The issue of Puerto Rico, a free state associated to the United States of America, was discussed in the 14th of December United Nations General Assembly, a date marking the 50th anniversary of the resolution 1514 on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.

The Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC, official name for Central American, South American, Caribbean countries and Mexico within the United Nations) called for the reassessment of the case of Puerto Rico. The Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations Jorge Valero pointed out that "the 29 resolutions and decisions adopted by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization reaffirm the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence". In the speech, the Venezuelan ambassador and GRULAC's president declared that "Puerto Rico constitutes a Latin American and Caribbean nation with its own and distinct national identity".

The Special Committee on Decolonization is still considering Puerto Rico as a colony and admits that the decolonization process has not yet begun in the island. It also calls for the government of the United States of America to "take responsibility and favour a process allowing the Puerto Rican people to fully exercise its inalienable right to self-determination and to independence".

A resolution in favour of the right of peoples to self-determination

The resolution 1514 on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples declares that "the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation. It also establishes that "all peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development". The resolution gave legitimacy and legality in international law to a number of decolonization processes in the 60's and 70's.

Further information:

• Agencia Venezolana de Noticias: Venezuela insta a la ONU a avanzar en descolonización de territorios no autónomos
• Deia: La ONU reconoce la "identidad nacional" del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico