A/RES/76/90
Question of American Samoa
Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the aspirations of the people of
American Samoa require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options
for self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location,
size of population or natural resources,
Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the people of the Territory should
continue to guide the development of their future political status an d that
referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an
important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people,
Acknowledging the outcome of the referendum held on 6 November 2018, in
which the proposal to give the Fono, the Territory’s legislature, the authority to
override the Governor’s veto was rejected,
Concerned by the use and exploitation of the natural resources of the Non -SelfGoverning Territories by the administering Powers for their benefi t, by the use of the
Territories as international financial centres to the detriment of the world economy
and by the consequences of any economic activities of the administering Powers that
are contrary to the interests of the people of the Territories, as well as to resolution
1514 (XV),
Convinced that any negotiations to determine the status of the Territory must
take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of the Territory,
under the auspices of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views
of the people of American Samoa in respect of their right to self-determination should
be ascertained,
Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the
local and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional
organizations,
Mindful that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding
of the political status of the people of American Samoa and to fulfil its mandate
effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the United States of America as the
administering Power and to receive information from other appropriate sources,
including the representatives of the Territory, concerning the wishes and aspi rations
of the people of the Territory,
Aware of the importance both to American Samoa and to the Special Committee
of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of American Samoa in
the work of the Committee,
Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate
bodies of the United Nations actively pursue a public awareness campaign aimed at
assisting the people of American Samoa with their inalienable right to self determination and in gaining a better understanding of the options for selfdetermination, on a case-by-case basis,
Mindful, in that connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the
Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters, with the active participation of
representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for
the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate and that the regional nature of the
seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element
in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of
the Territories,
Recalling the Caribbean regional seminar on the theme “Implementation of the
Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism: accelerating
decolonization through renewed commitment and pragmatic measures”, held by the
Special Committee in Grand Anse, Grenada, and hosted by the Government of
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