is now before the Member States. This committee must help ensure the peace operations toolbox remains effective, adaptable, and fit for purpose. This is where the Fourth Committee plays an essential role as an indispensable forum to look beyond individual missions and consider peace operations as a whole. Our deliberations should be practical. How do we protect civilians and even personnel? What capabilities will tomorrow's operations require? How do we build stronger partnerships? And how do we ensure women are not only present in peace operations, but shaping decisions and leading these efforts? Yes, reform is necessary, but reform must make our missions stronger, not simply smaller. Efficiency must be measured by the impact we achieve, not simply by the resources we cut. Throughout, the safety of UN personnel and the ability of missions to carry out their mandates must never be compromised. Third, we must manage transformation responsibly and do it together. New technologies are reshaping information and communication. Artificial intelligence can expand access, advance multilingualism, and extend the reach of event communications. It can also accelerate misinformation and disinformation, amplify hate speech, and blur authenticity and accountability. The question is no longer whether AI will transform our world. It already is. Now, our responsibility is to ensure technological transformation is governed responsibly, that its benefits are shared broadly, and that no one is left behind. These committees work on information should help protect information integrity, bridge digital divides, and ensure that technology advances human dignity rather than undermines trust. The same imperative applies to outer space, a domain that is increasingly important to our economies, our security and our daily lives. Preserving it as a peaceful, safe and usable for future generations requires strong cooperation and coherence across relevant United Nations bodies with full respect for their respective mandates. Excellencies, I see a common test whether the UN can complete the unfinished work of decolonization, uphold the mandates on which millions of people depend, and strengthen the tools of peace and adapt before change outpaces our collective response. This is why the adoption of Resolution 80/251 on mandate creation, implementation, and review is important. It affirms that decisions on mandates are exclusive prerogative of Member States and calls for a clearer connection between mandates, resources, implementation, results and review. I welcome efforts by co-chairs of the ad hoc working group to develop tools that support this work. And I encourage all main committees, including this committee, to make full use of the AGRE templates and guidance when developing new mandates and reviewing existing ones. As I reminded member states in my statement at the opening of the general debate last week, four years after the founding of the United Nations, the Assembly adopted resolution 310 Roman 4 on November 24 1949 entitled problem of proliferation and overlapping of programs of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies in this resolution our assembly urged the member states to refrain from new projects other than those that are urgently required and which can be effectively carried out it appears In the ensuing years, we did not pay sufficient attention to our own decision. We have since created some 44,000 mandates that are still in use. This is not to say all these mandates are useless. Quite the contrary. Many mandates were important as they set norms and principles and led to tangible actions. But many more were destined to be redundant. I therefore would like to encourage distinguished delegates to keep Resolution 310 Roman 4 in mind when deciding upon new mandates or activities. Please consider, where appropriate, the biennialization or triennialization of agenda items. Please promote more concise, focused, and actionable resolutions. The work ahead is demanding but essential. My door remains open, Mr. Chairman, and all of you, as you progress with your work, and I look forward to working closely with you in the weeks and months ahead. I thank you very much.

I thank the President of the General Assembly for his remarks and for joining us today. Thank you very much. Mr. Amin, on Tamil.

We shall now begin our consideration of the cluster of items concerning decolonization, namely items 52 to 56. Allow me to share some thoughts on the decolonization agenda, which is recognized as one of the most important achievements of the United Nations and one of its top priorities. The Special Committee on the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, better known as the Special Committee on Decolonization, or C-24, continues its commitment and tireless efforts to advance the decolonization agenda as mandated by the General Assembly. The activities carried out by the Special Committee testify to its abiding and firm undertaking of the decolonization process. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Special Committee for having held the Caribbean Regional Seminar in May 2026 in Managua, Nicaragua. Our work, however, is not complete. There are still 17 non-self-governing territories remaining on the United Nations list, namely American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands or Malvinas, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands, and Western Sahara. As the midpoint of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism enters its second-half, I invite all Member States to redouble their efforts towards achieving progress in the area of decolonization. I now invite the rapporteur of the Special Committee on Decolonization, the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic, His Excellency Ibrahim Oulabi, to introduce the 2026 report of that committee. You have the floor, Excellency.

Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, I am pleased to congratulate you and the members of your Bureau on your election to lead the Fourth Committee during the 81st session of the General Assembly. We are confident that under your leadership, our deliberations will be successful and productive. Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, As rapporteur of the Special Committee on Decolonization, I have the honor to present the Committee's report on its activities during the 2026 session up until 26 June 2026, the date on which its activities concluded. The report is contained in document A/81/23 and comprises 13 chapters and one annex. As in previous years, and in view of the ongoing need to contain documentation costs, as just stressed by the President of the General Assembly, the report follows a streamlined format and included hyperlinks to the text of the adopted draft resolutions rather than reproducing them in full. Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the work of the Special Committee during its 2026 session and outlines the programme of work and activities envisioned for 2027. Chapters 2 to 7 addresses the following thematic issues: the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; dissemination of information on decolonization; the question of sending visiting and special missions to territories; information from non-self-governing territories transmitted under Article 73 of the Charter of the United Nations; economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the non-self-governing territories, and implementation of the declaration by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations. Chapters 8 to 12 contain the Committee's consideration of the questions of the 17 non-self-governing territories under its purview, namely American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, and Western Sahara. The recommendations of the Special Committee are contained in chapter 13, which presents 19 draft resolutions for the consideration and action of the Fourth Committee. The report of the 2026 Caribbean Regional Seminar held in Managua, Nicaragua, from the 25th to the 27th of May 2026, is contained in the annex of the report. The seminar focused on advancing progress, renewed commitments, partnerships, and innovative approaches in the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, the Special Committee remains firmly committed to bringing colonialism to an end. As rapporteur of the Special Committee, it is my privilege to present the recommendations contained in chapter 13 of the Committee's 2026 report. I sincerely hope that the Fourth Committee will give these recommendations careful and favorable considerations. Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, in concluding my presentation, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the Fourth Committee for their continued commitment to the decolonization agenda and for their steadfast support of the work of the Special Committee in carrying out its mandates.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I thank the rapporteur of the Special Committee on Decolonization I now give the floor to the Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization, the representative of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Michael Imran Kanu, to make a statement on behalf of the Chair of that Committee, who is unable to join us today. You have the floor, Mr. Kanu.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairperson, It is my honor to address the Fourth Committee in my capacity as the Vice-Chair 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, or better known as the C-24, on behalf of the C-24 Chair, Her Excellency Ms. Melissa Rambally. First, I would like to congratulate you and other members of the Bureau on your election and assumption of office. The Chair and the Bureau of the C24 look forward to working with you and the other members of your Bureau throughout the 81st session of the General Assembly. I wish you every success in the discharge of your responsibilities and a productive session. Mr. Chairperson, distinguished delegates, The Special Committee's 2026 session opened in February and successfully concluded in June. I'd like to express my deep appreciation to the members of the C-24, observers, and administering powers for their active participation and contribution to the work of the Special Committee this year. On behalf of the entire membership of the Special Committee, I wish to express once again our heartfelt appreciation towards the government and the people of Nicaragua for hosting the 2026 Caribbean Regional Seminar in Managua this May. It was the third time that Nicaragua hosted the C24 regional seminar in Managua and their impeccable hospitality extended to all participants greatly contributed to the constructive discussions during the two and half day seminar. Taking the discussions at the regional seminar forward, The Special Committee held a two-week substantive session in June by engaging in hearing of the representatives of non-self-governing territories and petitioners concerning the 17 non-self-governing territories and Puerto Rico, and considering the situation of the territories and the thematic issues relating to decolonization. Thanks to the dedication and collaboration among C-24 members, the Special Committee once again fulfilled its mandate by completing its work and recommending its resolutions to this August body while maintaining its unity. The Special Committee's work is duly reflected in the annual report A/81/23, which was just presented by the rapporteur of the Special Committee on Decolonization, Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. Mr. Chairperson, since its establishment by the General Assembly in 1961, The Special Committee on Decolonization has played a central role in advancing the United Nations decolonization agenda, guided by its mandate under the United Nations Charter and relevant resolutions. Entering the second-half of the fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, we are reminded that the work of decolonization remains unfinished, with 17 territories on the list of non-self-governing territories. This juncture offers an opportunity to reinvigorate our collective effort and to strengthen international cooperation and commitment towards the full realization of the Decade's objective before the end of 2030. Each non-self-governing territory has its own distinct characteristics and circumstances. Accordingly, a case-by-case approach to decolonization remains as valid and essential as ever, consistent with Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations. I thank the members of the Fourth Committee for their continued support for the work of the C24. I count on their favorable consideration of the recommendations contained in this year's annual report in the form of 19 draft resolutions. Thank you. I.

Thank the Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, as announced at the beginning of this meeting, we will now approve the requests for hearings by petitioners.

It seems that Algeria want to take the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Once again, congratulations for your election as a chair of the fourth committee. I would also like to thank His Excellency Ambassador Ibrahim Ulaby for his excellent presentation on the work of the Special Committee on Decolonization, as well as for His Excellency Michael Imran Kanu, for his statement on behalf of the C24, its members and the Bureau. My delegation asks for the floor to draw your attention, Mr. Chair, on the substance of the report of the C24, and precisely its chapter 7, related to the implementation of the declaration. on granting independence to colonial people, countries and people by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations. This section refers to two times on its page 13 and 21 to a report issued by the President of the ECOSOC on the activities of these specialized agencies in support to non-self-governing territories and their people. We fully understand that the report was adopted during the month of June, during the substantive session of the C24, and these developments, both procedural but also substantial, happened during the management segment during the month of July. So these developments consist on issuing an addendum to the report of the ECOSAC. So the ECOSAC, to be clear, is the reference to it. is E/2026/55. So this report on its section related to the activities of the WFP, so the World Food Programme, and support for the Sahrawi refugees was complemented by an addendum. an addendum that was also included in the resolution that took note and endorsed this report. Our concern is that the report, the C-24 report, refers to the report of the ECOSOC on the matter without taken into consideration these developments that we understand that happened after the final adoption of the report during the month of June. So we seek your guidance and also the guidance of the members of the Bureau of the C24, how to make sure that these developments are reflected in the C24 report, since we are speaking about a report that was, as I said, substantially and procedurally modified by an addendum. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I.

