A/RES/51/140
Page 2
Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the
Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and
educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their
administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those
Territories against abuses,
Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that constitutes an
obstacle to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and obstructs efforts aimed at
the elimination of colonialism is a direct violation of the rights of the
inhabitants and of the principles of the Charter and all relevant resolutions
of the United Nations,
Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the
indigenous populations of the colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories,
Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size
and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to
promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the
economy of each Territory,
Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to
natural disasters and environmental degradation,
Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when done in
collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in
accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Territories and could also make a valid
contribution to the exercise of their right to self-determination,
Concerned about
other interests which
Governing Territories
those Territories and
their countries,
the activities of those foreign economic, financial and
exploit the natural and human resources of the Non-Selfto the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of
deprive them of their right to control the wealth of
Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the
successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned
Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the Organization of African Unity, the South Pacific Forum and
the Caribbean Community,
1.
Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and
General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the
Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their
right to enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of
those resources in their best interest;
2.
Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in
collaboration with the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in
accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the
socio-economic development of the Territories;
3.
Reiterates that any administering Power that deprives the colonial
peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories of the exercise of their legitimate
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