Statement by the United States

Item 9 - 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 United Nations

Explanation of Position

The United States will abstain rather than vote against this resolution, because we agree, in principle, that UN funds, programs and specialized agencies can usefully provide support to territories that are not UN members.

The United States objects in particular to provisions in this resolution that make recommendations with respect to the participation of territories in the activities and bodies of the United Nations. It is the responsibility of the administering power, not ECOSOC or the General Assembly, to decide the nature, if any, of its territories' participation. Under the U.S. Constitution, the federal government has the sole responsibility for the conduct of U.S. foreign relations, and this includes foreign relations that relate to U.S. territories.

These arrangements have been accepted by such territories. The proposed language of this resolution infringes upon the relations between the federal government and governments of the territories, as well as upon the internal constitutional arrangements of the United States.

Thank You Mr. President.