Understand that the representative of Morocco also wishes to take the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, I reiterate the congratulations of my delegation with regard to your election as chair of the committee. of this august assembly.

Excellencies, Mr. Chair, my delegation is taking the floor in order to reestablish facts, the facts considering a document that the Algerian delegation has persisted in submitting to this committee, the addendum, the so-called addendum.

To the report.

A/2026/55 of the Economic and Social Council with regard to the activities of the World Food Program in Algeria. The Kingdom of Morocco has already recorded its strong objection to.

This text on the 21st of June during the debate on the management of ECOSOC under agenda item 14.

Since then, The facts have borne out our position.

And the very authors of this document, the World Food Program, recognized through a note verbal 2026 slash 020, dated 2nd of September 2026.

The circumstances surrounding the ECOSAC reporting inputs and acknowledges that procedural shortcomings contributed to inaccurate terminology in the addendum to this report.

End of quote from the note verbal. So I'm going to make some observations about the procedure, about the substance, and about what this approach shows. First, as regards the procedure, this text is a flagrant violation of procedure.

On the 21st of July, it was introduced.

By the vice chair of ECOSOC, His Excellency, the ambassador of Algeria, as the president of the meeting at that time. in the form of an advanced version. This was less than three hours before the meeting started without any formal publication. This is a precipitous practice that is only applies to this particular document. Yet, in accordance with the rules of procedure, any document submitted to the consideration of an organ needs to be submitted officially or at least with sufficiently advanced notice, at least the day before the meeting, in order to allow the members, the delegations, to take note of it. So this was an unprecedented act, and we've never seen it. In previous practice, an addendum has never been submitted under this agenda item, and this happened unilaterally, without regard to the work or the dynamics of the Special Committee. No clarity was brought to bear on this procedure, and no intergovernmental organization, in particular the C-24, none of them examined or approved this. So today, were trying to attach this very same text, the addendum, to the report of the committee, the C-24, and the fourth committee is considering the report as adopted by the very same C-24. No delegation can add it after the fact if it hasn't been considered. And this also falls under the purview of another organization. The General Assembly's rules of procedure say that no proposal will be considered in the larger committee if the text has not been circulated to all of the delegations at least the day before the meeting. So a document that is stripped of any status at ECOSOC can only have one, can't have any status here if it's simply recirculated. My second point has to do with substance. On the 21st of July, during the management segment, the very same day, my delegation pointed out the serious inaccuracies in this addendum, in particular, and this is the problem, the qualification of refugees which were applied to the numbers that the annual report of the WFP on Algeria for 2026 was presenting as the beneficiaries. That is, the report presented them as the beneficiaries. But the WFP never validated these numbers in terms of refugees. And there's a huge difference between refugees and beneficiaries. On the 30th of July, the WFP sent a note verbal. We can ask for it to be circulated, a copy of this note. The WFP recognized its error and its contribution to ECOSOC, and it indicated, while assuming full responsibility for it. And it corrected the aforementioned report. In this context, the WFP clarified that it organized steps to be taken by the secretariat to correct the record. So a procedure is underway, which is why we don't-- stopping this procedure and adopting something would be falsification. September 2nd, there was an official note verbal from the WFP that confirmed the following points. Inaccurate steps led to imprecise terminology in the addendum. This text needs to be aligned with its approved institutional language as concerning its operations in Algeria. And it said.

It said that the number of some 130,000 individuals corresponded to beneficiaries, and they never said.

That this figure applied to refugees in accordance with the WFP plan through 2026. And in no case did this apply to refugees. So, Mr. Chair, we are seeing a document here where the authors of it themselves have recognized an error and have asked the Secretariat to correct it. Transmitting it to our body would be tantamount to knowingly circulating erroneous information which has been recognized as such. My third point, I just want to say that the intention of our approach is for this agenda item to be treated strictly in accordance with established practice, and it shouldn't be subject to politically motivated selective interpretation, and shouldn't be subject to the pursuit of special, you know, particular agendas. The WFP's work was not a census, and those in the Tindouf camp had not yet been recorded, despite the calls of the High Commissioner for Refugees in the Security Council. If there's no registration, then any figure presented as representing the population of refugees is not correct, especially because Algeria is trying to paper over this fact Thus, Mr. Chairman, my delegation is asking for several things. We want the chair to confirm for the record that the document that the Committee is considering is the report of the Special Committee as adopted, and that there is no agenda -- there's no addenda, rather, that is part of it. Also, this formal objection of the Kingdom of Morocco already laid out in ECOSOC, we want this to be reflected in the official record of this meeting. And thirdly, the 2nd of September 2026, note verbal 2026/020, the note verbal from the WFP indicating the errors made.

We want this note verbal to be circulated.

If the Algerian delegate insists on making this into a problem, we will ask for this note verbal also to be included in the same way. But I simply want to adopt today the report of today as it was considered and adopted by all of the member states.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Yatil, do you have any other request for the floor?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are unfortunately compelled to take the floor once again to rectify some claims made by the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Morocco. I understand that our colleague is not familiar with the procedure on how this report is compiled and then published by the ECOSOC. So, two points, and I won't be long on reacting on the same talking points really repeated again and again about the refugees in Algeria, which are recognized as such since 1975, and they are receiving protection, humanitarian assistance by UN specialized agencies with the full transparency and collaboration with the government of Algeria and with other international non-governmental organization presence there. We have never seen any report corroborating the claims of our distinguished colleague, but I will not dwell longer on this. So just to clarify, that there is a procedure on how this report, the report on the assistance of the specialized agencies is, as I said, compiled. This is under the full responsibility of each agency. So there is two steps. The Secretary General of the United Nations sent a letter to each specialized agency. And they are all listed in his report on the same question, asking them to provide him and provide the ECOSOC with information on their activities in the assistance of the people and the non-self-governing territories. Based on this contribution, each specialized agency has the substance that proposed to the secretary-general is afterward reflected in the report and it is compiled by the Secretariat I can refer to the with regard to the other to the addendum I can refer our dear colleague from the delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to the paragraph 4 of of the SG report on the matter. And I read, "Summaries of additional replies received, together with such further information as may become available." It means that the addendum we are talking about was made available during the month of July, in full accordance with the paragraph that I will read further, "on relevant activities undertaken by the organization concerned during this year will be published in an addenda to the report mentioned in paragraph 3 above. So this was not under the responsibility of the Vice Chair, it was under the responsibility of the WFP itself. It has provided the Secretariat and the SG with additional information that have been put together and joined to the report itself with an addendum. So our concern, and frankly speaking, I don't understand why the distinguished representative of Morocco took the floor and made his comments, since this part of the report is solely regarding the cooperation between Algeria and the WFP in providing assistance to refugees, which are not Moroccans. We don't understand why they take the floor to speak about them. And these refugees have this right to self-determination. And then now they have been denied to do so. So, Mr. Chair, since the report of the C24 has been mentioned twice, I'm sorry, I rectify. Since the report of the ECOSOC on the matter has been mentioned twice in the report of the C24, again, our appeal to you is that we are seeking guidance from you, from the members, and from the Bureau of the C24, how to reflect the developments that happened after the adoption of the June report of the C24. Thank you.

I thank you.

There's more of us still want to take the floor. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, after more than 17 years in multilateral diplomacy, I am always grateful to opportunities to further teach myself and humbly learning things and being called as someone who doesn't know the procedures. Well, we all humbly learn every day. But I think that 16 years being here, I could write my own report, at least, of how procedures are going from year to year and section to section. But back to the substance of the things. Question number one, why Morocco took the floor. Morocco took the floor to present the situation. as clearly as possible with the proofs that we have, with the documents we have, with the not verbals of the institution itself that's made the mistakes regarding the naming of the persons, whether they are beneficiaries and whether they are refugees. This is number one. Number two, on the question of, I mean, I will not consider it as a question because this is very dangerous, the claim that we heard from the delegation, a respectful delegation of Algeria, that the refugee, he said, and I quote, "Refugees in the camps are not Moroccans." Well, open the camps, let the High Commissioner for Refugees do a fully and and well-established registration according to the mandate of the High Commission for Refugees to know the identity of each and everyone inside the camps. But Algeria has been refusing that for 50 years, 5-0. Number three, Morocco is not using any cards, as he said, claimed of the refugees, we are asking for the implementation of the durable solutions. Three solutions, you know them, durable solutions. Number four, regarding the international law, there is a difference between the humanitarian law, which what we are seeking and what we are asking and calling for, which provides for the protection of the refugees, So this is international humanitarian law. But at the same time, on the other hand, there is the political process led by the Secretary General, by the Security Council resolutions, by the personal envoy of the Secretary General. That political process, we cannot hold hostages, people in the camp, population in the camp, because there is a political process on the signed. in parallel. The political process is going on. We just had three round, well, three discussions in Washington and Madrid with the participation of the four parties, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria. So that's the political process. Very good. It's progressing. It's going on. Meanwhile, we are not undermining the protection, the humanitarian protection to the, I mean, for the population in the camps. So two tracks, different tracks. And regarding the not verbal, we also, we didn't ask for any guidance. We just heard that there is a report that was distributed in ECOSOC, addendum distributed in ECOSOC. My delegation will not repeat the whole statements. You can also listen to it in the recording. But we explained all the shortcomings of the presentation of that report. most important shortcoming, with due respect to every delegation here, is that the delegation of Algeria, being at that time chair of that meeting, presented an addendum which is very difficult, very sensitive, very political, regarding humanitarian situation, falsified even the word for program is apologizing for that and is having now as we're speaking is still having uh consideration of that uh those shortcomings and imposing them on member states in ecosoc and requesting to have it as an addendum so that was stopped at that level and we cannot accept it here at this level here because otherwise we will open another door of discussion of falsification. We know all the kind of intellectual harassment that many people had to try to impose this report on the secretariat, on us member states, but we will not accept that. So this report, this addendum for us is not added to is not acceptable until or unless the World Food Program corrects the the mistakes and reissue another correction and uh apologies for taking the floor again Mr. chair but uh that was just to answer to the first question of the delegates of Algeria why did I take the floor in the first place I thank you thank you.

