S/PV.1566 Security Council

In accordance with the decision taken yesterday at our 1565th meeting the Security Council Committee on the Admission of New Members has submitted a report to the Council, which is before us in document S/10109, concerning its examination of the application of Bhutan for membership in the United Nations. There are no names inscribed on the list to speak at this time; therefore it is my understanding that the Council is prepared to act on the draft resolution contained in paragraph 3 of the Committee’s report. If there is no request to speak at this stage, we shall consider the draft resolution. Provisional agenda (S/Agenda/l 566) 1. Adoption of the agenda. 2. Admission of new Members: (a) Letter dated 10 December 1970 from the Ring of Bhutan addressed to the Secretary-General (s/10050); (b) Report of the Security Council Committee on the Admission of New Members concerning the application of Bhutan for membership in the United Nations (S/10109). 4. I now put the draft resolution to the vote. Adoption of the agenda A vote was taken by show of hands. The agenda was adopted. The draft resolution was adopted ununimously.1 Admission of new Members: (a) Letter dated 10 December 1970 from the King of Bhutan addressed to the Secretary-General (S/10050); (6) Report of the Security Council Committee on the Admission of New Members concerning the application of Bhutan for membership in the United Nations (S/10109)

Several representatives have asked to speak following the adoption of the resolution. The first is the representative of India, on whom I now call.

Mr. President, we are indeed grateful to you and to the Council for having permitted us to participate in this meeting of the Council. 7. Apart from congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month, we should like to extend our welcome to those new Members that were elected to the Council during the last General Assembly and also to record our appreciation for those who have retired. As it happens, yesterday’s meeting of the Council was not only its first meeting in 197 1, and the first meeting after the conclusion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, but also the first meeting since the application of Bhutan was circulated on 22 December 1970. We .are particularly gratified that such a meeting should have dealt with the proposed membership of Bhutan. The Council has just adopted the report of the Admissions Committee set up under rule 59 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council. We are pleased that this Committee reported, unanimously and

In a letter dated 9 February 1971 [S/10110] the representative of India has requested to be allowed to participate in the Council’s discussion of the application of Bhutan, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to extend an invitation to the representative of India, in accordance with the practice that has been followed on previous occasions, to take a place at the Council table in order to participate in the discussion without the right to vote. At the invitation of the President, Mr. S. Sen (India) took a place at the Council table.

I have just been handed a letter from the representative of Pakistan [S/10112] in which he also requests permission to participate in the discussion of the application before the Council this afternoon. Therefore, if there is no objection, I propose to invite the representative 1 See resolution 292 (1971). 8. In view of the close ties of friendship and cordiality between Bhutan and India, the Government of India was very pleased and privileged to assure the Government of Bhutan that it would assist Bhutan in every possible way to ensure that Bhutan became a Member of the United Nations in the exercise of its full sovereign rights. It may be recalled that in 1962 India successfully sponsored Bhutan for membership of the Colombo Plan. In 1969, with our assistance, Bhutan joined one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations, the Universal Postal Union. Against that background, when Bhutan wished to apply for membership during the twenty-fifth session of the General Assembly and after a special delegation led by His Royal Highness Prince Wangchuk had come and discussed this question with as many delegations as possible in New York, we were glad to give such help as was required of us by and to Bhutan, I am sure that the decision the Security Council has taken today will bring great satisfaction to the Government and people of Bhutan, and we in India would like to join them in sharing this satisfaction. 9. The Council’s decision to support Bhutan’s candidature for admission to the United Nations is but a final manifestation of Bhutan’s independent stature and nationhood. As one of India’s closest neighbours, Bhutan has intimate relations with my country in many fields. We have historical, cultural, econpmic and political links going back many centuries. Naturally, through the ages we both have had our ups and downs and we both hope that the lessons learnt from the past will help us contribute our utmost to the achievement of the objectives of the Charter. We are therefore both proud and gratified that Bhutan is about to enter this great Organization to participate, with the other Members of the United Nations, in the endeavours to promote peace and prosperity all over the world. 10. In the December 1952 issue of 77~ National Geographic Magazine, there is ‘an interesting article by Burt Kerr Todd entitled “Bhutan, land of the thunder dragon”. This and many other books written on Bhutan on the one hand bring out the rich, varied and beautiful nature of the country and the charm and great gentleness of its people, and on the other hand show how Bhutan tried, on the whole, to keep away from -the daily toil and turmoil of the rest of the world. I am sure that other speakers will refer to these aspects of Bhutan and I shall therefore not elaborate on them. It is gratifying and wholly commendable that under the able, active and imaginative guidance of its present monarch, His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, Bhutan is determined to introduce and pursue programmes 11, While my delegation would like to reiterate on this occasion the Government of India’s unqualified confidence in Bhutan’s ability to fulfil the obligations of the Charter as a Member of the United Nations, we are at the same time confident that Bhutan’s membership will be a welcome asset to this Organization both in its political and in its development activities. I woLld therefore conclude by welcoming the decision of the Security Council, by thanking once again the members of the Council for their speed, unity and goodwill and by expressing the hope that Bhutan will be a full and active Member of the United Nations before long. Meanwhile, we pledge our full suppoti to work in co-operation with Bhutan. We have consistently tried to work in harmony with all Asian countries, particularly with our neighbours, and we look forward to the closest bonds of friendship, Go-operation and understanding with this new colleague of ours in the United Nations.

