Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

STATEMENT BY

MR. TADAO P. SIGRAH
CHARGE D' AFFAIRES, A.I.
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS

IN THE
FIFTY-FOURTH
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BEFORE THE PLENARY
ON AGENDA ITEM 19:
ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE UNITED NATIONS

New York, September 14, 1999

Check Against Delivery


Mr. President,

The delegation of the Federated States of Micronesia has the high honor to address this August body today in its capacity as the Chair of the sixteen-member coalition of Pacific Island countries collectively known as the South Pacific Forum. Most particularly, I speak here in support of the ten Forum members that are also member states of the United Nations and they are: Australia; the Republic of the Fiji Islands; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; New Zealand; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands; Samoa; Vanuatu and my own country the Federated States of Micronesia.

First of all, Mr. President, for the South Pacific Forum and for my own country, I wish to refer to the great sense of anticipation brought forth by your election to guide this 54th session of the General Assembly. Your experience and leadership has made you a most appropriate choice to provide the critical leadership that will enable this Assembly to deal effectively with so many issues facing this organization at the dawn of a new millennium. You have our congratulations and our best wishes.

Mr. President,

At the opening of this 54th session, we are witnessing history as it unfolds. Today, three more countries have been admitted to membership in this great organization. Coincidentally, all three countries are members of the South Pacific Forum. Thus, along with our Pacific colleagues of the Forum, we join the other previous distinguished speakers in extending our congratulations to our neighbors - the Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Nauru and the Kingdom of Tonga as they successfully take this long-awaited step together in joining as members of this organization. We rejoice and share with them the sense of joy and fulfillment which pervade on this historic day.

I wish, Mr. President, to express the sincere appreciation of the South Pacific Forum countries to the members of the United Nations Security Council for their decisions to recommend admissions of the three South Pacific island countries. I wish to lay particular emphasis on the expression of appreciation to those members of the Security Council who have gone out of their way to make this possible.

I would, of course, be remiss if I do not also extend our utmost heartfelt appreciation to each of the many members of this organization who have joined as co-sponsors of the three resolutions. The support of all members of this Organization to admit the three countries, we hope, will serve as an inspiration and encourage still others, both within our Pacific region and elsewhere to become members and bring the goal of universality closer to ultimate attainment.

Mr. President,

The admission to membership of the three Pacific Island countries in this august body is a further indication of the importance that our region places in the United Nations. We join the United Nations attracted by the noble ideals that this august body embraces - peace and prosperity for all. The inclusion of three additional members from the Pacific region is no small matter in that regard. For small island states like Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga, as with most members of the South Pacific Forum, joining the United Nations is indeed a great sacrifice of scarce resources. Yet we have decided that we can no longer be mere by-standers. The smallness of our Pacific Islands, and our remoteness and isolation have not insulated us from the impacts of decisions made elsewhere in the world. We must participate with the rest of the international community in the processes of finding solutions. Thus, Mr. President, we join this organization driven in part by the realization of our common wish to constructively contribute in little ways we could to the work of this body.

Mr. President,

I wish once more to refer to our joy and humility at being permitted to speak on this occasion. My delegation, and those of the South Pacific Forum do not lightly undertake the responsibilities of membership in this organization. Though we are small we earnestly hope that the voice of our island countries will earn respect in years to come.

Thank you.