S/31/PV.100 Security Council

The recommendation of the Security Council regarding the admission of the Independent State of Western Samoa to membership in the United Nations is contained in document A/31/369. 2. I call on the representative of New Zealand, who wishes to introduce draft resolution A/3 I/L,32 and Add.I.

It is an honour and a pleasure to introduce, on behalf of a large number of sponsors, draft resolution A/31/L,32 and Add.1 by which the Assembly is asked to admit the Independent State of Western Samoa as the one hundred and forty-seventh Member of the United Nations. I am confident that it will do so unanimously. 4. Samoa, as it wishes simply to be known in ordinary United Nations usagf), is an island State in the South Pacific which is already a mcmbl~r of the South Pacific Forum, of the Commonwealth and of a number of the United Nations agencies. It is appropriate that its application should be sponsored by those of its partners in the South Pacific Forum which are Members of the United Nations, by a large number of Commonwealth countries, by the member States of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and other Asian States bordering on the Pacific and by still other countries with which Samoa has established friendly relations. 5. I have already had the privilege of speaking in support of Samoa's membership application in the Security Council, and in doing so I gave some account of the long and close 1491 Ai. '/PV.IOO Wednesday, 15 December 1976, at 3.35 p.m. association between my country and Samoa. 1 This I need not recapitulate. New Zealand takes pride in the fact that, after the United Nations had set new goals for the self-determination of peoples which were then under Trusteeship or colonial administration, Samoa was the first South Pacific nation to achieve independence, and that it did so through a peaceful and democratic process that was supervised and approved by the United Nations at every step. 6. Samoa is not newly independent. It became an indepen- dent State on I January 1962, and since then it has been developing a network of bilateral, regional and international relationships, moving at its own pace and in accordance with its own perception of its national interest. Membership in the United Nations is an important milestone in the process of the development of Samoa's international relations, but that process of development will nevertheless continue. Samoa is already well versed in the exercise of its political independence, but, as a small and remote island State with limited resources, it may legitimately look to the United Nations for continued help in strengthening and making more secure its economic independence. 7. Samoa is situated in a vast ocean region, the South Pacific. It is the fifth member of the South Pacific Forum, an association of independent and self-governing countries in the regior., to join the United Nations. For us, this is an event of no little significance. The South Pacific island countries have in common special problems arising from their small size, their maritime environment, their limited resources and, above all, their geographic isolation. The negotiations on the law of the sea, in particular, have served to heighten a sense of common purpose among these countries. One may expect to hear their voices more often in these halls. A significant number of South Pacific island peoples are still in a transitional stage of their constitutional development, and before long a number of them will help to swell still further the membership of this Organization. My Government, for its part, looks forward with keen anticipation to the strengthening of the South Pacific voice in this Assembly, to which the membership of Samoa and other South Pacific countries will undoubtedly contribute. 8. In conclusion, may I extend from my delegation the warmest of welcomes to the Deputy Head of State of Samoa, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV, and his accompanying delegation, and convey through him to the Head of State, the Prime Minister, the Government and the pwple of Samoa, our congratulations on this important moment in their history. 9. I commend the draft resolution to the Assembly.

I decla~ the Independent State of Western Samoa admitted to membership in the United Nations.