I thank the representative of India for his kind remarks.

Mr. President, during my time as President of the Council for January my delegation took part in the preliminary consultations on the question we are considering today. I am sorry that I was obliged by circumstances beyond my control to pass on the task uncompleted but I knew that I could not leave it in more competent hands than your own. In view of your wise suggestion at our last meeting, with which I entirely agree, that in the interests of efficiency we should dispense with formal congratulations to incoming and outgoing Presidents I shall say no more on this point; but I must take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for the nice things they said yesterday even if I cannot approve of their disobeying your request. 14. As the representative of the United Kingdom, I should like to express the particular pleasure of my Government at the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of the resolution recommending to the General Assembly that Bhutan should be admitted to membership of the United Nations. 15. In the year 1774 a British diplomatic agent, George Bogle, was one of the first Europeans ever to visit Bhutan. The more he saw of the Bhutanese the more he liked them. Writing about the people, he said: “The simplicity of their manners, their slight intercourse with strangers and a strong sense of religion, preserve the Bhutanese from many vices to which more polished nations are addicted. They are strangers to falsehood and ingratitude.“2 2 Cl&lent R. Markham, Narratives of the mission of George Bogie to Tibet, and of the journey of Thomas Manning to Lhasa (London, Triibner and Co., 1876), p. 37. 17. The other outstanding influence on the life of the people of Bhutan has been the Buddhist religion. Today, no less than in the past, it directs their lives as obviously as it inspires their beautiful architecture. 18, For the nearly 200 years since the visit of Mr. George Bogle niy Government has enjoyed close relations with the Government of Bhutan and my countrymen have formed valued and lasting friendships with its people. We are thus especially glad that the Government of India has been the first to lend its support to the application which Bhutan has made for membership of the United Nations. 19. Today Bhutan no longer avoids “intercourse with strangers”. Under a democratic Monarch and his accomplished Queen the Bhutanese have already taken several important steps forward on the world’s stage. In 1962 Bhutan joined the Colombo Plan. In 1969 the Bhutanese Government joined the Universal Postal Union. In 1969 and 1970 representatives of the Government of Bhutan, including the King’s half-brother, Prince Namgyal Wangchuk, whom many of us here had the honour of meeting, attended sessions of the General Assembly. It is always pleasing to find that someone who has attended our gatherings wishes to become even more closely associated with us. We for our part are very glad to join in recommending the admission of Bhutan to the United Nations and look forward to extending a warm welcome to its representatives when they are seated among us.