Since we've heard these delegations twice, I thank you for your statements and I take note of interventions made by the Algerian and Moroccan delegations today. This subject concerning the report of C24 will be brought to the attention of this committee and C24. Today, we're at the stage where we're listening to the introduction of the report on C24. and the actions to be taken under the recommendations of this report will be examined starting from Thursday 15th of October. So that's where we stand today. As announced at the beginning of this session, we're going to now take a decision Regarding requests, there are two requests contained in document A/C.4/81/2 relating to the question of American Samoa. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant these requests? Don't see any objections, so decided. Now, in document A/C.4/81/3 contains a request on the question of the British Virgin Islands. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant this request? So decided. Now, there is one request contained in document A/C.4/AD.1/4 relating to the questions of the Falkland Islands-Malvinas. May it take it that the Committee wishes to grant this request. It is so decided. There are 40 requests contained in document A/C.4/81/5 relating to the question of French Polynesia. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant these requests? It is so decided. There is one request contained in document A/C.4/81/6 relating to the question of Gibraltar. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant this request? It is so decided. There are eight requests contained in document A/C/4/81/7 relating to the question of Guam. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant these requests? It is so decided. There are 17 requests contained in documents A/C.4/81/8 relating to the question of New Caledonia. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant these requests? It is so decided. There is one request contained in document A/C.4/81/9 relating to the question of Saint Helena. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant this request? It is so decided. There is one request contained in document A/C.4/81/10 relating to the question of the Turks and Caicos Islands. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant this request? It is decided. There are four requests contained in document A/C.4/81/11 relating to the question of the United States Virgin Islands. May I take it that the Committee decides to grant these requests? It is so decided. Lastly, there are 170 requests contained in document A/C.4/81/11 relating to the question of Western Sahara. May I take it that the Committee wishes to grant these requests? It is so decided. Are there any delegations who wish to take the floor at this point? If not, the Committee will now begin its general debate on the decolonization cluster. Let me remind delegations that we agreed to a time limit of 10 minutes speaking in the national capacity and 15 minutes when speaking on behalf of a group. To assist speakers in managing their time, we will use a timing mechanism whereby the red light on the speaker's microphone will begin to blink one minute before the end of the allotted time. After that minute, the speaker's microphone will be automatically cut off. In order to facilitate the interpretation of statements, I would kindly request speakers to speak at a reasonable pace and to send all statements in advance to e-statements@un.org. I also invite delegations with longer statements to read out an abbreviated version and to send the full statement to e-statements@un.org for posting in the UN journal. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

In defense of the Charter of the United Nations, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. Mr. Chair, the Russian Federation has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. Decolonization is one of those files of the United Nations where, on the one hand, great progress was achieved, as demonstrated by the expansion of the membership of our organization. On the other hand, the task remains incomplete. Seventeen non-self-governing territories and others which have not yet attained independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 still await us for ensuring that their inalienable right to self-determination is fully realized. Last year, we commemorated the 65th anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. In this regard, we reiterate our firm adherence to the provisions of this landmark document and our unwavering moral and political commitment to the full realization of the inalienable rights of each and every non-self-governing territory. At the same time, we call on the occupying and administering powers to ensure full compliance with relevant UN resolutions in order to finally reach a lasting and comprehensive solution to each of these pending questions. Similarly, we also seize this opportunity to renew our call to the administering and occupying powers to respect the inalienable right of all territories under their administration and occupation to their national resources, as well as their right to establish and maintain control over their current and future exploitation. Likewise, we urge the administering and occupying powers to avoid the pursuance of economic and other activities, including of a military nature, that have the potential to negatively affect the interests and well-being of the peoples of said territories. Moreover, we call upon colonialist countries to assume their responsibilities for and pay full compensation for the economic, social, and cultural consequences of their occupation, bearing in mind the right of all people who were or are still subjected to colonial rule or occupation to receive fair compensation for the human and material losses they have suffered. Mr. Chair, today, when we find ourselves immersed in the Fourth International Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism, we have to ask ourselves, how much more time has to pass before the desires and legitimate aspirations for peace, justice, self-determination, and freedom of the peoples of the 17 non-self-governing territories and others which have not yet gained independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 and that still remain on our agenda can be carried out. How many more decades do we have to declare before we, once and for all, eliminate colonialism in all its forms and manifestations? It is worth recalling that the current International Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism is scheduled to end in the year 2030, when the international community should have achieved the Sustainable Development Goals. At that time, we will have to account, inter alia, on the progress made towards, as stated in General Assembly resolution 70/1, will have to account for the removal of the obstacles to the full realization of the right to self-determination of peoples living under colonial or foreign occupation. We reaffirm our responsibility as responsible members of the international community towards the people of the Western Sahara, Puerto Rico, and Palestine, among others, in their struggle for the exercise of their inalienable rights as foreseen in the Charter of the United Nations and as applicable in the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 1514. We are also determined to promote efforts within the framework of the United Nations to advance the cause of decolonization and to put an end to colonialism in all its forms and manifestations, including as part of our commitment to raising awareness of the impact of colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and its lasting consequences, which nowadays are amplified by proliferation of neocolonial practices that seek to exert domination, particularly over independent and sovereign nations. In this context, We have tabled a draft resolution that addresses contemporary forms of colonialism under agenda item 47. We thank in advance all of your delegations for their much valued support to this text on which we will soon initiate informal consultations. Mr. Chair, to conclude, we renew our pledge to settle once and for all, all our pending debt with humanity regarding the definitive conclusion of the decolonization process around the world, mindful of our moral duty to ensure that decolonization continues to be one of the top priorities of the United Nations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished.

Representative of the Russian Federation, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru.

