New York (United Nations) 16 June 2022 (SPS) - The Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the UN, H.E. Mr. Karlito Nunes, reiterated his country's call for the "acceleration of the decolonization process of Western Sahara under UN supervision," in his statement before the UN substantive Session of the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, held on Monday 13 June, 2022 in New – York.
He further called on all parties to support the peace process to protect the Saharawi’s human rights and respect their right to self-determination.
Following is the ful text of the Statement, of which SPS received a copy:
Statement by H.E. Karlito Nunes, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the United Nations.
Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) 2022 resumed session, 13-24 June 2022 Agenda Item: The Question of Western Sahara, 13 June 2022, Conference Room 2, New York
I thank you Madam Chair.
Timor-Leste welcomes your re-election as the Chair of this Special Committee and the election of other members of the Bureau. We place our full confidence in your chairmanship, and we assure our full support for your stewardship of this Special Committee.
Madam Chair,
Western Sahara is the last Africa’s colony that remains a Non-Self-Governing Territory under this Special Committee since it was first listed in 1963. As we have achieved our right to self-determination and independence within the first international decade for eradication of colonialism through the contribution of this Special Committee, we believe that this Special Committee can also contribute much to help the people of the Western Sahara to enjoy their inalienable right to self-determination and independence within this fourth decade for the eradication of colonialism.
Having gone through the same journey and eventually reaching the glorious end, which is our independence, we share the view that the only viable, realistic, and enduring solution to the decolonisation of Western Sahara is the solution that fully respects the sovereign will of the Saharawi people to determine their own future through a free and fair referendum on self-determination.
In this connection, we wish to join several delegations here in calling for the acceleration of the decolonisation process of Western Sahara under the supervision of the United Nations, which will immediately allow the people of Western Sahara to freely decide their own future in line with relevant General Assembly resolutions.
Madam Chair,
Given that there have been growing tensions in the territory during the last two years, we wish to take this opportunity to urge all parties to actively support the UN peace process in Western Sahara and take concrete measures to protect the fundamental human rights of our Sahrawi brothers and sisters which will allow them to reach their most desirable objective which is the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination." (SPS)
062/SPS