In General Assembly delegates continue debate on Security Council report

The United Nations General Assembly today continued its debate over the report of the Security Council, as its main committees moved ahead on a variety of measures dealing with decolonization, social and disarmament issues.

In the Assembly debate, representatives of several countries noted improvements in the Council's working methods but criticized the report's format, saying that it needed to provide more substance and analysis.

Meanwhile, the Special Political and Decolonization (Fourth) Committee today recommended eight resolutions and two decisions for action by the Assembly. One resolution would reaffirm that the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories must ultimately freely determine their future political status and called on the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes in the Territories to foster awareness of the right to self-determination.

Other resolutions dealt with the question of Tokelau, Western Sahara, economic and other activities affecting the interests of non-self-governing peoples and information from Non-Self-Governing Territories on political and constitutional developments.

The Fourth Committee also approved a draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the UN, offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories and the question of New Caledonia.

The Committee's draft decisions dealt with military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration as well as the question of Gibraltar.

The Assembly's First Committee continued its general debate on disarmament and international security issues, while the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee was considering items related to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. The Third Committee also heard the introduction of eight draft resolutions on a wide range of issues, including the world social situation, education, ageing, disabled persons and the family.

Last Friday, the Economic and Financial (Second) Committee wrapped up its debate on implementation of the First UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006).