Thank you, Mr. President. In this first statement by Peru during the session of the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, we'd like to congratulate you on your election, as well as to the distinguished bureau that will be supporting in your work and we want to wish you every success. Now, I would like to make the following statement on behalf of the member states of the Brasilia Consensus. Within the framework of the Brasilia Consensus, during the first South American meeting of dialogue between ministers of defense and foreign affairs, held in Brasilia, November 22, 2023, its members adopted the Special Declaration on the Question of the Malvinas Islands. In this declaration, the ministers of defense and foreign affairs of the countries of South America reaffirmed their support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over the Malvinas, South Georgia's and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. Mr. President, the members of the Brasilia Consensus wish to reiterate the regional interest in the resumption of bilateral negotiations that would allow, as soon as possible, the long-standing sovereignty dispute regarding the question of the Malvinas Islands to reach a solution in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and the declarations of the Organization of American States and Mercosur, among other regional and multilateral forums. The member states of the consensus underline that the military presence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Malvinas, South Georgias, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas is contrary to the region's policy of adherence to a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute, and we reiterate their call to resume negotiations towards a definitive solution and put an end to British unilateral activities in the disputed area that violate UN General Assembly resolutions, especially resolutions 3149 and 4111. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Peru, and I give the floor to the ambassador of Angola. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Angola expresses appreciation to the permanent representative of the Syrian Arab Republic and the permanent representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for their remarks on the work of the Special Committee on the Colonization. We also commend the Republic of Nicaragua for hosting the Caribbean Regional Seminar on the Implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, held from 25 to 27 May 2026. Mr. Chair, the colonization remains an unfinished responsibility of the United Nations. More than eight decades after the establishment of our organization, 17 non-self-governing territories remains on the United Nations list. Our responsibility is therefore not simply to reaffirm established principles, but to translate them into measurable progress. Angola reaffirms the inalienable rights of the peoples of non-self-governing territories to self-determination in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, General Assembly resolution 1514, 15, and other relevant resolutions. It's ultimately for the people's concern to determine freely their future political status without external pressure or predetermined outcomes. Distinguished delegates, Angola maintains its principal opposition to colonialism in all its forms and manifestations. On the African continent, Western Sahara remains the only territory included in the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories, and its final status remains unresolved. For Angola, the way forward should continue to be guided by four essential principles: first, the outcome cannot be imposed. Second, the political process should remain under United Nations auspices. Third, the parties should engage constructively and in good faith. And fourth, the final settlement must be consistent with the purpose and principles of the Charter and provide for the exercise of self-determination by the people of Western Sahara. Our position of principle must, however, be accompanied by renewed diplomacy. Angola, therefore, supports intensifying engagement by the Secretary General and his personal envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, with the parties and concerned neighboring states. We encourage sustained direct and indirect consultations, supported by confident building measures capable of narrowing differences and creating conditions for substantive negotiations. As the Security Council approached the renewal of MINUSO, Angola encouraged Member States to preserve the mission's operational effectiveness and its capacity to implement its mandate and provide objective information on developments on the ground. We further call upon all concerned to refrain from actions or rhetoric that could deepen mistrust and complicate the political process. The priority must be to restore political momentum, maintain channels of communication, and create the conditions for meaningful negotiations. Regional actors, including the African Union, should continue supporting the United Nations-led process in a manner that reinforces dialogue, regional stability, and a peaceful settlement. Mr. Chair, The question of Malvinas Island also remains unresolved. Angola calls upon the governments of Argentina Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume substantive bilateral negotiations in good faith and renewed political will with a view to achieving a peaceful and lasting solution in accordance with the Charter and the relevant General Assembly resolutions. We encourage the effective use of good offices of the Secretary-General to facilitate renewed dialogue. Pending substantive negotiation, the parties should promote confidence-building measures and refrain from unilateral actions that could further complicate the dispute. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, the remaining years of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism should become a period of accelerated implementation and measurable progress. To this end, Angola proposes four practical measures. First, the C24 should strengthen structured territory-by-territory dialogue with administering powers, representatives of territories and relevant stakeholders, identifying obstacles, priorities and concrete follow-up actions. Second, United Nations visiting missions should be used more systematically, where appropriate, to obtain first-hand information, engage directly with the people's concern, and assess conditions on the ground. Third, the C24 and the Secretariat should consider developing territory-specific implementation frameworks with clear objectives, responsibilities, and practical benchmarks, enable the General Assembly to assess progress on the basis of results. Fourth, the United Nations system should expand targeted capacity building and development support for the territories, particularly in education, institutional capacity, health, climate resilience, economic diversification, and digital connectivity. Mr. Chair, Angola calls for a renewed approach to decolonization based on dialogue, accountability, measurable benchmarks, strengthened assistance, and sustainable political engagement. Our collective objective must be to move outstanding questions from recurrent consideration towards concrete progress. while ensuring that the voices and the freely expressed choice of the people's concern remains at the center of the process. Angola will continue to work constructively with the C24, administering powers, and the peoples of non-self-governing territories and all member states to advance this unfinished mandate of the United Nations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Angola. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Mr. Chair, peace and blessings of God be upon you. It is my pleasure to deliver this statement on behalf of the GCC states. These are the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and my country, the Kingdom of Bahrain. At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on assuming the chairmanship of the Fourth Committee. We also congratulate the Bureau and the presence of the State of Kuwait in the Bureau. We issue all the success in conducting the work of the committee Mr. chair the GCC states um stress the centrality of the Palestinian question and the need to put an end to the Israeli occupation with the establishment an independent sovereign um contiguous state of Palestine along the lines of the 4th of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital in line with the Arab peace initiative and the resolutions of the international legitimacy this would meet aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate rights for the most the right to self-determination the GCC states also underline our their support to the Palestinian people and their sovereignty on all Palestinian territories we reject any unilateral measure that undermine the chance for a two-state solution including the expansion settlement and the e1 project in addition to the annex the forced annexation that was coupled with the settlers violence. We stress the need to ensure the unity of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since it is one political and geographic unit for the Palestinian state. In this vein, we stress our support to efforts aimed at ensuring the ceasefire in Gaza and alleviating the suffering, the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people. We have to open up all crossing points and ensure access of humanitarian and relief effort continuously without obstacles. We reject any attempt at the forced displacement of the people of Gaza or change the demographic or regional nature of the strip. We welcome um Security Council resolution 2803 of 2025 which adopted a comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza to ensure reconstruction in this vein we reiterate our support to the effort of the board of peace to implement this resolution this is a serious path towards a two-state solution implementation the GCC states also support the New York declaration on the peace of settlement of the G of the Palestinian question and the implementation the two-state solution, which was supported by the U.S. in September 2025. We commend the role of KSA on supporting the current effort to implement the two-state solution. We support the diplomatic effort aimed at implementing the recommendations of the New York Declaration to enhance international recognition of the Palestinian statehood, implementing the two-state solution, and reaching a durable and just peace. Mr. Chair, our countries reiterate their principle position supporting the Moroccan ownership of the Sahara, we welcome Security Council Resolution 2797 of 2025 and the adoption of the self-governing nature to this Sahara question. We support efforts under the auspices of the UN to reach a final settlement to this question to ensure territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco. Mr. Chair, our country renew their condemnation to the continued occupation of Iran, of Greater Tomb, Small Tomb, and Amu Musa Islands. We support the sovereignty of the UAE on all three islands, in addition to the regional waters and continental shelf and the economic region, because it's part and parcel of the UAE territories. The GCC states stress that any decision, practices, or actions undertaken by Iran are null and void and will not change the historic and legal principled status of the region that stress the sovereignty of UAE on these three islands. We reiterate our call to Iran to respond to the sincere calls and attempts by UAE to settle this question either by direct negotiations or by resorting to the ICJ in line with the provisions of international law and the UN Charter. To conclude, Mr. Chair, the GCC states stress that addressing the items on the agenda of the Fourth Committee must be underpinned on the principles of the UN Charter and the international law, foremost the respect of state sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the non-interference in their internal affairs, while committing to the peaceful settlement of disputes We renew our commitment to work with the United Nations and the international community to entrench the principles of peace, stability, and the advancement of international law and relevant UN resolutions. This would meet the aspirations of all people for development and prosperity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished.

Representative of Bahrain, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Good morning. First of all, I want to congratulate you, Ambassador, and all the members of the Bureau on your election to conduct the work of this committee. Mr. President, the The Republic of Argentina considers, based on historical and legal conviction, its sovereignty over Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. This is a territories that are currently illegally occupied by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1833. So, more over 60 years ago, Resolution 2065 of the General Assembly established the path towards decolonization of the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, through bilateral negotiations to resolve peacefully the sovereignty dispute in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and Resolution 1514. and taking into account the interests of the inhabitants of the islands. Since then, this mandate has been reaffirmed in successive resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Special Decolonization Committee, and we're grateful for that, Mr. President. As mentioned by President Javier Milei in the General Assembly last week, the Malvinas question is a national cause for Argentina. Using this at that opportunity, the President reiterated to the United Kingdom the appeal of Argentina to renew negotiations to find a peaceful solution to their sovereignty dispute as required under international law, and also extended an invitation to proceed without delay to an exchange of opinion in order to resolve the question pertaining to the dispute on the extraction of natural resources. However, the United Kingdom stated that it will not negotiate unless inhabitants of the territory desire it. This is contrary to international law. The General Assembly has recognized the right to self-determination when this principle applies to the case under consideration. In the Malvinas Islands, none of the resolutions refer to the desire of the inhabitants or the principle of self-determination. Determination requires the existence of a people subject to colonial domination with ethnic and cultural identity distinct from the occupying power in conformity with Resolution 1541. In the Malvinas Islands, there is no colonized people with this kind of right. There is a population, British population, implanted by the occupying power after the expulsion of the legitimate authorities and the Argentinian population in 1833. The entire population of the islands is approximately 3,000 inhabitants, of which less than half were born there. At the same time, approximately 1,200 British soldiers are deployed there this proportion reveals the strategic and militarized nature of the occupation recognizing the inhabitants of the islands which the United Kingdom considers British citizens to recognize that to them the possibility of deciding on the legal conditions of the territory that they inhabit would mean a distorted interpretation of the principle of free determination incompatible with resolution 1514 and with the international law applicable to the process of decolonization. The International Court of Justice stated clearly in its advisory opinion of 2019 on the Chagos Archipelago that not all population constitutes a people with the right to self-determine This conclusion is especially relevant for the Malvinas. Along these lines, the vote, the referendum convened by the British government in 2013, lacks validity for this organization. It was organized without intervention in the General Assembly, and no state or international organization sent official electoral observers. election observers. It does not alter the nature of the dispute, nor did it modify the pending obligations. Argentina attaches particular consideration to the interests and way of life of the inhabitants of the island. Our own national constitution determines that the recovery of full sovereignty must be done while respecting the way of life of its inhabitants in conformity with the principles of international law, Mr. President. The absence of a solution to this dispute over the course of many years has been an obstacle to the full development of relationship between the two countries. This has been aggravated by various unilateral actions by the United Kingdom contrary to Resolution 31/49 of the General Assembly, which was adopted almost 50 years ago, and that urges both parties to refrain from modifying the situation while the dispute remains unresolved. The United Kingdom maintains a disproportionate military presence in the South Atlantic, with approximately 1,200 troops deployed in the islands. This is a force equivalent to almost 40% of the population of the territory. This This number reveals the scale of the militarization, which is difficult to reconcile with the standing appeal of the United Nations towards dialogue and a peaceful resolution of this dispute. The United Kingdom also unilaterally illegally and illegitimately grants licenses and concessions for the extraction and development of natural resources in the area under dispute, including hydrocarbons and fisheries resources. I would now like to refer to the illegal extraction of hydrocarbons in the Argentinian continental shelf around the Malvinas Islands and the project called Sea Lion operated by the Navitas Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration. The announcements posted in December of 2025 regarding the intention of starting extraction of hydrocarbon activities in the area under dispute constitute a unilateral act with potentially irreversible effects, given that this applies to non-renewable natural resources. In the face of the severity of this situation, Argentina is deploying all possible instruments of the state, diplomatic, economic, judicial, and legal, to deter and punish state and non-state actors that violate our sovereignty. These actions are fall under the right that allows our country recognized by the international community to adopt measures in conformity with international law in the face of activities that are not authorized of extraction and utilization of hydrocarbons in the area under dispute. In this framework, we have sent more than 180 notes of discouragement to businesses in over 29 countries involved in various projects in our islands. We've begun administrative and procedures against more than 60 individuals and we have submitted criminal denunciations against the businesses involved. This week on the 28th of September, the Argentinian government has begun an arbitration procedure in conformity with Annex 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea against the United Kingdom in order to prevent the illegal extraction and utilization of hydrocarbon resources in the the Argentinian continental shelf around the Malvinas Islands. The message is clear. The Argentine Republic will continue defending firmly its sovereign rights, making use of all instruments, peaceful, diplomatic, administrative, and legal that are offered to it by international law and national legislation. To conclude, Mr. President, I would not like to conclude without sincerely thanking this committee for its continued commitment over the course of two decades to eradicating colonialism in all its forms, and in particular, for the attention it has dedicated to the question of the Malvinas. Argentina reaffirms a full commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes based on the UN Charter and international law. We will continue defending our legitimate sovereignty rights exclusively through peaceful and diplomatic means. Over six decades have passed since this General Assembly adopted Resolution 2065. Since then, the United Nations has appealed many times to Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations to achieve a peaceable solution to the sovereignty dispute. Argentina has reiterated its readiness to do so. We hope that the United Kingdom responds to the appeal of this organization and gets back to the table of negotiations. Mr. President, question of Malvinas belongs to the long-standing history of Argentina. Our generations pass different positions, but this is truly a national cause. Through history and by law, Malvinas are Argentinas. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Argentina and I give the floor to Paraguay.

