23 November 1982

Question of American Samoa

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of American Samoa,

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 American Samoa,

Taking into account the statement of the administering Power relating to developments in American Samoa,

Conscious of the need to promote progress towards the full implementation of the Declaration in respect of American Samoa,

Noting with appreciation the continued active participation of the administering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to American Samoa, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed and meaningful examination of the situation in the Territory, with a view to accelerating the process of decolonization for the purpose of the full implementation of the

Declaration,

Considering that it remains the obligation of the administering Power to carry out a thorough programme of political education so as to ensure that the people of American Samoa are made fully aware of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV),

Noting with interest that the Office of Economic Development and Planning of the Government of American Samoa is now implementing a five-year economic development plan, focusing on economic diversification, land use, housing, banking and tourism, for the benefit of the people of the Territory,

Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of American Samoa and stressing the necessity of diversifying the economy of the Territory as a matter of priority in order to reduce its dependence on fluctuating economic activities,

Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and expressing its satisfaction at the willingness of the administering Power to receive visiting missions in the Territories under its administration,

Welcoming the fact that American Samoa was the host for the 1982 South Pacific Conference of the South Pacific Commission,

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 American Samoa;

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

3. Reiterates the view that such factors as territorial size,geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy implementation of the Declaration contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), which fully applies to American Samoa;

4. Calls upon the Government of the United States of America, as the administering Power, to take all necessary steps, taking into account the freely expressed wishes of the people of American Samoa, 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;

5. Reaffirms that it is the responsibility of the administering Power to ensure that the people of American Samoa are kept fully informed of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

6. Recommends that, in accordance with the wishes of the people of American Samoa, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices should be appointed by the Governor and approved by the Legislature, a procedure now facilitated by the growing number of American Samoans who are qualified lawyers, and that the recommendation of the second temporary Political Status Commission for a change in the judicial system should be acted upon;

7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power, under the Charter, for the economic and social development of the Territory;

8. Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government and within the framework of the five-year economic development plan, to continue to help to strengthen and diversify the economy of the Territory in order to achieve self-sufficiency;

9. Urges the administering Power to continue to facilitate close relations and co-operation between the people of the Territory and the neighbouring island communities and the regional institutions in order to enhance further their economic welfare;

10. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the freely elected representatives of American Samoa, to safeguard the inalienable right of the people of the Territory to the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures to ensure their right to own and dispose of those resources and to establish and maintain control of their future development;

11. Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting mission to American Samoa at an appropriate time should be kept under review;

12. 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 American Samoa at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session.