My delegation has examined with interest the specific merits of the candidacy of the State of Bhutan to become a member of our Organization. We have also taken note of the report which the Committee on the Admission of New Members approved at its meeting yesterday. My delegation feels that Bhutan fulfds the conditions set forth in the first paragraph of article 4 of the Charter, and we have therefore supported the recommendation for its admission which the Security Council will make to the General Assembly. 21. My Government is very pleased at the decision of the sovereign of Bhutan, His Majesty Sigrne Dorji Wangchuk, to ask for the admission of his country to the United Nations. In fact, that independent State has already affirmed its international personality since it already takes an active part in certain activities of the community of nations, particularly by its adherence to the Universal Postal Union and by its participation in the work of the organization charged with the implementation of the Colombo Plan. Bhutan can be proud of a long historic past and some of the 22. My Government is very gratified at the relations of confidence which exist between the Indian ‘Union and Bhutan. Thanks to the generous and substantial assistance given by the Government of New Delhi, the fivqear development plans for 1961.1966 and 1967*.1972 have adeyuate financial and human resources. My delegation expresses the hope that this harmonious co-operation will continue and will increase in th.e future, particularly by the utilization of the natural resources of the country. 23. Now that Bhutan is broadening its horizons to the entire world, new prospects of development are opened up in the specialized a.gencies of our Organization. Its Government can rest assured of the best understanding and of the effective assistance of Belgium when questions which are of particular interest to Bhutan are examined in the various organizations which are members of the United Nations family. 24. My delegation is very happy at the idea that we shall be seated next to the delegation of Bhutan in all the assemblies and organs of the IJnited Nations family. Fruitful trade relations already exist between our two countries. In the General Assembly, my delegation will attach great value to the words of wisdom and moderation inspired by Buddhjst precepts and vision of human relations. We are convinced that that country of Upper Asia will make an original contribution to the solution of the many problems with which our Organisation is confronted. 25. ,Mr. KUT,GA (Poland) [inte~pr&tioYz &vn &?encdz): With .the conclusive consideration of the request of Bhutan for admission to the United Nations, the Security Council has begun a new year of activity; a new year marked by continued tensions, by new escalations; a year, too, in which urgent measures must be taken in order to solve the conflicts on the Council’s agenda. As in the past, and in conformity with the constant policy of its Government, my delegation is ready to back any efforts in this direction, to help the Security Council discharge its fundamental task: the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security. 26. In response to your appeal yesterday, Mr. President, I shall refrain from extending the congratulations and good wishes 1 would have wished to extend to you as the President 0’ the Security Council for Ihe month of February. Neither shall I do more than mention the congratulations that my delegation wished to extend to your distinguished predecessors, Sir Colin Crowe of the United Kingdom and Comrade Ya.kov Aleksandrovich Mdik of the Soviet Uniorl . 27. Recalling the dislirrguisheil and fruitful presidency of Comrade Almbassador Malik takes me back to December, 28. As a member of the Security Council Special Mission to the Republic of Guinea established under resolution 289 (1970), I should like once again to extend to the Chairman of that Mission, Ambassador Kbatri, and to its members, Ambassador Mwaanga of Zambia, Ambassador Jakobson of Finland and Ambassador Espinosa of Colombia, my most sincere thanks for the spirit of co-operation and comradeship that they showed towards me, 29. This year their place is taken by the representatives of Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Japan and Somalia. It is. a particularly pleasant duty on behalf of the Polish delegation to welcome their representatives and to assure them of our wish to co-operate with them with a view to the attainment of the Council’s objectives, namely, the maintenance of peace and the strengthening of international security. 30. Belgium and Italy are on the same contiinent as us. Accordingly, we maintain with them traditional relations of economic, cultural and other co-operation. We participate in a widening dialogue concerning the creation and strengthening of conditions of security and co-operation in Europe, a question of the utmost importance, both on the European scale and on the world scale. Having the honour to know Ambassadors Longerstaey and Vinci personally, I venture to express the very sincere hope that I shall be able to continue our relations of friendship and co-operation in the Council. 31. The continent of Africa is represented by a new member, Somalia, a country whose fight for the cause of progress, decolonization and the elimination of apartheid is too we11 known for me to need to expatiate on it here. 32. Ambassador Farah has personified that policy for many years. His long experience, his qualities as diplomat and negotiator and his dedication to the cause he represents are sure guarantees that he will play in the Security Council the brilliant role he has played in so many other bodies of the United Nations. 33, Japan is an Asian Power with which Poland maintains growing relations particularly in the economic and cultural fields. I am happy to welcome its representative, Ambassador Tsuruoka, whose diplomatic experience I have had the opportunity to appreciate personally. 34. The continent geographically furthest from ours, Latin America, is now getting a new representative, Argentina. Geographical distance in our day is no obstacle to relations and co-operation among States. Argentina-and Latin America In general-are no exception to this rule. I therefore most cordially welcome Ambassador Carlos Ortiz de Rozas, who in his short stay in New York has already shown his eminent qualities. 36. Pending the General Assembly’s decision, it only remains for us to congratulate Bhutan and its people and to wish them every success in the political, social and economic fields. We also hope that Bhutan will occupy a worthy place in the United Nations and that it will join forces with those Members of our Organization that are working for the complete liberation of peoples from all imperialist dependence, for peace and international security, for justice and progress.