On behalf of the General Assembly, it is both an honour and a pleasure to welcome the fllpresentatives of the Independent State of Western Samoa to the United Nations and to extend to them my sincere congratulations on their country's election to membership in the Organization. I am confident that their presence here will b:~ of mutual benefit to them and to the United Nation~. 13. I take this opportunity to state that the new Member has expressed the desire to be known as Samoa. 14. I now invite the member of the Council of Deputies of the Independent State of Western Samoa, His Excellency Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV, to address the General As· sembly. 22. We know that in today's world we need friends. Our old friends have stood by us over the years. We acknow- ledge their help, and patience, with gratitude. In tomor- row's world we will need new friends. We understand well the concept of the interdependent world. We know that just over the horizon there are challenges which we will not be able to meet alone. 15. Tupua TAMASESE LEALOFI IV (Samoa):2 Western Samoa was recognized as an independent State by this Organization 15 years ago. On 1 January 1962 under the eyes of the Trusteeship Council the Trusteeship Agreement with New Zealand was ended. Before coming under the administration of New Zealand, we had been administered as a colony by European nations. 16. In the span of our history the colonial period was a short interlude, and l10t an altogether unhappy one. The world saia we were independent in 1962. But we had been running our own affairs and had had our own identity before the Europeans found us. The things which most affect the lives of the Samoan people were much the same then as they are now. The things which were important to us then are still important. 17. In Polynesia we sense the natural timing of the earth; the tide ebbs and flows; the sun rises and sets. People are born, live and die. 18. Ours is a small country. We are separated from our neighbours by hundreds of miles of sea. We live mainly by what we produce from the land and reap from the sea. We depend on the resources around us. Not only are we an independent State; we are an independent people. We are proud of our identity, uur history, our language, our culture and our traditions. 2 Tupua Tamasese Lealoti IV spoke in Samoan. The English version of his statement was supplied by the delegation. 20. The Pacific islands no doubt all look alike from the capitals of Europe and North America. To those of us who live there they are not. Some of the things which are most precious to us are the thinss which make us different from our nearest neighbours. A Pa.:ific island is a fragile thing. We had been touched by an alien world. That touch had left its mark. We needed time to recover, to look at the world, to decide for ourselves how close to it we could afford to come and still retain our way of life and the things that are important to us. 21. Now we believe we know where we are going. The pace of international events is such that the Pacific will not remain a quiet backwater much longer. Many countries, including the old colonial Powers, have rediscovered a forgotten interest in the region. There is already evidence of gwat-Power interest-even rivalry. The influences of the cash economy have had their inevitable effect. The expecta- tions of our people have changed with education and contact with the world. We ourselves feel better able to move and speak with confidence in the international community of nations. 23. For those reasons we have joined the United Nations. 24. We know that our country is small and will not greatly change the course of history. Yet we wish to speak with our own voice. We wish to express our opinions in a place where they might be heard. We have received help from many United Naticns bodies in the past. We would like to play our part in the parent body in guiding their activities. Our special interest will be to make them aware of how lightly and thoughtfully and carefully they must step in a small island nation if they are to do the good they seek and not to do harm instead. 25. We wish to build on old friendships and to make new friends. We know that in this body we will fmd many with a close community of interest. Closest at hand we have our neighbours in the South Pacific, old and trusted friends: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. We share the South Pacific and we are equal partners together in our regional body, the South Pacific Forum. 26. We sense that we will find a close community of interest with the developing countries since we share with them the common need for help if the gap between rich and poor is ever to be removed. 27. We know that we will find friends among other small developing island countries. We understand each other's 29. To all other peace·loving countries we offer our friendship. 30. In 1962, when we first thought about joining the United Nations, we saw it as a body that was preoccupied with keeping peace in the world. The interests of the United Nations lay in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It was not much interested in the concems that concerned us. Now its predominant interests concern the survival of manki..,d. We believe that is where its concern should be. In Polynesia the condition of people, physical or spiritual, is the question of first importance. Until this planet can feed its people, clothe them, educate them and allow them to live in peace and dignity, nothing else matters. 31. I make no apology when I say that our first concern in this Organization will be the betterment of the condition of the Samoan people. We hope also to play as full a part as we are able in this body in the future. The condition of people will be foremost in our minds. It will guide our position on development questions and human rights, not only as they affect individuals, but as they affect groups, countries and races-races that span countries. 32. The comforting thing about history is that it does not stop. The decisions that were made in European capitals in the last century to draw lines on the map and call them possessions are not standing the test of time. 33. The process of decolonization has almost worked itself out in Africa. The outcome is inevitable. Only the means is debatable. The 1970s are the decade of decolonizalion in the Pacific. That decade has progressed well. Independence and full self-government have been achieved by a number of countries with a tranquillity that must be envied elsewhere. The pacific way, as we call it, has made it possible for difficult situations to be overcome and trouble to be avoided. But difficult cases remain. Perhaps because they are difficult, because the Territories are poor and isolated, because they are smothered by the domination of another Power, or because they have been split by conflicting aims, the road to independence is still not clear. 34. The people whose shores are bathed by the waters of the Pacific are our brothers. We share their ambitions. We will speak in this body with their interests at heart. We know that changes are wanted and that change must come. 35. Samoa has joined the United Nations late in the session of the General Assembly. We have not shared in the Assembly's work, but we know it has been worth while. We look forward to participating in the Assembly's work next year. 36. I wish to thank all those countries which supported our application for admission by sponsoring the draft 37'. Our thanks go te New Zealand, our good friend, which in our absence made most of the arrangements for this historic day. 38. Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to speak and to put to this world body just some of the things that are important to my country, Samoa.

