[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 144 (Monday, December 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HISTORICAL RECORD OF FALEOMAVAEGA'S REQUEST FOR OFFICIAL CLARIFICATION 
  OF U.S. POLICY REGARDING AMERICAN SAMOA'S STATUS BEFORE THE UNITED 
                    NATIONS DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 1, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for 
historical purposes, the following information about my request for 
official clarification regarding American Samoa's status before the 
United Nations Decolonization Committee.

Faleomavaega Visits United Nations and Requests Official Clarification 
       of US Policy Regarding American Samoa's Status Before the 
                        Decolonization Committee

                     [Press Release--Mar. 30, 2006]

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that on Monday 
     March 27, 2006 he visited the United Nations (UN) as part of 
     an official Congressional Delegation (CODEL) led by Chairman 
     Henry Hyde and Ranking Member Tom Lantos of the House 
     Committee on International Relations. The CODEL, which 
     included other senior Members of the International Relations 
     Committee, met with Ambassador John Bolton, the US Permanent 
     Representative to the UN, to discuss the current nuclear 
     crisis with Iran and whether Congress should withhold funding 
     for the UN when problems of corruption and lack of 
     accountability continue to exist.
       During the visit, Faleomavaega also had the opportunity to 
     be briefed by Commander Jeffrey J. Jones who has been 
     appointed by the US Mission to serve as the liaison for the 
     United States to the UN Special Committee of Twenty-four (C-
     24), also known as the UN Decolonization Committee. As a 
     follow-up to his briefing, Faleomavaega wrote to Ambassador 
     Bolton to determine American Samoas status relative to US 
     policies relating to the Decolonization Committee and the 
     United Nations.
       The full text of Faleomavaega's letter to Ambassador Bolton 
     dated March 30, 2006 follows:

       Dear Mr. Ambassador: I am writing to thank you for meeting 
     with Members of the House International Relations Committee 
     during our recent visit to the United Nations (UN) and the 
     United States Mission. I commend Chairman Henry Hyde and 
     Ranking Member Tom Lantos for leading our Congressional 
     Delegation and I was pleased to be a part of our important 
     discussions with you regarding the current nuclear crisis 
     with Iran and whether Congress should withhold funding for 
     the UN when problems of corruption and lack of accountability 
     continue to exist. During our visit to the United Nations, I 
     also had the opportunity to be briefed by Commander Jeffrey 
     J. Jones who has been appointed by the US Mission to serve as 
     the liaison for the US to the UN Special Committee of Twenty-
     four (C-24), also known as the UN Decolonization Committee. 
     As you know, in 1945, the United Nations established the 
     International Trusteeship Council for the purpose of 
     reviewing and then making recommendations before the UN 
     General Assembly to declare certain territories as non-self-
     governing, or dependent on colonial powers. Since the 
     creation of the UN, more than 80 colonies have gained their 
     independence and 16 non-self-governing territories, as 
     defined by the UN remain today.
       Although the Trusteeship Council no longer exists, the 
     Decolonization Committee stands in its place. Each year, the 
     UN Decolonization Committee reviews the status of the 16 non-
     self-governing territories which include American Samoa as 
     well as other US possessions. It is my understanding that the 
     US does not pay much attention anymore to the activities of 
     the Decolonization Committee in part because the US has had 
     frustration over the years in dealing with member countries 
     like Cuba that continue to view the United States as a 
     colonial power. A few years ago, I attended a meeting of the 
     Decolonization Committee held in Havana, Cuba and I can 
     confirm the fact that the remarks of the Speaker of the Cuban 
     Parliament were very negative towards the United States.
       This aside, it is my understanding that there are no 
     negotiations on American Samoa underway between the United 
     Nations and the US Government. Notwithstanding these 
     circumstances, Commander Jones informed me that the US State 
     Department does file annual reports about American Samoa with 
     the Decolonization Committee after consulting with officials 
     of the US Department of the Interior. These reports contain 
     information about the economic, social and political 
     development of American Samoa and, for this reason, I am 
     requesting your assistance in determining the official 
     position of the US regarding American Samoas status before 
     the UN Decolonization Committee. Again, the Decolonization 
     Committee defines and categorizes American Samoa as a non-
     self governing territory.
       In recent years, our late Governor Tauese Sunia initiated a 
     movement to request that American Samoa be de-listed as a 
     non-self governing territory by the United Nations. However, 
     neither our US Secretary of State nor our Secretary of the 
     Interior ever brought this matter before the people and 
     leaders of American Samoa for consideration. While I suspect 
     that at some point in time a plebiscite may be needed to 
     determine whether or not the listing should be continued, I 
     respectfully request that the Governor, our territorial 
     legislature, and my office be informed on what procedures 
     need to be taken before action, if any, is taken by the UN 
     Decolonization Committee or the US Mission to the UN.
       As you can appreciate, it is imperative that the elected 
     and traditional leaders and the people of American Samoa are 
     fully briefed and informed about the territorys political 
     status as a non-self governing territory as defined and 
     categorized by the United Nations before any action is taken.

       Faleomavaega concluded his letter by saying, With this 
     understanding, I would appreciate receiving a response from 
     you as to American Samoas status relative to US policies 
     relating to the Decolonization Committee and the United 
     Nations.

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