On 24 October 1970, when we adopted a Declaration on the Occasion of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations [resolution 2627 (XXV]], the General Assembly thereby expressed the hope that in the near future all peace-loving and freedom-loving countries able and willing to carry out the obligations of the Charter would become Members of the United Nations. 38. It is true that the objective of universality that we must seek is still far from being attained. But, during the last few months, that objective appears nearer. The great family of the United Nations has welcomed, with the admission of Fiji a short time ago, its 127th Member, and the Council has today pronounced itself unanimously in favour of the admission of Bhutan. 39. Thus, after the islanders of the sunny shores of the Pacific, we trust that the highlanders of the country of snow-capped mountains will, from the very next session of the General Assembly, join us in our common efforts to achieve a better and peaceful world. Coming from widely differing regions, imbued with diverse cultures and traditions, both groups thus attest to the prodigious diversity of the world. But they also attest, without any doubt, to the vitality of our Organization and to the scope of the message inscribed in the Charter. 40. My delegation had no doubt that Bhutan was ready to assume the obligations of our Charter. It is therefore without any surprise that it welcomed the conclusions of the Committee on the Admission of New Members, and we wish here to hall that Committee’s revival. Indeed, a local proverb says that “When a Bhutanese draws his sword, the entire valley trembles”. We are nevertheless convinced that Bhutan is a peaceful country. It is true that this “land of dragons” carries on its flag the image of that redoubtable beast. But wo know that that image is white, the colour of purity. Bhutan has enjoyed the sponsorship of India, a nation with which France is happy to maintain friendly and confident relations. In accordance with the Treaty of 1949 between India and Bhutan, that country agreed to be “guided by the advice of the Indian Government” concern- 42. But during the last few years the misty veils have been dissipated. Under the impulse of an enlightened monarch, Bhutan, while remaining faithful to its age-old traditions, has opened its doors to the world beyond and resolutely undertaken the road to progress. In 1960 it took six days travelling on a mule to reach the then capital, Paro, from the Indian frontier. According to the press, the same destination may now be reached in five hours by car. Jeeps, buses and trucks are rapidly replacing horses, mules and yaks as a means of transport. No doubt the lovers of the picturesque will deplore it. But none will regret that in the last few years Bhutan has made a spectacular step forward toward democracy and economic and social progress, and that since 19.52, when the present sovereign took the throne, these steps have been taken with seven-league boots. 49. In recent years the relationship between the two countries has also been friendly and cordial. In 1969 we had the honour of welcoming to my country Her Majesty Queen Kesang Wangchuk. On the occasion of Expo ‘70, we had the pleasure of receiving the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs of Bhutan, Mr. Dhenduk Phuntsho, as a special guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 50. In the field of economic and technical co-operation, the relations between the two countries were placed on a secure basis in 1962, when the Government of Japan supported Bhutan’s application for membership of the Colombo Plan for Co-operative Development. Since then, there has been an increasing number of programmes of economic and technical co-operation. In 1967 my country also supported the application of Bhutan for membership of the Universal Postal Union, and in September 1969 we welcomed the Minister of Development, Mr. Dawa Phuntsok, when he attended the sixteenth Congress of the Universal Postal Union, held in Tokyo. 43. Desirous of improving its independence, and at the same time wishing to preserve its originality, thanks to the assistance of the international community, and to speed up its evolution so boldly outlined by its sovereign, Bhutan has today obtained our support without difficulty. We have no doubt that the next General Assembly, in accordance with our recommendation, will admit Bhutan to membership of the Organization and that, in the future, the United Nations will be able effectively to assist it to achieve its legitimate aspirations. 44. For its part the United Nations can only benefit from a closer co-operation with a country that is imbued with the Bhuddist spirit of tolerance and respect for life. 51. The Kingdom of Bhutan, one of the oldest nations in Asia, has a population estimated at nearly 1 million and a territory of more than 18,000 square miles. I should like to refer to the letter of the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, reproduced in document S/10050, in which he stated that his Government “endorses the purposes and principles stated in the Charter of the United Nations and declares that it accepts the obligations incumbent upon Members of the Organization and solemnly undertakes to fulfd them .” 45. Some contend that our Organization has aged prematurely . How should it then fail to hasten to welcome a State possessing the secret of eternal youth? May its vigour be strengthened by the revivifying air from the Himalayan heights,