On behalf of the General Assembly and on my own behalf I thank the distingUished member of the Council of Deputies of the Independent State of Western Samoa, His Excellency Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV, for his statement. 40. I cannot let this occasion pass without also extending to the Government of New Zealand, through its Permanent Representative, Ambassador Templeton, my deep apprecia- tion of the honourable and efficient manner in which it discharged its trust and led Samoa to achievement of the status of an independent. sovereign State 14 years ago and ultimately to membership in the United Nations today. 41. I call on the representative of Madagascar, who will speak on behalf of the group of African States. 42. Mr. RABETAFIKA (Madagascar) (interpretation/rom French).' In the absence of the present Chairman of our group, my delegation would like to express what it believes to be a priori the unanimous sentiment of the African delegations, namely, great satisfaction at the decision of the Government of Western Samoa to become a Member of our Organization. The admission of that State to the United Nations meets with our complete approval and is a source of particular satisfaction to us. 43. A Pacific country, separated from the African con- tinent by vast sea areas and by vast continents, Western Samoa has perhaps not had much contact with our respective countries. But it is a fact that the modem history of that archipelago has developed in parallel with ours from the period of colonial conquest until its rebirth to intemationallife as a recognized independent and sovereign nation. 44. It is therefore not surprising that the African coun- tries, confronting the same problems as those confronting Samoa and sharing with it the same aspirations and concerns, are particularly interested in the evolution which led that country to independence on 1 December 1962. We are pleased to note that that process, begun by a Constitu- tional Convention held in 1954, then marked by the inauguration of a constitutional government in 1959, was carried out without major difficulties and, under United Nations supervision and with the loyal co-operation of the administering Power, led to independence barely a year after the adoption of resolution 1514 (XV) on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples. 45. That happy evolution, which we might describe as exemplary of its type, augured well for L'Hi future of 46. The country whose entry into the United Nations we greet today is already a membl'lr of other organizations, of the Commonwealth, of the World Health Organization and of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. It is also, as the representative of New Zealand has indicated, the fifth member of the South Pacific Forum to become a member of the United Nations. 47. This means that its contribution to our Organization will be marked by the experience which its leaders have already acquired and by the wealth ofgoodwill which they intend to display in building a world ofpeace and universal understanding. 48. In renewing to the delegation of Western Samoa the expression of our warmest congratulations, I wish to assure it of the complete and sincere co-operation of the African delegations.

I call on the representative of Fiji, who will speak on behalfof the Asian group of States.

