A/RES/64/104 A–B
B
INDIVIDUAL TERRITORIES
The General Assembly,
Referring to resolution A above,
I
American Samoa
Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on American
Samoa 7 and other relevant information,
6F
Aware that under United States law the Secretary of the Interior has administrative
jurisdiction over American Samoa, 8
7F
Noting the position of the administering Power and the statements made by
representatives of American Samoa in regional seminars expressing satisfaction with
the Territory’s present relationship with the United States of America,
Aware of the work of the Future Political Status Study Commission, completed in
2006, and the release of its report, with recommendations, in January 2007, and the
Governor’s announcement early in 2009 that the report and recommendations of the
Commission would be laid before a constitutional convention sometime in 2009,
Noting, in that regard, the information contained in the paper provided by the
Chairman of the Future Political Status Study Commission and distributed at the 2008
Pacific regional seminar requesting the Special Committee to review the Territory’s
status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, with a view to accepting the Territory’s
future political status once chosen by its people,
Acknowledging the indication by the territorial Government that certain cost-ofliving issues, such as inflation, are serious cause for concern,
Aware that American Samoa continues to be the only United States Territory to
receive financial assistance from the administering Power for the operations of the
territorial Government, and calling upon the administering Power to assist the territorial
Government in the diversification of its economy,
Welcomes the work of the territorial Government and legislature with
1.
regard to the recommendations made by the Future Political Status Study Commission,
in preparation for a constitutional convention sometime in 2009, addressing issues
related to the future status of American Samoa;
Calls upon the administering Power to assist the Territory by facilitating its
2.
work concerning the intention of holding a constitutional convention sometime in
2009, if requested;
Stresses the importance of the invitation previously extended to the Special
3.
Committee by the Governor of American Samoa to send a visiting mission to the
Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission if the
_______________
7
A/AC.109/2009/4.
United States Congress, 1929 (48 U.S.C. Sec. 1661, 45 Stat. 1253), and Secretary’s Order 2657,
Department of the Interior, United States of America, 1951, as amended.
8
6