General Assembly Session 55 meeting 1

The President

In accordance with the procedure followed in the past, I should now like to invite the General Assembly to consider, under item 19 of the provisional agenda entitled "Admission of new Members to the United Nations", the positive recommendation by the Security Council for the admission to membership in the United Nations of Tuvalu.

This special procedure has been applied previously in order to give States recommended by the Security Council for membership in our Organization the opportunity, if the General Assembly acts favourably on their requests, to participate from the outset in the work of the session.

If there is no objection, we shall proceed accordingly.

The President

The Security Council has recommended the admission of Tuvalu to membership in the United Nations, as stated in document A/54/758. In this connection, a draft resolution has been submitted in document A/55/L.1.

Before proceeding to take action on the draft resolution, I should like to announce that since its introduction the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/55/L.1: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Slovenia, the Syrian Arab Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.

May I take it that the General Assembly accepts the recommendation of the Security Council and adopts the draft resolution by acclamation?

The President

I therefore declare Tuvalu admitted to membership in the United Nations.

It is my pleasure on this historic occasion to welcome, on behalf of the General Assembly, Tuvalu as a full Member of the United Nations. I congratulate Tuvalu and the United Nations on the admission of its 189th Member State.

I am confident that this newly admitted Member State will contribute to the General Assembly and to the United Nations efforts in addressing the issues in international relations that lie ahead.

I wish the Government and the people of Tuvalu peace, prosperity, happiness and every success for the future. I wish to assure Tuvalu of the full support of the United Nations as it takes its rightful place in the international community as a free, independent, sovereign and peace-loving State.

I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

Mr. Kahende (Kenya)

I wish first to take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Harri Holkeri upon his assumption of the high office of President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. I thank him for the commitment he made in his statement to serve mankind effectively during his tenure of office through contacts and dialogue. My delegation has no doubt, and Africa has no doubt, that the Millennium Summit, which kicks off tomorrow, will pose a most challenging start to that promise. We assure him of Africa's total support and assistance.

Allow me at the same time to thank an illustrious son of Africa, The Honourable Theo-Ben Gurirab for the excellent job he did in the discharge of his duties during the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly.

Turning to the duty that has brought me before the Assembly, Kenya, in its capacity as the Chairman of the African Group for the month of September, and, indeed, on its own behalf, takes this opportunity to congratulate Tuvalu upon joining the United Nations as the 189th Member of our Organization.

Indeed, the family of United Nations is now inching closer to the fulfilment of one of the key principles of our Organization: the recognition of the value of the independence of all peoples. Africa pledges its fullest cooperation to Tuvalu as it begins to discharge its international obligations.

The President

I now call on the representative of Japan, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States.

Mr. Satoh (Japan)

It is a great pleasure, honour and privilege for me to address the General Assembly, on behalf of all the Member States of the Asian Group, at the opening of its fifty-fifth session. I would like to offer to you, Mr. President, the warmest congratulations of the Asian Group on your election as President of this body. I am confident that, with the benefit of your able leadership and wide-ranging experience, the General Assembly will respond wisely and effectively to the needs and expectations of the international community during this historic Millennium Assembly. You may rest assured of the full support and cooperation of the Member States of the Asian Group as you carry out the responsibilities of your high office.

I would also like to express the profound appreciation of the Asian Group to the outgoing President, His Excellency Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab. Thanks to his excellent guidance and dedicated efforts throughout the fifty-fourth session, we were able to make significant progress in addressing the challenges facing the international community. We are also grateful for his admirable leadership and inexhaustible patience in smoothly preparing for the historic Millennium Summit. We are confident that his valuable contributions will ensure the success of the Millennium Summit.

It is my particular pleasure to congratulate Tuvalu on its admission to the United Nations. On behalf of all the Member States of the Asian Group, as well as of my own country, Japan, I would like to extend the warmest welcome to this newest Member of the Organization.

The admission of Tuvalu to the family of nations is of great significance, as it strengthens the universality of the United Nations and thus enhances its legitimacy and effectiveness. The addition of Tuvalu to United Nations membership is yet another reminder of the importance of focusing greater attention on the problems facing small island developing States.

We, the Member States of the Asian Group, extend our best wishes to the Government and the people of Tuvalu on this landmark occasion in their country's history. We all look forward to working closely with Tuvalu in pursuing the goals and objectives enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

The President

I now call on the representative of the Russian Federation, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

Mr. Gatilov (Russia)

It is my privilege and honour to address the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. Our gratitude goes to the outgoing President, His Excellency Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab.

On behalf of the Eastern European States, I have the great honour of expressing our congratulations to Tuvalu on the historic occasion of its admission to membership in the United Nations. We note with great satisfaction Tuvalu's solemn commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to fulfil all the obligations contained therein. Today, Tuvalu has joined us as a full-fledged Member of the United Nations, and we are prepared to work closely with its representatives.

