Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A/RES/68/95 A-B VII Montserrat Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Montserrat 16 and other relevant information, Recalling the statement made by the Premier of Montserrat at the 2012 Pacific regional seminar held in Quito that the current relationship with the administering Power was one made by free choice and that the Territory should be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Recalling also the statements made by the members of the Special Committee present at the 2012 Pacific regional seminar and the clarification made by the Secretariat regarding United Nations procedures in that regard, Taking note of the communication addressed to the Chair of the Special Committee by the opposition leader of Montserrat expressing concern that the Premier had no prior discussion with the legislature of Montserrat over the content of his statement before requesting the Special Committee to remove the Territory from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Recalling the approval of a new Constitution in 2010 and the work of the territorial Government to update the relevant parts of the legislation of the Territory so that the Constitution could enter into force in 2011, Aware that Montserrat continues to receive budgetary aid from the administering Power for the operation of the territorial Government, Recalling the statements made by participants at the 2012 Pacific regional seminar encouraging the administering Power to commit sufficient resources to meet the special needs of the Territory, Noting with concern the continuing consequences of the 1995 volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the population of the Territory to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, which continues to have enduring consequences for the economy of the island, Acknowledging the continuing assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, Cognizant of the potential usefulness of regional ties for the development of a small island Territory and of the Territory’s membership in the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council, 1. Recalls the 2011 Constitution of Montserrat and the work of the territorial Government with respect to moving forward to consolidate the gains provided for in the Constitution; 2. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory by facilitating its work concerning public outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter, and in that regard calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested; _______________ 16 A/AC.109/2013/4. 13/17