CONMDENTIAL
enceusefully taken the formulation a stage further to include "ful permanent sovereignty over their natural resources and all other resources, wealth and economic activities": The meaning of the formulation is unclear but little purpose would be served by a public debate in the UN on such definitions. Delegations should seel: to insert the expression "in accordance with international law", which would automatically rule out an interpretation which would be contrary to international law. If such a qualification to the extended formula is unacceptable, a decision on our voting position will need to be taken by FCO. Attempts should be made to concert a position with the Nine. 7. Another trend is the lining of resolutions on permanent sovereignty with other subjects, and in particular trans-national corporations, currently the most politically sensitive style of foreign investment. The resolution passed at ECOSOC in 1978, on which we voted against with the USA and some of the Nine, linked permanent sovereignty not only with trans-national corporations, but also with alleged sovereignty over natural resources by
eoples subjected to colonial domination, neo-colonialism, apartheid etc. The advice of FCO will need to be sought by delegations of our voting position where complex resolutions of this kind emerge as, apart from other considerations, consistency must be maintained with our voting position in other fora. Another related issue that sometimes creeps into resolutions is the so- called right of the developing countries to receive "restitution and full compensation for the exploitation of, and damage to, their natural resources" by investing interests. The UK would probably vote against or abstain on a resolution bearing such a reference, and the FCO should be consulted in such cases.
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