I am profoundly grateful to my colleagues of the Asian region for the particular privilege of serving as the Chairman of the Asian group of States for the month of December. This has provided me with the opportunity of welcoming a close and valued neighbour, the Independent State of Western Samoa, as a Member of the United Nations. With pleasure, therefore, and on behalf of the members of the Asian region and on behalf of the Fiji delegation, I welcome it most warmly. 51. When Western Samoa attained its independence on 1January 1962, it was widely accepted that the process towards independence in that country constituted one of the important chapters in the history of the International Trusteeship System. In this regard, we wish to pay a particular tribute to the Government ofNew Zealand as the administering Power. New Zealand's contribution to the development of Western Samoa has been significant. Since independence, the Government of New Zealand has con- tinued to provide technical and capital assistance and remains the largest bilateral donvr. The people and Govern- ment of New Zealand are to be congratulated for the manner in which they have changed their colonial relation· ship with Western Samoa into a relationship between free and equal nations. We in Fiji have watched that relationship grow and develop to maturity. 52. Though Samoa is the youngest Member of this world Organization its leaders are lacking neither in wisdom nor in experience of international affairs. Although Samoa has not been a Member of the United Nations since its indepen· dence, it has been a member of several specialized agencies of the United Nations system and has continued to play an important role in several important regional organizations. It is a member of the World Health Organization, the 53. For the small Territories of the Pacific, regional grouping is a necessity. We have been assisted in consid- erable measure by New Zealand and Australia. Samoa has contributed in no small measure to these regional organiza- tions. 54. The South Pacific Commission established by the metropolitan Powers with dependent Territories in the Pacific has grown from an exclusive club to one which counts among its members countries of the region which have achieved independence. We look forward to the day when the remaining dependent Territories will take their place in that organization. Of late the South Pacific Forum and its executive arm, the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation, have been formed. Samoa is a member and plays an effective role in both organizations. 55. The people of the South Pacific by all accounts have their origins in the Indo·Malay peninsula. What is now ~ndonesia appears to have been the route through which successive waves of migration were dispersed and fanned into the Pacific. 56. The Samoans, Tongans, Hawaiians, the Cook Islanders, the French Polynesians and the Maoris of New Zealand formed the Polynesian block-renowned for their seafaring exploits, their dances and the beauty of their women. r: own country lies in the dividing line between Polynesia and Melanesia, in a chain begiiming with Papua New Guinea, the Solomons and the New Hebrides, and has over the centuries been enriched by our contact with Western Samoa and our geographical situation. We share with our Samoan friends the common aspiration of the South Pacific people-an aspiration for peace, for friendship and tranquillity. We look particularly to our friends of the great continent of Asia for support and for help. It is worthy ofnote that the South Pacific is one of the few remaining peaceful areas of the world. We do not know for how long this state of affairs will continue. Samoa's admission, we hope, will add a new and welcome voice from the Pacific and, indeed, from the Asian region. 57. The member States of the Asian region extend a very warm welcome to Samoa. We express the hope that its membership in this Organization will enable it to contribute effectively to the resolving of the many problems and challenges faced by the world community.

I call on the representative of Bulgaria, who will speak on behalf of the Eastern European States.

Permit me, on behalf of the delegations of the Eastern European countries, to extend our sincere congra~ulations to $e delegation of Western Samoa on that country's admission to the United Nations today. 60. The membership of the United Nations is thus enlarged by another State, which, though small and distant, 61. The countries of Eastern Europe have consistently followed a policy of support for the just cause of the self-determination and independence of colonial peoples. They have always supported the countrie~ and peoples which, having won their independence, have spared no effort to consolidate their sovereignty and to follow their freely chosen road of development. Immediately after Westem Samoa proclaimed its independence, the countries of Eastem Europe welcomed and recognized the new State and expressed their readiness to establish friendly relations with it. 62. Today, now that Western Samoa has become a State Member of the United Nations, we look forward to the contribution this country will make to our common endeavour to strengthen international peace and security and international co-operation. 63. Western Samoa's admission to membership in the United Nations is bringing this Organization a step closer to the fulfilment of its proclaimed principle of universality and placing it in a better position to benefit from the constructive contribution of all States in the furtherance of the lofty ideals and purposes in the name of which this Organization was created. 64. The delegations of the countries of Eastern Europe would like to congratulate once again the people ofWestern Samoa on their country's admission to the United Nations and to wish them success on the road to their development.

I call on the representative of Guyana, who will speak on behalf of the group of Latin American States.

