| Date | 28 June 2006 |
|---|
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The President
I should like to invite the General Assembly to consider the positive recommendation by the Security Council on the application for admission to membership in the United Nations of the Republic of Montenegro.
The Security Council has recommended the admission of the Republic of Montenegro to membership in the United Nations, as stated in document A/60/902. In this connection, a draft resolution has been issued as document A/60/L.58.
I give the floor, first, to the representative of Austria, to introduce draft resolution A/60/L.58.
Mr. Pfanzelter (Austria)
On behalf of the European Union, the countries aligning themselves with this statement and an impressive number of other sponsors, it is a great honour and privilege to recommend to the Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution before it to admit the Republic of Montenegro to membership in the United Nations. That is in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter, and it follows the adoption of Security Council resolution 1691 (2006) of 22 June 2006, which recommends to the General Assembly that the Republic of Montenegro be admitted to membership in the United Nations.
In his letter of 5 June (A/60/890, annex), President Vujanovi has requested the admission of the Republic of Montenegro to membership in the United Nations and has confirmed his country's complete adherence to the Charter of the United Nations. We warmly welcome the presence of the President of the Republic of Montenegro, His Excellency Mr. Filip Vujanovi, here with us today.
The Declaration on the Independence of the Republic of Montenegro was passed on 3 June 2006 by the parliament of Montenegro after the national referendum on 21 May based on the Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. It envisages Montenegro as a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multireligious society in an independent State with full legal personality under international law. In that Declaration, Montenegro had already signalled its intention to become an active member of the international community and to join the United Nations.
We commend the peaceful and democratic way in which Montenegro gained its independence. We see this as a sign of the political maturity of all actors. The European Union has been a steadfast partner of the people of the Western Balkans in the past years. It fully respects the decision of the people of Montenegro. On 12 June, the foreign ministers of the European Union decided to further develop their relations with the Republic of Montenegro as a sovereign, independent State. On 16 June, our heads of State or Government once again reconfirmed the European perspective of the Western Balkans on the basis of the Stabilization and Association Process.
The European Union is therefore very pleased to present this draft resolution to the Assembly. To our new Member, the 192nd, the Republic of Montenegro, we say welcome to the United Nations.
The President
Since the draft resolution was submitted, we have received the names of a large number of additional sponsors, which I will now read out to the Assembly. The additional sponsors are: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, the United States of America, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.
May I take it that the General Assembly accepts the recommendation of the Security Council and adopts draft resolution A/60/L.58 by acclamation?
The President
I therefore declare the Republic of Montenegro admitted to membership in the United Nations.
I request the Chief of Protocol to escort the delegation of the Republic of Montenegro to its place in the General Assembly Hall.
The President
It is a great honour and pleasure for me on this historic occasion to welcome, on behalf of the General Assembly, the Republic of Montenegro as a new Member of the United Nations. I congratulate the people and the Government of the Republic of Montenegro, and I congratulate the United Nations on the admission of its 192nd Member State.
Less than six weeks ago, the people of Montenegro held a referendum with a very high voter turnout, where a majority of the voters chose independence. Two weeks later, on 3 June, the parliament of Montenegro passed a declaration on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro. In an open, democratic and peaceful manner, Montenegro has secured a smooth transition to the status of an independent and sovereign State. In demonstrating its adherence to democratic values and principles and the rule of law, Montenegro has set an important example. I am confident that Montenegro will strive for good-neighbourly relations and strong regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, thus promoting stability in an area struck by conflict in the recent past.
I believe that Montenegro will also actively contribute to the multilateral efforts of the General Assembly and the United Nations in addressing the multitude of global challenges that lie ahead and that we all face together. I wish the Republic of Montenegro and its people peace, prosperity and every success in the future, and again wish them a warm welcome to the United Nations.
I now give the floor to the representative of Zimbabwe, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.
Mr. Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe)
Allow me, on behalf of the Africa Group, to welcome the new State of the Republic of Montenegro to this family of nations. We sincerely congratulate the Republic of Montenegro on becoming the 192nd Member of the United Nations and wish President Vujanovi and the people of Montenegro well as the country joins us in the collective endeavour to address the many and complex issues before the United Nations.
The 21 May 2006 referendum that saw the birth of the new and independent State of Montenegro was an exercise of the right to self-determination. That is a principle that we in Africa have always respected and will continue to cherish. Being the newest member of the family is an experience that most of us in the African Group can relate to. It has its challenges as well as its excitement. With respect to the challenges, the Group of African States will be ready to extend its cooperation to the fullest extent possible to the new Member, the State of the Republic of Montenegro. We look forward to working together with the country's representatives.
The Republic of Montenegro joins the United Nations at a crucial moment, when the Organization is seeking to renew itself and to make itself more efficient and more responsive to the needs of its Members and their citizens, particularly those in the developing world. It is our hope and expectation that the increase in the membership of the United Nations will translate into a groundswell of voices and opinions that will help us realize the many goals and targets that we have set for ourselves.
The President
I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States.
Mr. lkin (Turkey)
Today we have gathered in the General Assembly Hall to salute the admission of the Republic of Montenegro as the newest Member of the United Nations. On this happy occasion, as Chair of the Asian Group, I have the honour to extend our warmest congratulations to the Republic of Montenegro on joining the United Nations family as its 192nd Member.
