Conscious of the nced to promote progress towards the full implementalion ofthe Declaration in respect of American Samoa.
Noting 11·ith appreciation the continued participation of the administering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to American Samoa, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed and meaningful examination of the situation in the Territory,
Rciterating thc view that it remains the obligation ofthe administering Power to carry out a thorough programme of political education so as to ensure that thc people of American Samoa are made fully aware of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV),
Noting that the Office of Economic Development and Planning ofthc Government of American Samoa is implementing a five-year economic development plan, focusing on economic d1vcrsification, land use, housing, banking and tourism, for the benefit of the people of the Territory,
A warc of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of American Samoa and
stressing the neccssity of diversifying the economy of the Territory as a matter of priority in order to reduce its dependence on tluctuating economic activities,
A1indfúl that l Jnited Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and expressing its satisfaction at the willingness ofthe administering Power to receive visiting missions in the Territories under its administration,
1
Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the lmplementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to American Samoa;"
2
Reafjirm.1 the inalienable right of the people of American Samoa to self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration on the Granting of lndependence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);
3
Reitera/es the view that such factors as territorial size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy imple-
VI l.
mentation ofthe Declaration contained in General Asscmbly resolution 1514 (XV). which fully applies to American Samoa;
4
Calls uponthe (iovcrnmcnt of thc U nited Sta tes of America, as the administcring Power, to take ali nccessary steps, taking into account the frcely expressed wishes of the people of American Samoa, to expedite the process of decolonization ofthe Territory in accordance with the rclevant provisions ofthe Charter ofthe United Nations and the Declaration;
5
Reafjirms that it is the responsibility of the administering Power to ensure that the people of American Samoa are kept fully informed of their inalienable right to sclfdetcrmination and independcnce, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);
6
Reitera/es its rccmnmendation that, in accordance with the expressed wishcs of the peoplc of American Samoa, as reflected in thc report of thc second Political Status Commission, the Chief Justiee and Associate Justices be appointed by the Governor and approved by the Legislature, a proeedure which could be facilitated by the fact that a growing number of American Samoans are qualified lawyers;
7
Reaffirms thc responsibility of the administcring Powcr, under the Charter, for thc- cconomic and social devclopment of the Territory;
8
Ca/Is upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government and within thc- framework of the five-year economic devc-lopment plan covering the period 1979-1984, to continue to help to strengthen and diversify the economy of American Samoa in thc interests of the people of the Territory;
9
Urgesthe administering Power to continuc to facilitate close relations and co-operation between the peoplc of the Territory and their neighbours and between the territorial Government and the regional institutions to enhance
further thc cconomic welfare of the pcoplc of American Samoa;
1 O.
Urgesthe administering Powcr, in co-operation with the freely elected representatives of American Samoa, to safeguard the inalienable right of the people of the Territory to the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures to ensure their right to own and dispose of those resources and to establish and maintain control of their future development;
11
Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting mission to American Samoa at an appropriate time should be kept undcr review;
12
Requcsts thc Special Committee to continue the consideration of this question at its next scssion, including the possible dispatch of a further visiting mission to American Samoa at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session.
X6th pfenary meeting 7 Dcccmlwr /983
4 Official Record., o.f the Uencra/ .t.1.11•111/J/r. f /1111r-eixhth Scs.,wn, Sup¡,fc r, lhid .. '/'h1rtr-c1gi11h Sc.111<Jll, Sup¡,lemellt No. 23 (A/38/23), chap. XVI. ment No. 23 (A/38/23), chaps. lil a11d XVI. 5 /bid.., Thirty-eighth Ses.1w11. Fourth ( '0111111111,·c 1 '>th meeting, para, .''•
1 7 lhid., chaps. IIL IV and '\ VII x //,11/ ,·hap \\ 11