Before speaking on the agenda items this afternoon I should like to express the high sense of gratitude of my delegation for the kind words and thoughtful remarks which you, Mr. President, and a number of delegations addressed to us yesterday and today in the course of the meetings of the Council. 52. In the light of those and other pertinent facts, there is no doubt that the Kingdom of Bhutan, as a sovereign State, is able and willing to carry out the obligations of Member States under the Charter. 53. My delegation is very happy that the draft resolution contained in the report of the Admissions Committee has been unanimously adopted by this Council. 47. My delegation is particularly encouraged by the kind words of welcome voiced by many old members of the Council, including those which referred to the efforts that we made in 1967 when Japan was President of the Security Council.

At its meeting on 9 February the 55. The delegation of the Soviet Union supported Bhutan’s application for membership in the United Nations. mat position of the Soviet delegation reflected the basic principles of the Soviet Union’s foreign policy. 56. It is well hewn that from the first days of the Soviet socialist State, when our country was led by the great Lenin, to the present time, our country has consistently supported and continues to support the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination and a free and independent existence. 57. The great October Socialist Revolution in Russia ushered in a new historical era marked by the formation of sovereign independent States in the countries of the East-as all countries not situated on the European and American continents were, for well-known reasons, called at that time-and by their national liberation and rebirth. 58. The history of the Soviet Union’s relations with the countries of the East is a vivid example of how practical effect is given to the lofty Leninist principles of foreign policy, which ensure the defence of the national interests of both the Soviet peoples and the peoples of other countries. These principles serve the cause of universal peace and progress on earth. It is a well-known fact of history that, as early as the beginning of the twenties, the Soviet Government was the first in the world to take the initiative in raising the question of active participation in international conferences and meetings by representatives of the countries of the East-the countries of Asia and Africa-which, as a result of the imperialist policy of the colonial Powers, had been forcibly prevented from participating in international life. As a matter of principle the Soviet Union has always been and is today in favour of enlisting the active participation in world politics and international life of the peoples and countries of Asia and Africa and of the peoples of all other countries which for one reason or another are denied such an opportunity. 59. On the basis of this position of principle taken by the Soviet State, the Soviet delegation welcomes in Bhutan the emergence of yet another-the 128th, if I am not mistaken-Member of the United Nations.

