Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960;
2
Also notes the desire of Tokelau to move at its own pace towards an act of self-determination;
3
Further notes the inauguration in 1999 of a national Government based on village elections by universal adult suffrage;
4
Acknowledges Tokelau’s goal to return authority to its traditional leadership, and its wish to provide that leadership with the necessary support to carry out its functions in the contemporary world;
5
Acknowledges also the progress made towards that goal under the Modern House of Tokelau project, and welcomes the decision taken by the General Fono in June 2003 to set a target date of 30 June 2004 for the transfer to each Taupulega (Village Council) of full responsibility for the management of all its public services;
6
Further acknowledges Tokelau’s initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2004 to advance its capacity for self-government;
7
Notes that, consistent with the expressed desires of past traditional leaders and the principles of the Modern House of Tokelau, Tokelau has established a local public service employer;
8
Welcomes the continuing dialogue with the administering Power and the Territory with a view to the development of a programme of work for Tokelau in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/147 of 8 December 2000;
9
Acknowledges the continuing support that New Zealand has committed to the Modern House of Tokelau project in 2002-2003, and the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme in aligning its programmes under the project;
10
Notes that the Constitution of a self-governing Tokelau will continue to develop as a part and as a consequence of the building of the Modern House of Tokelau, and that both have national and international importance for Tokelau;
11
Acknowledges Tokelau’s need for continued reassurance, given the cultural adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government and, since local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau’s external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance;
12
Notes the special challenge inherent in the situation of Tokelau, among the smallest of the small Territories, and that a Territory’s exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination may be brought closer, as in the case of Tokelau, by the meeting of that challenge in innovative ways;
13
Acknowledges the desire of the partners to reaffirm their commitment to each other, and welcomes the agreement reached in Wellington on 19 June 2003 on the text of an agreement on the principles underpinning the relationship for which the formal approval of the Government of New Zealand is being sought;
14
Welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status;
15
Also welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and Territories in the region towards Tokelau, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs;
16
Further welcomes Tokelau’s associate membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its recent accession to associate membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency;
17
Reaffirms its approval of the report of the United Nations Mission to Tokelau, 2002;2
18
Notes that a study to review the options for Tokelau’s future self-determination is recommended in the report, and further notes the willingness expressed by the United Nations Development Programme to assist in this regard upon request from Tokelau;
19
Calls uponNew Zealand and Tokelau to consider developing an information programme to apprise the population of Tokelau of the nature of self-determination, including the three options of integration, free association and independence, so that it may be better prepared to face a future decision on this matter, and welcomes the invitation extended to the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to attend the constitutional convention to be held in Tokelau;
20
Calls uponthe administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution;
21
Requeststhe Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.