Thank you. Thank you very much, President. First of all, I want to Thank you. I want to congratulate you for being elected to chair this committee. Paraguay aligns itself with the statements of G77, CELAC, the Brazilian Consensus, and Mercosur. In our national capacity, we'd like to add the following. Colleagues, in six decades since the adoption of Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Territories With the United Nations, with the efforts of the United Nations and individual states, we have achieved significant progress in decolonization. Based on this, we must recognize that There's still a pending matter to make progress. Some 60 years, 700 million people were living under colonial territories. They achieved independence. For us, this is not merely a historic matter because there are still situations to be resolved. And as long as this is the case, this organization has a responsibility to achieve this together with member states. And so we're committed to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly in the sphere of decolonization. At the same time, we understand that not all pending situations are equal. Each one has its own characteristics and that they must be examined based on their specific circumstances. The framework established by the United Nations and the resolutions that are applicable serve for that purpose. The challenge is not merely maintaining these issues in our agenda or reiterating well-known positions, but rather we must continue seeking ways to move forward in this effort. Dialogue between parties and the work of the Special Decolonization Committee continue to be essential. Mr. President, in this context, And with regard to the Malvinas question, Paraguay reaffirms its traditional and firm support to the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Republic of Argentina on the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas. We reiterate also our appeal to the resumption of negotiations between the governments of the Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Dialogue will always be the only way of reaching an understanding. In addition to that, there is a set of resolutions by the UN that make this dialogue possible. This is the only way to achieve a peaceful solution and definitive solution to this dispute. Resolution 31/49, among others, requested both governments to accelerate negotiations on this sovereignty dispute. Mr. President, lastly, I'd like to reiterate that Paraguay will continue supporting efforts of the United Nations to find for each one of the pending matters a solution, also the efforts of both countries involved in this dispute, because we seek peaceful and lasting solutions in line with the UN Charter and the relevant resolutions of this organization. Thank you very much.

I thank Paraguay. And I'll give the floor to Vietnam.

Mr. President, as the outset, I would like to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your elections. You can count on the full support and constructive participation of the delegation of Vietnam in the work of the Fourth Committee during this session. Mr. President, Vietnam's positions on decolonization remain consistent. We reaffirm our strong support for the universal goals of decolonization and for the inalienable right to self-determination of the peoples of the 17 remaining non-self-governing territories, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514, and other relevant resolutions of the GA. While significant progress has been achieved since the adoption of the Declaration in 1960, the decolonization agenda remains unfinished. As we continue the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, sustained efforts are needed to advance the implementation of the relevant international resolutions and promote concrete progress in the remaining non-self-governing territories. Vietnam continue to support a case by case approach, taking into account the specific historical, political, economic, social, and cultural circumstances of each territory, and as well as the interest and aspiration of the people's concerned. The decolonization process should be advanced through peaceful means, dialogue, and cooperation, in conformity with the charter of the UN and international law, and relevant GA resolutions. In this context, we wish to highlight four points. First, the availability of adequate and up-to-date information on the economic, social, and educational conditions of the non-self-governing territories remains essential to the work of the UN. We encourage the administering powers, in accordance with the Charter and relevant GA resolutions, to continue to provide the relevant information under Article 73e of the Charter and to cooperate with the UN in this regard. Such cooperation enables the GIs and Special Committee of Decolonization to better understand the situation and the needs of the peoples concerned and to carry out their respective responsibilities effectively. Second, economic activities and the use of natural resources in the non-self-governing territories should not adversely affect the legitimate interests and well-being of their peoples. Efforts should continue to strengthen and diversify the economies of the territories and to promote sustainable development in accordance with their particular circumstances and needs. In this regard, Vietnam also attached importance to enhancing the capacity of the non-self-governing territories to respond to natural disasters, climate change, and other development challenges. For many small island territories, sustainable development and climate resilience remain particularly important to the well-being and future of their peoples. Third, the UN system has an important role to play in supporting the peoples of the non-self-governing territories. We encourage the specialized agencies, funds, and programs of the UN within their respective mandates to continue providing appropriate assistance to the territories. Including in such areas as sustainable development, health, education, disaster risk reductions, capacity building, science technologies. Such assistance should respond to the specific circumstances and needs of each territory and contribute to their economic, social advancement and the long-term well-being of their peoples. Fourth, Vietnam attach important to expanding educational and training opportunities for the inhabitants of the non-self-governing territories. We welcome continued offers by member states of scholarships, vocational training and other capacity building programs as envisaged under the agenda item. Greater access to education, professional training, science and technologies can contribute to strengthen human resources and enable the people's concern to participate more effectively in the development of their communities and in shaping their own futures. Mr. President, Progress in decolonization requires sustained dialogue and constructive cooperation among all concerned. We encourage administering powers to continue engaging with the people of the territories, the Special Committee on Decolonization and the UN, with a view to advancing the decolonization process and enabling the peoples concerned to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with the Charter and relevant GA resolutions. We also support the continued efforts of the UN and Special Committee to facilitate dialogue, enhance cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, and make effective use of relevant mechanisms within their mandates to advance the objectives of decolonization. These efforts should continue to take into account the particular circumstances of each territory and the interests and aspirations of its people. At the same time, the international community should continue to support the economic and social advancement of the non-self-governing territories, including through education, capacity building, and sustainable development. Progress in these areas can help create more favorable conditions for the people concerned to determine and pursue their future. Mr. President, Having endured great suffering under colonialism and having struggled for our own national independence, Vietnam deeply understands the value of independence, freedom, and self-determination. This historical experience continues to underpin our consistent support for the legitimate aspirations of the people of the non-self-governing territories. Vietnam remains committed to working constructively with the UN, the Special Committee on Decolonization, the administering powers and other stakeholders to advance the decolonization agenda in accordance with the Charter of the UN and relevant GA resolutions. As we continue the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, we should renew our collective efforts to translate our long-standing commitments into practical progress for the people of the remaining non-self-governing territories. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Vietnam for his statement, and I would like now to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico. You have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Madam Chair, Mexico reiterates its long-standing commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and in particular to the right of peoples to free determination, reaffirming Resolution 1514 of the General Assembly. This principle together with respect for territorial integrity of states and peaceful resolution of disputes. guide the position of Mexico with regard to the situation of 17 non-self-governing territories that remain on the agenda of the Special Committee. Decolonization is one of the fundamental founding reasons of the United Nations. The lack of progress in this area is a major debt owed to the various peoples and their rights. As long as there's one territory that persists without being able to achieve their right to decide on their future, this organization must assume its responsibility to ensure these principles in order to fulfill the principle of self-determination. Mexico recognizes the work of the Fourth Committee and the Special Committee as appropriate forums to provide negotiated peaceful solutions in line with international law. We consider that the process of decolonization is and continues to be a priority issue for the international community, and that its resolution will be possible only through the effective cooperation goodwill and good faith of administrative administrating powers through a facilitation of missions and and the provision of timely information pursuant to article 73 of the e of the Charter and their participation in the work of a special committee article 73 of the Charter clearly establishes the guiding principles applicable to non-self-governing territories and especially the principle that the interests of of of their inhabitants are above everything else, including the right of people to use their natural resources in their territories and to dispose of them in the interests of national well-being. We value that during the seminar of the special committee that was held in Managua, The need was mentioned that constitutional revision and the revision of statutes of non-self-governing territories are conducted in transparent, inclusive, and participatory way while respecting the human rights and guaranteeing that the peoples involved have sufficient information to take informed decisions on their future. On the question of Western Sahara, Mexico reiterates its commitment to the inalienable right of Sahrawi people to self-determination in line with the relevant resolutions of this General Assembly and the Security Council. My country supports the good offices of the personal envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and applauds the launching of the process of facilitation and consultation guided by the UN and the United States with the participation of the Polisario Front, the governments of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania. We reaffirm that these efforts can contribute effectively to achieving a political solution that is just, lasting, and mutually acceptable on the issue of Western Sahara in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Mexico recognizes the contribution of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, MINURSO, to stability in the region. It's a mission where Mexican military observers have been participating since 2015. We reiterate our appeal to the parties to fully cooperate with MINURSO and to the Security Council to renew the mandate of this mission during this month. Mexico reaffirms as we have done in many opportunities in different forms, our recognition of the legitimate sovereignty rights of Argentina over the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands, as well as the surrounding maritime areas. My country I'd like to reiterate its appeal to Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume bilateral negotiations with a view to finding a peaceful, just, and lasting solution to the sovereignty dispute, in line with the relevant resolution of the United Nations and regional declarations on this question adopted by CELAC and the Organization of American States. In this way, Mexico would like to underscore the importance of avoiding unilateral decisions in zones under dispute, in line with the provisions of Resolution 31/49 of the General Assembly regarding the Malvinas, and strengthening thus the principle of legality and regional stability. Mexico joins the appeal of the Secretary General of the UN so that the administrative powers adopt effective measures that guarantee the inalienable right of peoples of non-self-governing territories over their natural resources and their development. We also demand that their property rights are protected. and ensure that the people involved have sufficient information to take informed decisions on their future. Lastly, Mexico firmly reiterates its support for the Special Committee as the ideal mechanism to ensure follow-up and monitor the elimination of colonialism, and expresses its readiness to continue contributing in a constructive way to our work that makes it possible to advance towards the conclusion of the processes of decolonization that are pending, based on the respect for international law and the UN Charter. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Mexico for their statement. I would like now to hand the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.

You have the floor.