Today I have been entrusted by the group of Latin American States with the pleasant duty of welcoming Samoa to membership in this Organi- za:ion. 67. The Latin American group greets the admission of S..:moa to membership in the United Nations with deep respect-respect for the quiet dignity with which that State has conducted its international relations for more than 14 years and has sought, even before it was a Member of this Organization, to uphold the goals of peace and inter· national security in the spirit of the United Nations Charter. 68. Samoa comes to us with considerable experience in the realm of international affairs. Its association with the 69. Samoa has, since independence, played a significant role in the growth of the distinct identity of the South Pacific region of which it is a pal"t, It has been an active member of the South Pacific Commission. In 1970 it became a founding member of the South Pacific Forum and the regular meeting of the Heads of Government of independent and self·governifib countries in that region. In that year as well Samoa joined the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1972 it was actively involved in establishing the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co·operation. In the view of the Latin American group, these are indeed eminent credentials. Furthermore, Samoa's membership in the World Health Organization, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the .Asian Development Bank and other regional and international organs reflects its continuing identification with and com· mitment to the promotion of universally accepted ideals of international peace and co-operation. Such involvement reinforces the conviction that the admission of Samoa to membership in the United Nations will give a new and rich dimension to the work of this Organization. 70. The Latin American group regards as significant Samoa's desire to associate itself fully with the hopes, aspirations and activities of the United Nations and to benefit from greater involvement with the international community. It is significant because it represents a pledge -a pledge to join in the intensification of efforts towards the creation of an international system founded on equity and justice. In accepting this pledge and extending the hand of friendship and co-operation to the Government and people of Samoa, the Latin American gruup looks forward to sharing in the constructive contribution that Samoa will undoubtedly make in this Organization.

I call on the representative of Malta, who will speak on behalf of the group of Western European and other States.

On behalf of the group of Western European and other States, 1 have once again within the space of one month the special honour and privilege of welcoming a new Member to our Organization -this time Samoa. 73. Very briefly, I wish to express, on behalf of the group of Western European and other States, our feelings of great pleasure at seeing one more country join the family of nations, thus bringing our total membership to 147 and constituting yet another step forward towards our cherished goal of universality. 74. I do not wish to reiterate the sentiments so eloquently expressed by previous speakers in emphasizing the valid basis for the admission of Samoa. It is sufficient for me to mention that many European countries have in the past had a close relationship with the history of Samoa. The 75. For a small country like mine the admision of another small, developing island country, a fellow member of the Commonwealth, is an event which the people of Malta will regard with a special measure of kinship, and on behalf of my own country and people, I extend fraternal greetings across the oceans and continents to the people and Government of Samoa. Like them, we wish to have friendly relations with all countries. We place our un- bounded trust in the United Nations and hope to con- tribute to understanding among p?oples from th..: per- spective of small countries determhh'., ,0 preserve their way of life, their neutrality and their cherished liberty.

My country has been especially happy to have joined in sponsoring the draft resolution supporting the admission of the Independent State of Westem Samoa, which has become the one hundred and forty-seventh Member of the United Nations. Since it became a sovereign State, Western Samoa has played a very positive role among the com- munity of nations in the Pacific Ocean area. We welcome Western Samoa's decision to join us here in the search for a peaceful and more stable world. The nations of the Pacific have a unique perspective to give us !1l!. Those which are island States understand particularly well the problems of isolation and the need for co-operation among nations. We welcome this perspective and its valuable contribution to the work of this Organization. We extc::nd warm greetings to Tupua Tamasese and his delegation. 76. Although we are so far away geographically, there is similarity both in our experience in the past and in our prospects for the future. The inspiring statement just made by the member of the Council of Deputies of Samoa is sufficient guarantee of Samoa's dedication to the ideals of the United Nations. I am sure that we shall all benefit from Samoa's participation in our work, which comes as a result of a well-considered decision after Samoa's official indepen- dence in 1962. 83. The people of Polynesia have a long tradition of courage-deep and abiding courage. Our own state of Hawaii and the neighbouring people of American Samoa are part of the greater Polynesian world. We value highly the elements of common language, culture and history which we share. We deeply respect the strong commitments of the people of Polynesia to their own traditions and culture. Our country has been enriched by these traditions, and we know that the United Nations, too, will be the richer through the membership of Samoa. 77. I must say that a country which has managed to preserve the oldest form of Polynesian speech in the face of the enticement of the French, English, German and Dutch languages is clear evidence of the indomitable will of the people to make their own valuable contribution to the versatility and variety of the family of nations represented here. We wish them all success in their endeavours and look forward to collaboration with their representatives in our future work. 84. The United States has worked closely with Western Samoa in the South Pacific Commission and recognizes Western Samoa's valuable contributions in the South Pacific Forum. One of the hallmarks of those bodies has been the talent of the island peoples of the Pacific in working out mutually agreeable solutions. We hope that in this larger forum all of us here may also profit from this talent. 78. As a token of our goodwill and as a first step in co-operation, we were happy to join in sponsoring the draft resolution for the admission of Samoa to membership in the United Nations and to join in its unanimous adoption. 85. May I close in saying to our newest Member: 'Talofa 1(J)l,J".

