Mr Chairman,

 

 

India welcomes your election as the Chair of the 4th Committee and other members of the Bureau assures you of all support during the forthcoming session on Decolonization.  We would also like to commend the Chair for the good work done by the Committee during the last year.  

 

India has always placed great value on the UN's work with regard to Decolonization.   It is a matter of great satisfaction that the world has moved forward from a largely colonial organisation of territories to a vibrant community of independent Nation States today since the historic 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries.  India is very proud to have been associated with this process as not only one of the first co-sponsors of the Declaration in 1960 but also as the first elected Chair in 1962 of the Decolonization Committee, set up to monitor the implementation of the Declaration.  

 

 

Mr Chairman,

 

While we have travelled a long way ahead in the path towards Decolonization, there are still 17 Non-Self Governing Territories which are in various stages of the Decolonization process.  In the background of the 3rd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, it becomes our special responsibility to guide the remaining 17 Territories towards their desired objectives. The intense discussions and active participations of all embers of the C-24 illustrate the seriousness with which current members approach the issue.  In this context, we appreciate the process of assessment and review of the Decolonization Agenda brought about in the theme 'Implementation of the 3rd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism' during the Caribbean Regional Seminar in May 2017.  India commends St. Vincent and the Grenadines for giving this opportunity to the members of the Special Committee by hosting the Seminar.   

 

 

Mr Chairman,

 

In a globally inter connected world, India believes that the Decolonization process should be guided by pragmatism and the current wishes of the people of the Non-Self Governing Territories.  The impact of climate change, a global phenomena of unforeseen consequences on the Non-Self Governing Territories is an example of the shifting priorities and needs of the Territories.   

 

 

Hence, India firmly believes that greater cooperation with international agencies and actors and harnessing of all available assistance channels for the Non-Self Governing Territories should be the priority of the Special Committee.  This would enable the territories to equip themselves in economic, social and political terms to make progress towards their desired self-determination objective.  

 

Even as all those who have taken the floor have focused on issues of these Non Self-Governing Territories, a solitary member State,  as usual, has ventured to plough a lonely furrow contrary to the onward march of history.  We reject the efforts of the delegation of Pakistan to bring issues which have never been on the agenda of this Committee ever in its history.  We consider it a diversion from the agenda and as a distraction not worthy of a response. 

 

Mr Chairman,

 

On the substance of the issues under consideration, India will remain committed to the goal of Decolonization and offers firm support to speed up the process in the remaining years of the 3rd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. 

 

Thank you.