Madam President, first of all, I'd like to congratulate Ambassador Sec and the rest of the Bureau for having been elected to chair the session and I want to watch them every success. Uruguay adheres to the statement made by Peru representing the Brazilian consensus. Now allow me to make the following statement in a national capacity. In the sixth year, the fourth international decade for the elimination of colonialism, there are still 17 colonial situations. This year, we're marking 65 years, the adoption of resolution 1654 for in which the General Assembly established the Special Decolonization Committee to ensure the implementation of the declaration contained in resolution 1514. That declaration affirmed the right to self-determination and demanded the immediate and unconditional end of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations. To advance in this process, We must continue working in a constructive way on a case-by-case basis and take into consideration the political and legal specificities of each situation in line with the purposes and principles of this declaration. It is urgent for the international community to step up its efforts to achieve its full implementation in seeking global freedom and dignity. This organization has allowed millions of human beings to exercise their and the right to self-determination, and over 80 territories have acceded to their independence. However, this task, which began 16 years ago, is still not concluded. There are still non-self-governing territories subject to foreign domination, vestiges of colonialism that is an anachronism in the 21st century. My delegation would like to make the following points. First of all, Uruguay is a firm defender of the principle of free free determination of peoples. However, this principle is not applicable to the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands, to which another guiding principle of decolonization must be applied, the territorial integrity of states. Uruguay has maintained in all its forms the consistent principle that today I want to reaffirm. Our conviction is that the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands of the sovereignty of the Argentine Republic on Malvinas, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and surrounding maritime areas for historical, legal and geographic reasons. Since the adoption of Resolution 2065 in 1965 by the General Assembly as well as the Special Decolonization Committee, have accepted that the question of the Malvinas Islands is a sovereignty dispute and that involves the Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as the only parties involved, determining that the way of putting an end to this dispute is to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the dispute between two states. in that year this year as we mark the 50th anniversary of resolution 31/49 on the first of the first of December of 1976 Uruguay reiterates its appeal that what is provided in that resolution be implemented urges the parties to refrain from adopting decisions that lead to an introduction of unilateral modifications in the situation while the islands are under going through a process of negotiation recommended by the General Assembly with this in mind Uruguay notes with deep are the announcements made in December of 2025 on the possible beginning of extraction of hydrocarbons in the sea line area in the Northern Malvinas platform, which are conducted by businesses licensed by British authorities under the area under dispute. Such announcements are unilateral action contrary to resolution 3149 of the Assembly and to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. whose future effects are potentially irreversible since these are a non-renewable natural resource. Uruguay shares the demands presented by the Republic of Argentina and makes an urgent appeal to stop all unilateral extraction that complicates resumption of bilateral negotiations and to strictly adhere to resolutions of the United Nations, avoiding any action that could alter the status quo of the areas under dispute. Uruguay trusts in the efforts between the parties and the possibility of a constructive dialogue that makes it possible to advance towards a peaceful, just, and definitive solution of the sovereignty question, including all aspects on the future of the islands. Secondly, As we look at the evolution of the process of decolonization, we must recognize that the work has not been concluded. There's still 17 non-self-governing territories who believe that sustainable development cannot prosper without political stability with regard to human rights that begin with the right to self-determination. With this in mind, it is essential that non-self-governing territories are heard as petitioners in the Fourth Committee. to provide them a platform to express their aspirations and concerns is a fundamental principle of inclusion and democracy that recognizes their capacity to decide on their own future. This approach is aligned with the principles of justice and equality and enriches the debate on decolonization by incorporating the perspectives of those who are directly affected. through genuine dialogue that respects the diversity of voices and unique circumstances of each territory. Madam Chair, to conclude, Uruguay reaffirms that the right to free determination of peoples is based on the status of norm of jus cogens and the inherent imperative as recognized by the International Law Commission. Over six years after the appeal of the General Assembly to put an end quickly and unconditionally to colonialism, all its forms and manifestations, we renew our commitment to contribute to this task for it to be complete. Thank you.

Thank you. I would like now to hand the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, Allow me first of all to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election. Indonesia wishes to assure you of its full support and constructive engagement throughout this session. For Indonesia, the commitment to decolonization is rooted in our own struggle for independence and the principles of the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung. The Bandung spirit, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation, remains relevant today, guiding our commitment to decolonization process. Madam Chair, allow me to highlight three priorities that demand our collective resolve. First, promoting progress through a comprehensive and balanced approach. As we move into the second half of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, we must make effective use of the time remaining until 2030. The United Nations, particularly the Special Committee on Decolonization, has an essential role in maintaining momentum and advancing the colonization agenda for all 17 NSGTs. Indonesia supports a comprehensive and balanced approach, pursued on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UN Charter and the relevant resolutions. The Fourth Committee must continue to provide political support for this work and encourage practical and meaningful steps towards sustainable and mutually acceptable solutions. Second, strengthening constructive dialogue and engagement. Progress requires sustained engagement among the Special Committee, the administering powers, the peoples of the territories, the wider UN system, and other relevant stakeholders. Dialogue should build trust, deepen understanding on conditions on the ground, and ensure that views and aspirations of the people's concern are duly taken into account. In this regard, visiting missions and regional seminars remain useful means of facilitating engagement and identifying opportunities for progress. Indonesia encourages constructive cooperation by all parties in support of these efforts. Third, supporting development and the well-being of the people. The colonization process must also give attention to the development needs and welfare of the peoples of the NSGTs. Climate vulnerability, limited connectivity, and economic constraints continue to affect the resilience and prospects for sustainable development. We therefore encourage stronger international cooperation, including through the UN system, to support the non-self-governing territories in addressing these challenges. Such support should respond to local needs, strengthen local capacities, and improve access to education, healthcare, resilient infrastructure, and economic opportunities. Madam Chair, in closing, Indonesia stands ready to contribute to the work of this committee in advancing the shared responsibility and to achieve its objectives. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia for his statement. And I would like now to hand the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica. You have the floor.

Madam Chair. As we begin this session, Costa Rica congratulates you and the Bureau on your election. We would like to reiterate our continued support in your work. Another year, One more year and there are still 17 non-self-governing territories where some 2 million people live, and they remain on the agenda of this committee. The task that we have is to support in a determined way the path that still remains to be covered. It's more relevant than ever. Costa Rica would like to highlight four points. First of all, The populations of the non-self-governing territories must remain at the centre of any decision pertaining to their future. We value the participation of petitioners and the representatives of these territories in the work of this Committee. As we receive them in this room, we should not only extend our courtesy to them, but also pay full attention, because no conversation on their future can be complete without hearing their voices. Costa Rica also values the regional annual seminar and the visiting missions as opportunities that make it possible to evaluate the situation in each territory and to help this organization. In the various territories, it's encouraging to observe how local leadership is being consolidated through transparent processes that include participation of women increasingly in positions of leadership. This progress deserves recognition because free determination is built individual by individual through institutions to which the communities contribute. Costa Rica supports this kind of participation and to promote the participation of women, youth and indigenous people to have leading roles in this process. Secondly, the legacy of colonialism can only only measured by the number of territories that remain non-self-governing. As the Secretary-General stated to this Special Committee, colonialism has left deep traces through economic exploitation, persistent inequalities, and exclusion of peoples from decisions that determine their lives. These realities transcend changes in the political status, and to address them is part of the work that this organization began. Costa Rica welcomes the satisfaction of the proclamation of the International Day against Colonialism and all its forms and manifestations that we commemorate on the 14th of December and encourages continuing to pay attention to this aspect. Thirdly, the climate emergency affects with particular intensity non-self-governing territories. Most of them, most of the territories that are in the list are small islands. increase in sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme meteorological events put at risk households, their livelihood, and public resources they require. They put increasing pressure on communities whose room for maneuver is limited. These circumstances also limit their access to climate funding and their participation in planning for adaptation measures. Costa Rica encourages this committee to maintain the resilience and adaptation at the heart of their work in close cooperation with the relevant agencies of the UN so that no territory has to confront the climate emergencies on its own. Fourthly, Costa Rica defends the importance of dialogue on the issue of the Malvinas Islands. Costa Rica, faithful to the tradition of dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes, reiterates the need for Argentina and the United Kingdom to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution The experience of our region demonstrates that dialogue over time continues to be the best way to find a lasting solution, Madam Vice-Chair. Free determination is a fundamental right enshrined in the UN Charter and international law. Costa Rica reaffirms its commitment to a process of decolonization guided by dialogue, cooperation, and respect for the aspirations of the peoples concerned. This is a task that this organization must continue spearheading in a continuous way and to which Costa Rica will continue contributing. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Costa Rica, and I would like now to hand the floor to the representative of El Salvador. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Allow me, first of all, to congratulate the chair on his election and the Bureau as well. You can count on the full support of the delegation of El Salvador in fulfilling these important responsibilities. Vice Chair, over six decades after the adoption of the Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, decolonization unfortunately continues to be a task that has not been concluded and the responsibility that remains in force for the United Nations. While there are colonial situations that are pending, we must preserve as our guiding principles the right to self-determination and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of this General Assembly. It also requires recognizing that the effects of colonialism transcend time and that their historical legacies continue to impact the political, economic, and social conditions of the peoples affected. Advancing in decolonization requires recognizing these realities and contributing to overcoming their persistent consequences. In the framework of the Fourth International Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism, El Salvador considers that we must move from commitments to concrete results. For this, it is essential to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the Special Committee, administrative power administering powers and the peoples of non-self-governing territories through proactive approaches adapted to the particular circumstances of each territory visiting missions and the direct participation of their peoples are essential instruments to understand their realities to hear their aspirations and contribute to progress of each in each process at the same time the effective exercise of free determination requires conditions that allow peoples to adopt informed decisions regarding their future. This implies developing capacities for self-government, promoting economic sustainability, and protecting the natural resources of the territories and the interests of their peoples. It also implies responding to vulnerabilities that could limit their prospects for development and in particular those related to climate change and natural disasters. The United Nations have an essential role in these efforts. A greater coordination between the special committee, the various agencies, funds, and programs of the system, and the regional organizations will make it possible to expand opportunities for cooperation and capacity building, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the territories and the full realization of these aspirations of their peoples. El Salvador reaffirms the importance of ensuring the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in the processes of decolonization. Their participation must be part and parcel of all decisions on the present and future of their territories. Vice Chair, allow me now to refer to two specific questions on our agenda. First of all, the question of the Malvinas Islands. El Salvador reiterates its firm support for the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Argentine Republic over the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands, as well as over their surrounding maritime areas, and reaffirms thereby the special character and particular character of this question to which the principle of self-determination of peoples cannot be applied and that should be addressed based on the full compliance with the principle of territorial integrity. Over six decades after the adoption of resolution 2065, Roman 20, this sovereignty dispute remains unresolved. El Salvador reiterates the need for the Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume, as soon as possible, negotiations in good faith to achieve a peaceful, just, and lasting solution in conformity with the UN Charter and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. We also reaffirm the the full relevance of the mission of good offices entrusted to the Secretary General to assist the parties in this process. While the dispute remains pending, it is extremely important to avoid unilateral measures that alter the existing situation or that complicate a negotiated solution. El Salvador, in particular, would like to express its concern regarding the extraction and development unilaterally of natural resources, non-renewable and renewable, in the areas under dispute, including activities related to hydrocarbons, the effects of which could be irreversible. The resolution 31/49 is clear by urging the parties to refrain from introducing unilateral modifications while process recommended by this organization remains pending. With regard to Vice Chair, regarding the question of Western Sahara, El Salvador would like to express its support for the work of the Kingdom of Morocco in seeking for a realistic, political, pragmatic, and lasting solution to this regional dispute and recognizes that autonomy initiative is a fundamental element of these efforts. Likewise, El Salvador values the efforts of the personal envoy of the Secretary General to facilitate the political process under the auspices of the United Nations. Madam Vice Chair, the principles that have guided decolonization remain as valid as ever. Our challenge is therefore to translate them into concrete progress and to create the conditions necessary for each process to move towards a peaceful and lasting solution, and we would like to repeat, for the benefit of their peoples. El Salvador will continue contributing to this purpose, convinced that dialogue, political will, and respect for international law must continue guiding our efforts. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of El Salvador for her statement, and I would like now to hand the floor to the representative of Chile. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, since this is our first intervention, I'd like to express on behalf of my delegation our congratulations to Ambassador Sik on his election to chair the Fourth Committee, as well as to all the members of the Bureau. And you can count on the support of Chile to carry out your tasks. My country reiterates its firm commitment to the process of decolonization and would like to highlight the importance of ensuring the full exercise of the inalienable right of peoples to free determination. in conformity with the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, as well as in resolutions 1514 and 1541, both from 1960, and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. Since the creation of the United Nations, the process of decolonization has profoundly transformed the international picture. In 1945, Approximately one third of the population of the world was living in territories under colonial administration. Since then, various peoples have achieved independence and have become sovereign states, members of the international community. which remains one of the most important achievements of the United Nations. However, the process is not concluded. We value the efforts deployed by this committee since its creation to make progress in the process of decolonization. However, we note with concern that there are still 17 non-self-governing territories pending decolonization, over half of which are in Latin America and the Caribbean. This reality, highlights the need to renew and strengthen the efforts of the international community to advance toward the full eradication of colonialism. Madam Chair, as a country that sponsored the resolution on the question of the Malvinas Islands presented this year in the C24, we reiterate our support for the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Republic of Argentina over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. Chile would like to underscore the need for the governments of the Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations in order to reach a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and other multilateral forums. inter alia, Resolution 3149, which urges the parties to refrain from adopting decisions that lead to the introduction of unilateral modifications while the islands are going through a process recommended by our organization. Likewise, Chile supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco on totality of its territory, including the region of Western Sahara, and considers the autonomy proposal presented by Morocco in 2007 as a just, lasting, and mutually accepted political solution in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations. Madam Chair, we support the Secretary General to continue undertaking his good offices on these topics and urge the Secretariat of the C24 to maintain its members informed on the evolution of these efforts through the relevant documentations on these topics. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Chile for her statement, and I would like now to hand the floor to the representative of Ecuador. You have the floor.

