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.
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