inNewCaledonia wasbeingimpeded bytheimportation ofanimmigrant population to theTerritory. TheKanakpopulation hadbeenmarginalized whileFrenchsettlers hadassumed theprominent roleintheTerritory. Heopposed thepolicyofthe colonial Powerofintegrating NewCaledonia intothemetropolitan country and called forthedecolonization oftheTerritory. Expressing thehopethatby1998 theKanakpeople wouldhaveallthenecessary skills toexercise theirrightto self-determination, hestatedthatFLNKSsignature oftheMatignon Agreement had notgivencarteblanche tothecolonial Power. TheKanakpeople hadnotlostsight oftheirprimary goalofindependence. I...A/AC.l09/l040 English Page6 24.Mr.Wamytan considered thatthestrongest guarantee fortheKanakpeople was theinternational community's support forthedecolonization process inthe Territory. TheKanakpeople hadsought anenhanced statuswithin theinternational community, sothattheirvoicecouldbeheardmorestrongly. Mr.Wamytan expressed thehopethattheUnited Nations wouldsendavisiting mission toascertain conditions inNewCaledonia. 25.Mr.YannCelene Uregei, representative oftheFront un~deliberation kanak, saidtheMatignon Agreement did·notguarantee independence fortheKanakpeople and thathisorganization hadsigned theAgreement underpressure fromtheFrench Government. Heconsidered thela-year perioduntilself-determination toolcngand cautioned thattherewasnoassurance thatanyfuture French Government would continue tohonour agreements entered intobytheprevious Government. 26.Mr.LelandBettis, Executive Director oftheGuamCommission on Self-determination, saidthathehadrecently beeninformed bytheUnited States Mission totheUnited Nations thatalthough theadministering Powerwouldnotbe participating intheSeminaritwascommitted tothedecolonization process andto encouraging theUnited StatesTerritories totaketheroadtoself-determination mostappropriate foreachofthem. 27.According toMr.Bettis, Guamwasseeking anewrelationship withthe administering Power. Throughout its91-year history asaUnited Statespossession, Guamhadateverystepbeenthecatalyst foranenhanced relationship. Guam's requests formoreautonomy andhomerulehadtraditionally beenresponded toina slowfashion. Nevertheless, progress hadbeenachieved within thepolitical system oftheadministering Power. 28.In1978,Guamhadrejected aconstitutional proposal offered bythe administering Powerbecause thatproposed constitution didnotaddress Guam's relationship withtheadministering Power. In1980,Guamhaddecided topursue a status ofcommonwealth withtheadministering Power. In1987,Guamanian voters had approved aCommonwealth Actwhich, whenapproved bytheUnitedStates Congress, wouldprovide Guamwiththeability tobeinternally self-governing withitsown constitution. 29.Mr.Bettis notedthattheCommonwealth Act,whichhadbeenbefore theUnited States Congress fortwo-and-a-half years, contained amechanism bywhichGuam's indigenous Chamorro inhabitants wouldexercise theirrighttoself-determination andattain apolitical status recognized bytheGeneral Assembly initsresolution 1541(XV)of14December 1950. Hestressed thatrecognizing therightofGuam's indigenous people toserveastheproponent forthedetermination ofGuam's ultimate political status wasnecessary, giventheinfluxofsettler andimmigrant populations thathadoccurred underUnited States law. 30.Guamdidnotseektodisenfranchise anyresident, butthepeople hadspoken on whoshould beeligible toresolve thedefinitive political status oftheChamorro homeland. Underthecommonwealth status proposal, theconstitution ofGuamwould establish themechanism forthatright. I•.. IA/AC.l09/l040 English Page7 31.Guamclearly sought tomovebeyonditscolonial relationship withthe administering Power. Whilethecommonwealth status proposal settheagenda for thatevolution, Guamremained interested inworking constructively withthe administering Powerthrough aninterim partnership. Aslongstanding citizens of theUnitedStates, Guamanians hadsought tocontinue theiraffinity ofinterests
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the decolonization process of New Caledonia and Guam, with a focus on the rights of indigenous populations and their aspirations for self-determination. The speakers at the seminar are advocating for greater autonomy and recognition of their cultural and political identities. The text also touches on the topic of international support and recognition, as well as the historical context of colonialism and the struggle for independence.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Culture