Madam Vice Chair, Ecuador, being elected to chair this committee, and I'd like to wish every success to you and the members of the Bureau during this session. You can count on the support of my delegation to advance in streamlining, optimizing your work, and contributing to the effective work of the Fourth Committee. Madam Vice Chair, decolonization has been one of the main tasks of the United Nations since its creation. when approximately one third of the global population lived in territories that depended on colonial powers. Much progress has been made in the eight decades since then. However, this task is not concluded. 17 non-self-governing territories remain under this condition. Ecuador reiterates its support to the inalienable right of peoples subject to colonial domination to free determination and independence in conformity with the resolution 1514 of the General Assembly. Likewise, we recognize the full relevance of the principles contained in this resolution. Its implementation constitutes the key mandate of the Special Decolonization Committee. Issues pertaining to decolonization must be addressed constructively, avoiding avoiding efforts to convert them into geopolitical confrontation. Initiatives that are presented must contribute to fulfilling the mandate of this committee and avoid divisions that complicate our work. It's also fundamental promoting dialogue and cooperation among administrative powers and non-self-governing territories, taking into the particular circumstance of each case and the aspirations of their peoples. in line with the objectives of the Fourth International Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism. Madam Vice Chair, with regard to the question of the Malvinas Islands, Ecuador fully adheres to the statement made by Peru on behalf of the Brasilia Consensus. In our national capacity, Ecuador reaffirms its support to the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Republic of Argentina over Malvinas, South Sandwich, and South Georgia Islands and the surrounding maritime islands. And we maintain our position that this sovereignty dispute can only be resolved through genuine dialogue between the government of Argentina and the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, in conformity with international law, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Special Legal Organization Committee. The activities of extraction and utilization of natural resources in the surrounding maritime areas around the Malvinas Islands effect the creation of a atmosphere that is conducive to dialogue in line with the resolution 31 49 Ecuador urges avoiding unilateral modifications in the situation regarding the question of Western Sahara Ecuador maintains its support for the political process conducted under the auspices of the United Nations and the efforts of the Secretary General and his personal and boy to reach a definitive political agreement. In this context, and in conformity with Resolution 2797 of the Security Council, Ecuador supports the Moroccan autonomy proposal, which we believe is the only serious, credible, and realistic proposal to advance towards a lasting solution. encourages the parties to participate in good faith without any preconditions in negotiations facilitated by the Secretary General and his personal envoy, taking as a basis this initiative with the view of achieving a final, mutually acceptable result in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter. Madam Vice Chair, Ecuador reiterates its commitment to the work of this committee and the efforts aimed at advancing in the process of decolonization and achieving peaceful and lasting solutions to issues pending on its agenda. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Ecuador for his statement, and I would like now to hand the floor to the representative of Bangladesh. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me begin by congratulating you and other members of the Bureau on your election. We also express our full support to the work of the Fourth Committee. Madam Chair, Bangladesh remains a strong supporter of people across the world who are still under foreign occupation and colonial domination in accordance with the United Nations Charter and relevant UN resolutions. Bangladesh, in principle, as per its constitutional obligations, has always been supportive to the right of every people freely to determine and build up its own social, economic and political system. We are committed to supporting all oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism or racialism. Bangladesh also remains as a strong advocate for peaceful settlement of international and internal disputes through discussion and negotiations. We have also been supporting and contributing to the UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities and are promoting a culture of peace through peaceful settlement of dispute through dialogue and negotiations. Madam Chair, today, There are still 17 non-self-governing territories around the world, and as such, decolonization remains an unfinished responsibility of the United Nations. We commend the initiatives and the work of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, C-24, which continues to monitor the situation in the remaining 17 territories with a view to facilitating achieving their decolonization. We express full support to the work of the special committee. Madam Chair, we need to ensure a good future of the people of the non-self-governing territories. Until ensuring the right to self-determination of the people of the non-self-governing territories, we need to ensure that they are not left behind, they are not forgotten. This is our collective responsibility. lend support for their economic and social development and to preserve their cultural identity. We underscore the need of a holistic approach to promote sustainable development in the non-self-governing territories. In this regard, we emphasize the responsibility and obligation of the administering powers to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the territories. Madam Chair, while talking about eradicating colonialism, we express our deepest concern on the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel and continued aggression, attack and killing by Israel. Bangladesh reiterates its position of supporting the just cause of the people of Palestine for an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, under a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders. Madam Chair, we are confident to have a productive session that will produce the desired outcome under your able stewardship. My delegation assures you and the Bureau of our full support towards this end. I thank you all.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, and I would now like to hand the floor to the representative of Nepal. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, I congratulate you and the distinguished members of the Bureau on your election. You may count on Nepal's full support and cooperation in the discharge of your important responsibilities. Madam Chair, the UN Charter has guided the path of decolonization through the principles of equal rights, self-determination, and respect for the aspirations of peoples. Back in 1945, when the United Nations was created, millions of people lived under colonial rule. Since then, more than 80 former colonies, alongside all 11 trust territories, have attained independence or self-government. Yet, the promise of decolonization remains unfinished, as nearly 2 million people in 17 non-self-governing territories continue to pursue their political, economic, and social aspirations. For Nepal, this is a matter of both principle and historical commitment. We reaffirm the paramount importance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including sovereign equality, equal rights, and self-determination of peoples, and the landmark declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples to ensure their inalienable rights and political freedom. From the Caribbean to Gibraltar, from Western Sahara to the Pacific, the peoples of these territories must be able to determine their own political future freely and without external coercion, in accordance with the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. We underscore that colonialism must end in all its forms and manifestations. Madam Chair, the UN Charter recognizes the interest of the inhabitants of non-self-governing territories as paramount, and entrusts administering powers with a sacred trust to promote their well-being and political, economic, social and educational advancement. The Charter further calls for the development of self-government, taking due account of the political aspirations and particular circumstances of the peoples in NHTS, supported by international cooperation and the regular transmission of relevant information to the Secretary-General. Self-determination should translate into the ability of peoples to shape their political future, exercise control over their resources, build their economies and institutions, and determine the development pathways they wish to pursue. Their freely expressed will must therefore remain the compass guiding the decolonization process. At the same time, there can be no one-size-fits-all approach. The remaining territories differ considerably in their history, geography, population, constitutional arrangements, and development circumstances. We therefore support constructive and sustained dialogue among the peoples of the territories, administering powers, the Special Committee on Decolonization, and other relevant stakeholders. Such engagement should be pragmatic, inclusive, and fully consistent with the UN Charter and international law. Madam Chair, political self-determination must be accompanied by economic agency and support to achieve sustainable development goals. The peoples of non-self-governing territories have legitimate rights over their natural wealth and resources. Economic activities should therefore contribute first and foremost to their well-being and sustainable prosperity. This would create opportunities, strengthen productive capacities, and support economic diversification, rather than result in unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, environmental degradation, or dependency that constraint people's ability to determine their own development pathways. A society is better positioned to shape its future when its people are educated and healthy, when its institutions are effective and accountable, when its economy generates productive employment, and when its communities have access to financing, technology, and opportunity. The United Nations development system, specialized agencies and relevant international institutions therefore have an important role to play within their respective mandates. We encourage enhanced coordination across the UN system and greater responsiveness to the specific development needs, circumstances and priorities of the territories. Madam Chair, the decolonization agenda today must also respond to the stark realities of climate change. Many non-self-governing territories are confronting sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events, ecosystem degradation, and other climate-related risks. Nepal understands from its own experience as a mountainous and climate-vulnerable country how environmental shocks, like the recent Bhatiko Sea Roshwa floods, can destroy lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and hard-won development gains overnight. Climate resilience must therefore be integrated more systematically into support for the non-self-governing territories. This requires stronger early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, accessible climate science and data, adaptation technologies, disaster preparedness, and adequate access to climate finance. At the same time, development and political processes must remain inclusive. Women, youth, indigenous peoples, and local communities should have meaningful opportunities to participate in discussions and decisions shaping their future. Their meaningful participation strengthens the legitimacy, inclusiveness, and sustainability of the decolonization process. Madam Chair, we are already in the second half of the fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. The remaining years should be used not merely to reiterate commitments, but to accelerate their implementation. Dialogue should prevail over confrontation, and practical solutions should translate established principles into tangible progress. Nepal sees merit in a more people-centered and result-oriented approach. Progress can be advanced through stronger dialogue, timely transmission of information, visiting missions where appropriate, enhanced UN system assistance, responsible economic activity, wider educational opportunities, inclusive participation and robust climate resilience. In this context, Nepal appreciates the offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of non-self-governing territories and encourages their continuation and expansion. Investing in education, skills, and knowledge is ultimately an investment in the capacity of peoples to shape their own future. We also welcome the observance of International Day Against Colonialism in all its forms and manifestations on 14 December as an opportunity to renew global awareness and commitment to the unfinished decolonization agenda. Madam Chair, over decades, decolonization has helped transform an international system once shaped by colonies into one founded on the sovereign equality of nations. The principles that propelled that historic transformation are relevant even today. They remind us of a simple and enduring truth. Peoples have the legitimate right to determine their political future, free from external interference, domination, or subjugation. Nepal, therefore, reaffirms its steadfast support and solidarity for the right to self-determination of the peoples of non-self-governing territories in accordance with the UN Charter and relevant international law. Our path ahead should be to turn established principles into meaningful progress through dialogue, diplomacy, and partnership. Nepal stands ready to work constructively with all partners towards this shared endeavor. I thank you for your attention.

