25 November 1981

Question of Guam

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of Guam,

Having examined the relevant chapters of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Guam,

Noting that the administering Power continues to maintain military installations in the Territory,

Considering that the policy of maintaining military bases and installations in Non-Self-Governing Territories which inhibit the right of self-determination of peoples is incompatible with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations,

Having heard the statement of the administering Power,

Welcoming the active participation of the administering Power in the work of the Special Committee and expressing the hope that this co-operation will be strengthened further so as to accelerate progress towards the full implementation of the Declaration in respect of Guam,

Bearing in mind the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of Guam and the necessity for diversifying the economy of the Territory as a matter of priority,

1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Guam;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Guam to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

3. Reaffirms its conviction that question of territorial size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the implementation of the Declaration contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in respect of the Territory;

4. Recalls that the United States of America, as the administering Power, has the responsibility to ensure that the people of the Territory are kept fully informed of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the Declaration;

5. Reiterates that it is the responsibility of the administering Power to create such conditions in the Territory as will enable the people of Guam to exercise freely and without any interference their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

6. Calls upon the administering Power to take all necessary steps, taking into account the freely expressed wishes of the people of Guam, to expedite the process of decolonization of the Territory in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration and other appropriate resolutions of the General Assembly;

7. Recalls its relevant resolutions concerning military bases in colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognizes that the presence of military bases could constitute a factor impeding the implementation of the Declaration and reaffirms its strong conviction that the presence of military bases in Guam should not prevent the people of the Territory from exercising their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Declaration and the purposes and principles of the Charter;

8. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power, under the Charter, for the economic and social development of Guam, including the adoption of all possible measures to strengthen and diversify the economy of the Territory;

9. Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government and bearing in mind that an obstacle to economic development has been the uncertainty concerning land held by the federal authorities, to facilitate the transfer of land to

the people of the Territory and to protect their property rights;

10. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government, to continue to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the right of the people of Guam to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over their future development;

11. Urges the administering Power to continue its efforts to develop and promote the language and culture of the Chamorro people;

12. Calls upon the administering Power to take the necessary action to enable the people of Guam to regain possession of unutilized land held at present by the federal authorities and by the military;

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