We note with great satisfaction the solemn commitment of the Republic of Montenegro to abide by and fulfil the obligations contained in the Charter of the United Nations. We would like to commend both the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Montenegro for the peaceful manner in which they concluded the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro, in line with the results of the referendum held in the Republic of Montenegro on 21 May 2006, organized in accordance with the constitutional charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The two brotherly nations have now decided to live in separate homes. We wish both countries continued progress and prosperity.
The Asian Group looks forward to working closely with the representatives of the Republic of Montenegro in promoting peace, stability and welfare in the Balkans, as well as in the international sphere.
The President
I now give the floor to the representative of Albania, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.
Mr. Neritani (Albania)
It is my honour to speak on behalf of the States members of the Eastern European Group on the adoption of draft resolution A/60/L.58 and to congratulate the Republic of Montenegro on its admission today to membership of the United Nations. On this occasion, let me warmly welcome His Excellency Mr. Filip Vujanovi, President of the Republic of Montenegro, on this historic day for his people and for his country. We rejoice with them and share the sense of joy and fulfilment which presides on this historic day.
As the newest State admitted to this indispensable institution, the Republic of Montenegro will add its voice to the voices of other members of this body to further harmonize our actions towards our common ends and to further strengthen the universality of the United Nations, as well as its legitimacy and effectiveness.
With the admission of this new peace-loving State, willing and able to carry out its obligations under the United Nations Charter, the goal of universality moves closer to its ultimate attainment. We praise the acceptance of Montenegro as a new Member of the United Nations and are reassured in our belief in the family of cooperation and partnership among our countries as we work towards fulfilling our obligations as States Members of the Organization.
The President
I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba, who will speak on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States.
Mr. Benítez Versón (Cuba)
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States to welcome the admission of the Republic of Montenegro as the 192nd State Member of the United Nations. We welcome the presence at this very special meeting of the delegation of the Republic of Montenegro, headed by the President, His Excellency Mr. Filip Vujanovi.
On this historic occasion, when we are welcoming a new Member among us, it is appropriate that we reaffirm our firm commitment to the common values uniting us at the United Nations and to reiterate that we will continue to work tirelessly to realize the hopes placed in the Organization. Much remains for us to do to achieve the noble purposes and goals of the United Nations. We are certain that, through its efforts, the Republic of Montenegro will contribute to progress in that endeavour.
The members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States are prepared to work in close cooperation with the Republic of Montenegro in all areas of United Nations activity. The Republic of Montenegro will always be able to count on our goodwill, support and cooperation. On behalf of all the members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, I wish to reiterate our warm welcome to the Republic of Montenegro and to congratulate the people and the Government of that country on this special occasion, wishing them much success, peace and prosperity.
The President
I now call on the representative of Ireland, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.
Mr. Cooney (Ireland)
It is my particular honour, on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States, to welcome the Republic of Montenegro as the 192nd Member of the United Nations. The Republic of Montenegro arrives among us as a newly independent State, but we acknowledge its long national history, reflected in its name, which reaches back through the centuries.
The people of the Black Mountain, Crna Gora, Montenegro, have taken the democratic decision to assume their independence and to take their place in the family of sovereign nations. They have done so according to procedures agreed with the Republic of Serbia. We salute the Governments and the peoples of both Montenegro and Serbia for the dignified and peaceful manner in which they managed the delicate process of separation in full conformity with the United Nations Charter.
We welcome the Republic of Montenegro as a State committed to the maintenance of a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multireligious society. We look forward to the Republic of Montenegro playing an active and constructive role in the work of the United Nations.
We, for our part, pledge ourselves to work with the Republic of Montenegro to fulfil the purposes and promote the principles of the United Nations Charter in the interests of the people of Montenegro and of all mankind.
The President
I now give the floor to the representative of the United States of America, the host country.
Ms. Wolcott Sanders (United States)
On 12 June 2006, the United States formally recognized the Republic of Montenegro as a sovereign and independent State, consistent with the request of its Government and the will of the people of Montenegro. The United States now welcomes Montenegro's admission as a Member of the United Nations and takes note of its commitment to fulfil its international obligations.
We join our colleagues in extending our congratulations to the Republic of Montenegro on this momentous occasion in its history.
The President
I now call on the representative of Serbia.
Mr. Kruljevi (Serbia)
Allow me at the outset to welcome in our midst His Excellency Mr. Filip Vujanovi, President of the Republic of Montenegro. We are gratified at his presence in the General Assembly Hall today.
The Republic of Serbia, continuing the international personality of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, is pleased to see the Republic of Montenegro -- now a neighbouring and friendly country with which it has maintained close ties -- become the 192nd Member State of the United Nations. We are convinced that the Republic of Montenegro will contribute fully to the respect for and pursuit of the principles and purposes of the world Organization.
I would like to emphasize that the Republic of Serbia, having spent nearly a century in a common State with the Republic of Montenegro, will seek to develop the closest and most friendly bilateral relations with that country. Good-neighbourliness and regional cooperation constitute the cornerstone of my country's foreign policy in its commitment to the lasting stabilization of the region of South-East Europe. We are convinced that that concept is also truly contributing to the fulfilment of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It is our firm belief that, through bilateral and regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration processes, to which both the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Montenegro aspire, that common goal can be achieved most efficiently.
The Republic of Serbia stands ready to extend its full support to the Republic of Montenegro within the United Nations and to closely cooperate and coordinate its activities with that country. We believe that in doing so, both countries will contribute to the strengthening of the role of the world Organization and its capacity to respond to the numerous challenges of the present-day world.