I thank the representative of Nepal for his intervention. Dear colleagues, we have now heard the last speaker in the debate on the decolonization items for today. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. Delegations are reminded of the maximum of two interventions, with the first intervention limited to five minutes and the second to three minutes. I call now on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. You have five minutes and you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation takes the floor in exercise of its right of reply to the statement made by the distinguished representative of Bahrain and on behalf of a group of few other countries regarding three of Iranian islands. It is disappointing to hear such an acknowledgement of a claim advanced by a specific country as the claim appears to rely on assumptions not grounded in verifiable facts and by asserting sovereignty over a part of another state's territory bears a striking resemblance to elements of outdated colonial discourse. Moreover, this claim is fundamentally at odds with genuine productive engagement as it entails a unilateral territorial assertion, disregards the principles of sovereign equality, and erodes the mutual confidence required for constructive dialogue. The three islands, namely Bu Musa, the Greater Tomb, and the Lesser Tomb, have always been integral parts of Iran's sovereign territory. The Islamic Republic of Iran's title rests on a documented continuity of sovereignty predating the establishment of UAE. Historical records and official maps from hundreds years ago support my country's position. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. However, my country's sovereignty over its territory, including these three islands, are non-negotiable. My delegation therefore categorically rejects UAE's claim and requests that the committee remain focused on the peoples and territories to which its work is directed, rather than be diverted by an attempt to recast a claim to another state's territory. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and I would like now to hand the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. You have the floor.

Thank you, Vice Chair. I would like to exercise the right of reply to respond to the statements of the distinguished representatives from Peru, on behalf of the Brazilian Consensus, Angola, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, Uruguay, El Salvador, Chile, and Ecuador. The United Kingdom has no doubt over its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas of both territories. The United Kingdom is clear about both the historical and legal position on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands dates back to 1765, some years before the Argentine Republic even existed. No civilian population was expelled from the Falkland Islands on 3rd of January, 1833. An Argentine military garrison had been sent to the Falkland Islands three months earlier in an attempt to impose Argentine sovereignty over British sovereign territory. The United Kingdom immediately protested and later expelled the Argentine military garrison on the 3rd of January 1833. The civilian population who had previously sought and received British permission to reside on the islands were encouraged to remain. The majority voluntarily chose to do so. In 1833, the territorial borders of the Argentine Republic did not include the geographical southern half of its present form, nor any territory in the Falkland Islands, Antarctica, or South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The United Kingdom has never implanted any civilian population; all civilians have voluntarily migrated to, or been born in, the Falkland Islands. Civilian migrants voluntarily came from a number of countries, as they did throughout the whole Americas region, including Argentina, during the 19th century to seek a better life. That free migration of labour continues to this day, further enriching the cultural diversity of the Falkland Islands. The UK is therefore steadfast in its support for the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination. This right is enshrined in the UN Charter and in article 1 of the two UN covenants on human rights. The Falkland Islanders have as much right to determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development as any other peoples. The distinguished representative of Argentina raised the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagos Archipelago. The principle for self-determination for peoples is stated in the UN Charter and applies to the Falkland Islanders as the people of a self-governing British overseas territory. The history and circumstances of British policy on the British Indian Ocean Territory is different from the Falkland Islands and is already a matter of public record. The UK and Mauritius have now reached a political agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory. The two situations are not comparable and there are no implications for the UK's position on the Falkland Islands. The United Kingdom is not militarising the Falkland Islands. Our forces in the South Atlantic are entirely defensive and are maintained at the appropriate level to ensure the defence of the Falkland Islands against any potential threat. The United Kingdom will continue to keep its force levels under review to ensure that we retain appropriate levels of defensive capabilities, as we have done since the illegal Argentine invasion in 1982. Hydrocarbon exploration in the Falkland Islands is a legitimate commercial venture, regulated by the legislation of the Falkland Islands Government in strict accordance with UNCLOS. As the UK's minister for the UK overseas territories said on 30 September, Argentina's decision to initiate arbitration against the United Kingdom under UNCLOS is the latest attempt to undermine the rights and livelihoods of the people of the Falkland Islands. The people of the Falkland Islands have freely and democratically chosen their future, and they have every right to develop and manage their natural resources without intimidation, coercion or interference from others. Hydrocarbon activities on the Falkland Islands continental shelf are regulated under Falkland Islands law and conducted in full accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. Efforts to obstruct lawful economic activity in the Falklands are not acts of responsible international engagement. They are deliberate attempts to undermine the prosperity and economic security of a self-governing people. The United Kingdom will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Falkland Islands Government and the Falkland Islanders. We will robustly defend their wishes, their economy and their right to defend their own future. To conclude, the Falkland Islanders have made clear their overwhelming wish for the Falkland Islands to remain an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. There can be no dialogue on sovereignty unless the Falkland Islanders so wish. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom, and I would like now to hand the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina. You have five minutes, and you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In response to United Kingdom on the Malvinas Islands. I want to recall that the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas are integral parts of Argentinian territory and are illegally occupied by the United Kingdom and are the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the two countries recognized by the United Nations and other international organizations. General Assembly in resolution 2065 recognizes the existence of a sovereign dispute and urges the government of Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the dispute as a way to decolonize the territory. The Special Decolonization Committee has many times expressed a similar position, the last time in June of this year, Madam Chair. The principle of self-determination is not applicable to the question of the Malvinas Islands. The United Nations have characterized this question as a special and particular case of decolonization, whose solution requires negotiations between the States that are parties to the dispute, taking duly into account the interests of the inhabitants of the islands. This This resolution 2065 specifically mentions to the interests of the inhabitants, and resolution 1514 establishes that free determination should not be used to undermine the, totally or partially, the territorial integrity of a state. self-determination could not be used for a population that has been established by the governing party in a dispute to which the administrative power is a party. And that was, indeed, the United Kingdom can never have a valid title of ownership over the islands. British Empire in 1833 in times of peace and contrary of current international law, occupied the islands. This was never agreed to and was contested by Argentina, the Republic of Argentina, since its beginning as an heir to the rights of Spain over the islands, exercised its jurisdiction constantly and permanently since its beginning. Therefore, the the historical explanation by the British delegate are false. Also, it was false the statement that the map of Argentina 1833 did not include the Malvinas. The Argentinian authorities, just as the Spanish authorities before them, always considered the southern islands as their own and exercised their sovereignty over them. An example of this is the creation of the political military command of the Malvinas in 1829 that included various islands in the South Atlantic. Madam Chair, Argentina rejects that the United Kingdom characterizes the measures taken by Argentina as an attempt to extort or undermine the rights of anyone. Submitting a dispute to an international arbitration is the most responsible action of a state and is the way to resolve differences, not through unilateral actions. but by applying law that both parties have accepted in the face of the illegal unilateral actions that Great Britain has undertaken in the area under dispute. Argentina is determined to take all measures under international law to defend its interests. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Argentina, and I see no further requests for rights of reply. Distinguished delegates, our next meeting will take place on Monday, 5 October, at 3 p.m., in this same conference room, where we shall begin to listen to statements by representatives of non-self-governing territories and petitioners who have requested to address the Committee. We shall proceed alphabetically, beginning with the question of American Samoa. The Committee will devote the 5th to the 9th October to these hearings. The meeting is adjourned.