I call on the representative of Democratic Yemen, who will speak on behalf of the group of Arab States.

The Canadian delegation had the honour of joining in sponsoring the draft resolution which has just been adopted welcoming the Independent State of Western Samoa as' the one hundred and forty- seventh Member of the United Nations. This occasion gives us particular pleasure, since Samoa, like Canada, is a member of that growing fraternity of free and independent nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and of course we are also both Pacific nations.

On behalf of the Arab group of States we have the honour of bidding welcome to a new Member of the international Organization, namely, the Independent State of Western Samoa. The admission of Samoa to the United Nations is sincere proof that this Organization is increasingly recognizing the right of States to admission, and we hope that Viet Nam also will soon become a Member of this Organization. The independence of the State of Samoa similarly represents a further victory for the aspirations of those States which continue to be subject to colonialism. 87. Western Samoa's political evolution is of special interest, since it was nurtured towards independence through the United Nations Trusteeship System by New Zealand, a fellow pioneer member of the Commonwealth of 88. For all these reasons, we join with the many other friends of this independent State in welcoming this new Member into our world-wide fellowship.

The Australian delegation, as a close neighbour of Samoa in the Pacific, would like to address a special welcome to the Samoan delegation. 90. When Samoa gained its independence in 1962, it was the first of the South Pacific nations to do so. It has in this regard shown the way for others as they have moved along the path to self-determination. Samoa has come to play an active and important role in the affairs of the Pacific region as a whole, and Australia warmly welcomes the Samoan Government's decision to carry its intemationai role beyond its immediate region. United Nations membership represents a significant step forward for the Government and people of Samoa. We wish to congratulate them and their leaders on their decision. In particular, we commend the able leadership of Prime Minister Tupuola Efi and his deep concern to improve the well-being of the Samoan people while at the same time maintaining the traditional fabric of Samoan culture and society. 91. Australia welcomes Samoa's growing influence and increased role in international affairs, especially in the South Pacific region. Australia and Samoa, together with the other countries of the Pacific region, are engaged in developing a number of organizations for closer consulta- tion and collaboration for the advancement of the interests of the Pacific peoples. Australia and Samoa are both members of the South Pacific Commission and the South Pacific Forum. 92. As an example of Samoa's close involvement in the activities of thJse bodies, I would mention that the South Pacific Forum is co-ordinating planning for a shipping line for the region, and its headquarters will be in Apia, the capital of Samoa. )3. Samoa has already played an active role in one very important United Nations enterprise-the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea-as one of the leading members of the Oceania group. The existence of that group reflects the importance of the resources of the ocean and of the preservation of the marine environment for the peoples of the South Pacific. South Pacific leaders meeting recently in Suva, Fiji, made a common declaration on questions relating to the law of the sea.

This is indeed a great and joyous occasion for the Government and people of Western Samoa. It gives my delegation, and indeed my Government, great pleasure to welcome a sister nation tr the family of nations, of which my country had the pleasure of becoming a Member over a year ago. Although Samoa has just become a Member of this world Organi- zation today, it is no stranger to the United Nations and its agencies: it has participated actively in numerous confer- ences of United Nations agencies as a full member. 96. Samoa has today, as it were, cleared a piece of land for a garden. It is, no doubt, a happy occasion. However, while one takes pride in such an achievement, one also knows that one does not stop there. Those of us who are familiar with subsistence farming, and indeed farming in general, will no doubt know that crops have to be planted: fences ha"e to be put up and maintained, in order to prevent wild animals from destroying the .;rops; the garden has to be weeded and looked after. These tasks, tedious as they may be, have to be performed before a good and rewarding harvest can be reaped. 97. The United Nations is like that garden, and the Charter and its principles are the crops of this world Organization. We as Members have to uphold the Charter and principles of the United Nations in order that we may reap a good and rewarding harvest and that is peace and security in this turbulent world. It is this noble task that the Government and people of Samoa have undertaken today to perform, together with us, members of this family of nations. 98. I therefore, on behalf of my Government and delega- tion, offer our warmest congratulations to the Government, people and delegation of Samoa on their great achievement and undertaking.