My delegation draws some satisfaction and encouragement from the fact that, at the very moment that Italy took a seat at this table for the second time since it joined the United Nations, the Security Council was convened to consider the application for admission to our Organization of its 128th Member, the Kingdom of Bhutan, an emerging country which, after hating taken the gradual steps indicated by the representatives of India, the United Kingdom and Japan, is completing the Process of strengthening its international relations by joining the world community of nations, 61. The unanimous decision the Security Council has taken today is significant not only for Bhutan but for the 62. Bhutan is a relatively small country of 18,000 stluarc miles, but with a population of nearly 1 million proud inhabitants who have strongly asserted their independence throughout the centuries-a country respectful of its ancient religious, cultural and national heritage and solidly attached to a tradition of internal stability, and at the Sdlne time responsive to man’s everlasting search for political, social and cultural advancement and economic progress, aS testified by the development of democratic institutions, the implementation of far-reaching reforms, and the achievement of two five-year plans for socio-economic developmerit . 63. Lofty mountains of majestic beauty s~rro~md Druk Yul, but since it is land-locked its people have never been spurred to turn down peaceful contacts with the external world. 1 should like to recall that the Western world owes the first testimony on the “land of dragons” to two priests who were sent to Bhutan by their superiors of the Jesuit order, the same religious order which in the early seventeenth century, for the sake of studying the Bhudclist and other oriental civilizations, established, in my home town, Naples, an institution whose main aim was to assist visitors from the Far East in their approach to the Western, Christian world. The legend says that Bhutan was also called “the country of hidden treasures”, since Guru Kampoche had buried there invaluable spiritual and cultural treasures to preserve them for future generatjons. We think that world civilization can only gain from the riches of Bhutan’s culture and tradition. 64. A few months ago I had the pleasure of telling the Minister for Communication of Bhutan, Mr. Stengdr, that my Government was looking forward to welcoming his Country to this Organization. I am deeply pleased that my country was able to confirm that in a tangible form by associating itself with the first step towards full membership of Bhutan in the United Nations. 65. Since I have the floor, allow me to thank the representative of Poland for the kind words he has addressed to my country and to me personally, and to assure Mr. Kulaga, on behalf of my delegation, that we 67. We also extend congratulations to your immediate predecessor, Sir Colin Crowe, for the impressive wisdom with which he presided over negotiations, the effectiveness of which was proved by not calling for a meeting of the Council. We wish also to thank him for the information he has made available to the members of the Council, which has kept us up-to-date regarding conversations among the four great Powers on the Middle East. 73. The entry of Belgium and Italy in the Council is also extremely important to this body. These two members are also members of the Common Market, created after the Treaty of Rome; they now join another Power, France, whose role in the Common Market, a regional organization, as well as on the international level is, we all know, a major one. All this augurs well for the contribution that these three founding members of the European Economic Community can make to the strengthening of international peace and security. 68. Before the representative of the United Kingdom assumed the presidency we worked under the outstanding guidance of Mr. Malik, who seemed to have been destined to preside over the Security Council when Africa was confronted by most disagreeable events, Within the framework of the decolonization of our continent none can doubt the helpful role played by the representative of the Soviet Union. 74. Surely we have the right to believe, unlike Caesar, who, in his De hello Gallico, speaking of his warlike exploits in Gaul, stressed that the Belgians were the most valiant of the Gauls, that this disparity has disappeared and that the three Latin-if I may so refer to them-members of the Council, Italy, France and Belgium, will prove it by co-operating successfully on the international chessboard in restoring, not to say creating, economic, military and political peace. 69. My delegation owes a debt of gratitude to the outgoing members-Colombia, Finland, Nepal, Spain and Zambia-for their extremely effective co-operation. Their contributions to peace during their tenure were most valuable. t / 75. It is a pleasure for me now likewise to express to the representatives of Argentina and Japan the admiration that the delegation of Burundi feels towards those countries for the international role that they have increasingly played in their respective regions as well as in the United Nations. 70. I cannot disguise my happiness nor refrain from expressing, on behalf of the Burundi delegation, a warm welcome to the new members of the Council. I particularly wish to congratulate Mr. Longerstaey, the representative of Belgium, a country whose friendship and co-operation go back more than fifty years. That friendship and that co-operation are based on solid foundations, as was so well demonstrated by the visit of His Majesty King Baudouin, King of the Belgians, to Burundi a few months ago. The welcome that President Micombero and the Burundian people gave His Majesty sufficed to confirm for the Belgian Head of State the indestructible friendship that exists between our two countries and thus established for all time close feelings of mutual understanding and co-operation between our nations. 76. Finally, the delegation of the Republic of Burundi would wish to express itself on the matter before us, namely, the admission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations, an admission which fills us with joy. By doing this, the delegation of Burundi remains true to the idea that it laid down for itself on the universality of our institution. It subscribes then, by this act, to the desire of the people of Bhutan to increase the United Nations family. 77. Along the same order of ideas, my delegation believes that the peace of the world cannot be achieved until all nations, great and small, have joined the United Nations, and in this connexion we could not silence our welldeserved congratulations to the new Member of the United Nations, namely, the Kingdom of Bhutan. We would also presume that this new Member is aware of the fact that joining the United Nations is not all-but that it wili have an important role to play in the international arena, the role which all nations, great and small, are called upon to play in order to round out the roles already played and the 71. That gave us an opportunity to observe that relations between the former metropolitan country and the former colonies should be placed in the historical context. Surely that should serve as a lesson to some Powers that have not yet leanred that they must abandon colonial domination, for once that domination has been ended there will be normal relations between the expupil and the ex-tutor and theirs will be a partnership closer than others can enjoy. We therefore appeal to those Powers that have not yet understood the effectiveness and mutual benefits of the decolonization of peoples. 3 Ad hoc Sub-Committee estaldished in pursuance of Security Council resolution 276 (1970). 79: Since I did not have the opportunity to speak yesterday, I believe that I can count on your indulgence, Mr. President, to excuse me for the relative length of my statement.

