UN General Assembly
1950

139. Eritrea: Guatemala was a member of the United Nations Commission for Eritrea. Its delegation gave the closest consideration to this delicate matter in a completely objective and impartial spirit and, after taking the many complicated aspects into account, submitted its proposal for the independence of the territory following an agreed period of United Nations trusteeship, a proposal which was supported by the delegation of Pakistan. This proposal involves a question of principle, and does not infringe in any way rights or interests of any kind. It is also in conformity with the wishes of a considerable section of the territory’s population and is in the best interests of the population as a whole. Thus, it is based on the soundest and firmest principles of the San Francisco Charter, providing as it does for the establishment in that part of Africa of a new democratic, sovereign and self-governing State. The delegation of Guatemala framed this proposal having regard to the interests of Ethiopia and its just claims to an adequate outlet to the sea. It felt, and still feels, that free and easy transit for Ethiopian products through Eritrean ports may be ensured by the conclusion of economic agreements between the States of Eritrea and Ethiopia, and by the establishment of free zones in the two Eritrean ports.