In the light of the advent of the new millennium, which affords us an opportunity to reflect on the role of the United Nations in the twenty-first century, we find it particularly symbolic that the family of peace-loving nations has been joined by yet another Member. We hope that the participation of Tuvalu in the Organization will benefit all Members as we work to address pressing challenges that fall within the ambit of the United Nations.

Once again, on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, I would like to convey to the delegation of Tuvalu and to all the people of that country, our most heartfelt welcome to the United Nations.

The President

I now call on the representative of Sweden, who will speak on behalf of Group of Western European and other States.

Mr. Schori (Sweden)

First of all, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election as President of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly, and to pledge to you the full support of the Group of Western European and other States.

I would also like to express our heartfelt thanks for the impressive leadership demonstrated by Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, the Foreign Minister of Namibia, during the previous session.

I am honoured to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States to congratulate and welcome Tuvalu as a new Member State of the United Nations. I would like to pay special respect to the Head of Government of Tuvalu, who is present here on this historic day for his country.

The admission of new Member States always constitutes an event for the Organization. The United Nations is a truly unique Organization of sovereign States based on the principle of mutual respect and the equality of all its Members, regardless of geometrical dimension or population. Each new Member State brings to this forum its own characteristics, history and culture, which enriches the family of nations.

The new Member State and its people have faced great challenges in coping with the elements of nature. We have no doubt that this new Member will participate actively and strengthen the South Pacific perspective in the work of our Organization, and at the same time provide for a more secure and prosperous future for its people.

We, the members of the Group of Western European and other States, look forward to developing a close working relationship and friendship with the representatives of Tuvalu.

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of the United States of America, who will speak on behalf of the host country.

Ms. King (United States)

In my capacity as representative of the host country, I would like to extend warm congratulations to Tuvalu as it becomes a Member of the United Nations on this historic day. The adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution admitting this newest Member State to the United Nations recognizes its sovereignty, its independence and its readiness to take its place in the community of nations.

As we work to advance the goals of a peaceful and prosperous international community, I am sure that Tuvalu's participation in the United Nations will benefit all Members. I look forward to working with the representatives of Tuvalu, whom I trust will bring a fresh perspective to the work of the Organization.

Once again, on behalf of the United States, I would like to convey to Prime Minister Ionatana Ionatana and his delegation, who are here with us today, our most heartfelt welcome to the United Nations.

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of the Federated States of Micronesia, who will speak on behalf of the members of the South Pacific Forum.

Mr. Nakayama (Micronesia)

I have the honour to address the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly and to make this statement on behalf of the following South Pacific countries that are Members of this body: Australia, my own country, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Fiji Islands, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Let me, however, at the very outset offer the warm congratulations of the South Pacific Group to you, Mr. President, on your election to guide the fifty-fifth session of this body at this historic opening of a new millennium. With your leadership and wide-ranging experience, we are confident that this session of the General Assembly will deal effectively with the many important and monumental tasks facing the Assembly. I assure you of the full support and best wishes of the South Pacific Group as you carry out the task of your high office.

Let me also extend our most profound appreciation to outgoing President Theo-Ben Gurirab, whose dedicated efforts guided the fifty-fourth session of the Assembly to a successful conclusion. His untiring efforts have smoothly paved the way for the Millennium Assembly, and prepared us for the Millennium Summit.

We welcome the adoption by the Assembly of the resolution admitting another Member to our ranks. This resolution is of particular significance to the South Pacific Group, as this new Member of the United Nations family, the small island State of Tuvalu, is truly one of our own and a sister island member of our Pacific Forum, to which the South Pacific Group here at the United Nations belongs.

While we extend our best wishes and congratulations to the Government and people of Tuvalu and celebrate with them on this momentous occasion in their history, the South Pacific Group would like to state its sincere appreciation to the United Nations Security Council for its wise decision to recommend the admission of Tuvalu to membership in this body. Our heartfelt appreciation also goes out to the many members of the Organization who have also joined in co-sponsoring and supporting the resolution on Tuvalu's admission to the United Nations.

This is the second time in a row that a new Member of the Organization comes from the ranks of small island developing States. Last year, the Assembly admitted the three Pacific small island developing States of Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga. And today, Tuvalu, another small island country from the Pacific, is being admitted. While today's admission of another small island country is symbolic and further strengthens the universality of the United Nations, its significance is not totally lost on many of us who share the same vulnerabilities and problems that island countries like Tuvalu face. Our smallness and isolation have not insulated us from the impact of decisions made elsewhere.

We have decided, although with great sacrifices of scarce resources, to join the Organization. We have also decided that we must participate with the rest of the world and contribute constructively in what little way we can to the work of this body. We come to the United Nations with high aspirations and confidence that our participation as Members of this body will further advance the cause of sustainable development for small island developing States. With renewed dedication and commitments by Members of the United Nations, the past efforts of this body will not be lost in the new millennium.

In closing, I wish once again to refer to our joy and humility at being permitted to speak on this occasion as we welcome Tuvalu to membership in the Organization.