I thank the representative of Burundi for his kind remarks addressed to me and particularly his congratulations addressed to our astronauts.

Mr: President, at the last meeting, in deference to your wise injunctions, I found myself somewhat conspicuous in my omission of congratulatory remarks. I hope you will not now take it as mere formality when I say that your many and intialuable contributions to the functioning of the Council and its peace efforts, including your parting advice of yesterday, will long be remembered in the annals of the United Nations. 82. I feel that a word of tribute is likewise due to the outgoing President, Sir Colin Crowe, who like yourself has had a distinguished record of service in this Council. Permit me also to take this opportunity of associating myself with the expressions of appreciation which you have extended to our former colleagues as well as to the new members of the Council, 83. The Council has just voted unanimously for the admission of another new Member and my delegation was happy to have joined it in the vote, I do not wish to strike any discordant note or touch upon any issue that is extraneous to this occasion. 84. As we know, Bhutan has had a long history of independent existence, although in external relations it has agreed by treaty to be guided by the Government of India. As a Member of the United Nations it is expected that Bhutan will play a full and increasingly active role in the community of nations. It is gratifying to note that the King of Bhutan in his letter to the Secretary-General dated 10 December 1970 /S/100.50] laid emphasis on the value of the United Nations to the develrjping countries, Economically, we understand, Bhutan is largely self-sustaining, with most of its population engaged in a combination of small-scale farming and animal husbandry. It is hoped that after its admission the United Nations will be able to render such assistance as may be needed to further Bhutan’s economic development. On behalf of my delegation I take this opportunity of extending to the Kingdom of Bhutan our best wishes for a prosperous and successful future,

I thank the representative of China for his generous remarks. 87. At this moment I also wish to express our satisfaction at the reactivation of the Security Council Committee on the Admission of New Members, thus complying with the terms of rule 59 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Council. In the past the Security Council has not followed a uniform practice in the matter and some positions adopted were at times even contradictory. Personally, we consider that the terms of the provisional rules of procedure should be complied with at alI times and not reIegated to oblivion. We are therefore gratified that the Security Council has this time agreed to put this provision into practice. 88. In conclusion, may I express my deepest appreciation for the generous, cordial and most encouraging words of welcome addressed to us by the delegations sitting around the table on our joining the Security Council. In the active defence of the principles of the Charter we trust that our conduct will live up to the confidence that has been placed in us.

My Government welcomes the application of the Kingdom of Bhutan to join the United Nations. The application is distinguished by the fact that it comes from a country whose people have enjoyed centuries of continuous national independence and have in the process successfully shaped their affairs so that they have been able to devel’op close and friendly relations with their neighbours, as is evidenced by the traditional ties that bind Bhutan and India. 90. My Government believes that all States, large or small, can make important contributions to the solution of the political, social and economic problems that are of worldwide concern. My Government has also found by experience that in this interdependent world it is becoming increasingly difficult for any State to solve its own problems in isolation from the international community. Therefore we believe that Bhutan’s membership of the United Nations would be of mutual benefit to that State and to our Organization. 91. For these reasons it was both a pleasure and a privilege for the Somali Democratic Republic to have been able to participate today in the unanimous decision of the Security Council to recommend to the General Assembly that Bhutan should be admitted to membership of the United Nations.