On behalf of a nation that also is located in the Pacific area, and hence harbors a particular sentiment of sympathy and friendship towards Samoa, my delegation wishes to add a few words of welcome to the brilliant address given by the Chairman of the Asian group of States, Ambassador Vunibobo of Fiji, who has expressed our feelings amply enough. 100. Tupuo1a Efi, the Prime Minister of Western Samoa, in his letter dated 29 November 1976 addressed to the Secretary·General of the United Nations, submitting the application by his country for membe ..ship in the United Nations, declared: ..... Western Samea accepts the obliga- 102. In the view of my delegation and, I trust, of other delegations, Western Samoa is eminently qualified for membership in this Organization ooder Article 4 of the Charter. When the application of Western Samoa for membership was submHted to the Security CooocH for consideration on 1 December 1976, my delegation, as a member of that body, spoke most emphatically for the admission of Western Samoa and joined in the unanimous decision of the Security Council recommending that the General Assembly admit Western Samoa to membership in the United Nations. It was, therefore, a great pleasure and honour for my delegation to join 45 other States as a sponsor of draft resolution A/31/L,32 and Add.l, which proposed that the General Assembly decide to admit Western Samoa to membership in the United Nations. This draft resolution has just been adopted unanimously by the General Assembly. 103. Indeed, I would recall that in resolution 1626 (XVI), concerning the future of Western Samoa, the General Assembly expressed the hope that "Western Samoa, on the attainment of independence, will be admitted to member- ship in the United Nations, should it so desire." 104. Fifteen years ago, when the United Nations recog- nized the independence ofWestern Samoa in the resolution that I have just quoted, my delegation particularly wel- comed the fact that the process leading to independence had been very smooth-thankc to the mutual goodwill and the cooperation of Western Samoa and New Zealand, the administering Power. 105. Today's auspicious occasion-on which the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa has given a memorable address to the Assembly-refreshes my delegation's gratified memory of those circumstances. 106. I should like to take this opportunity to express my delegation's desire to strengthen still further the friendly and co·operative relations between Japan and Samoa within and outside the United Nations. REPORT OF THE SPECIAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE (A/31/419) 107. Mr. HAYNES (Guyana), Rapporteur of the Special Political Committee: I have the honour to present to the General Assembly the report of the Special Political Committee on agenda item 54 [A/31/419/. 108. During its consideration of the item at five meetings, the Committee heard 28 stateme!}.ts which generally re- flected the progress towards the completion of agreed guidelines for United Nations peace-keeping operations indicated in this year's report of the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Opemtions [A/31/337/. 109. At its 35th meeting, on 9 December, the Special Political Committee adopted by consensus draft resolution A/SPC/31/L.l5, which is reproduced in paragraph 7 of the report. That draft resolution, among other things, requests the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations and its Working Group to renew efforts and to intensify negotia· tions for an early completion of agreed guidelines for peace-keeping operations, in conformity with the Charter, before the thirty·second session of the General Assembly. It also requests the Special Committee to give further atten- tion to the consideration of specific questions related to the practical implementation of peace-keeping operations. In its report, the Special Political Committee has recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution that has resulted from its work. Pursuant to rule 66 of the rules of procedure, it was decided not to discuss the report of the Special Political Committee. II O. The PRESIDENT: In paragraph 7 of its report [A/31/419/, the Special Political Committee has recom· mended to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution. The report of the Fifth Committee on the administrative and financial implications of that draft resolution is contained in document A/31/445. The Geneml Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resohaiun. Since the Special Political Committee adopted the draft resolution by consensus, may I take it that th;l General Assembly wishes to do the same? The meeting rose at 4.55 p.m.