A/RES/57/137 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, given that 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 how 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 the efforts being made in the context of the draft programme of work for Tokelau to identify the principles underpinning the relationship between New Zealand and Tokelau with a view to establishing a dynamic basis for its future development; 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. Approves the report of the United Nations Mission to Tokelau, 2002;2 18. Notes that a study to review the options for Tokelau’s future selfdetermination is recommended in the report, and also notes the willingness expressed by the United Nations Development Programme to assist in this regard upon request from Tokelau; 19. Calls upon New Zealand and Tokelau to consider developing an education programme to inform the population of Tokelau about the nature of selfdetermination, 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 requests 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 provide all available assistance in this regard; 20. Calls upon the 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; 3