Mr. President, permit me to offer the compliments of my delegation to your 8. 94. We wish also to take advantage of this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the delegations that left the Council in December. The five outgoing delegations of Zambia, Nepal, Finland, Spain and Colombia contributed much dynamism and keen interest in the various areas of the Council’s work. From our year in the Council with them we can attest to their understanding and cooperative disposition as well as to the dignity and high level of debate which they helped foster. 103. The delegation of Pakistan looks forward to the occasion when it can work together with the delegation of Bhutan in the endeavour towards peace which joins all the members of the United Nations family. We are happy that the United Nations will provide Bhutan with the means of broadening its contacts, obtaining assistance for its economic development and ending its isolation. We shall welcome the delegation of Bhutan in the General Assembly, but here in the Security Council we extend to His Majesty the King of Bhutan and to his Government and people our felicitations on their entry into the mainstream of international life, 95. My Government is very happy to see the Kingdom of 3hutan admitted to membership of the United Nations. My delegation, deeply entrenched in its belief in universality, has always stressed the significance this concept has for international peace and security, for the continued vitality of this world Organization and therefore for mankind.

My Government is very pleased at the decision to admit Bhutan to our great international Organization, particularly since we note that in Bhutan’s application for admission it accepts the obligations of the Charter. We therefore wish it well and welcome it in joining our continuous struggle to ensure peace and security in the world. 96. A small, peace-loving country opening its frontiers to the outside world and stretching out its hands for acceptance by all and admission to the family of nations should, in our opinion, be received with warmth and enthusiasm. 97. These are some of the reasons why we have voted here this afternoon in favour of admitting a fellow developing n&Ion that wants to become the 128th Member of our world body, We look forward eagerly to the day when the Kingdom of Bhutan will be seated in the various organs of the United Nations. 105. Mr. President, with regard to your presidency, there is very little we can add about your work in the United Nations and in the Security Council, since it is far too well known and highly respected by all to need our comments.

I thank the representative of Sierra Leone for his congratulations to our astronauts. 106. We respectfully welcome the new members and we wish to assure all members of the Council that they can count on the sincere and ful1 co-operation of Latin America. We now have with us one of the most brilliant and capable internationalists in the person of the new representative of Argentina, our esteemed colleague, Mr. Ortfz de Rozas. 99. I now call on the representative of Pakistan,

Mr. President, the Pakistan delegation is grateful to you and to the other members of the Council for permitting it to make a statement on this happy occasion when the Council has unanimously recommended to the General Assembly the admission of Bhutan to membership in the United Nations.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank the representatives of the Soviet Union, Syria, Poland, Burundi and Sierra Leone for the generous remarks they made regarding my Government and my delegation during the course of their interventions in the Council yesterday and today. 101. The fact that the independence of Bhutan, cherished and sustained by its people through many struggles over the centuries, should now find an authentic international expression brings happiness to Pakistan for two reasons. The first, of course, is rooted in our sentiments of friendship and goodwill towards the people of Bhutan. These are the natural products of our geographical proximity and our shared experience of a common past. The second reason is that Bhutan’s admission to the United log. The PRESIDENT: As no other member wishes to address the Council I shall make a brief statement in my capacity as the representative of the UNITED STATES. log. It was with distinct pleasure that I concurred in the recommendation of the Security Council’s Committee on 110. The United Nations has drawn strength from the diversity of its membership. Significant contributions to its fundamental objectives of peace, justice and progress have been made by Members which are as different in size, wealth and experience as members of the international community as they are distinct in their geographical location, form of political organization and cultural and historical traditions. 111. Although Bhutan is a relatively small country, it has long prided itself on its cultural traditions and its strong sense of national identity. In recent years not less than three different United States ambassadors have visited Bhutan. They have all been impressed by the beauty of the country and by the determination which it is demonstrating in its efforts to achieve economic development while simultaneously preserving Bhutan’s rich traditions and ancient culture, Litho in United Nations, New York Price: $U.S. 0.50 (or equivalent in other currencies) 820054uly 1973-2,050 113. As PRESIDENT of the Security Council and in accordance with rule 60 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I shall immediately request the Secretary- General to transmit to the General Assembly the text of the resolution we have just adopted, together with the verbatim records of the meetings at which it was discussed. 114. On that auspicious note, and there being no other business before the Council, I now declare this second meeting on our first agenda item for the year 1971 adjourned. The meeting rose at 4.55 pm.