S/PV.4103 Security Council

Under the item on its agenda, the Security Council will now begin its consideration of the report of the Committee on the Admission of New Members concerning the application of Tuvalu for admission to membership in the United Nations, which appears in document S/2000/70. In paragraph 3 of the report, the Committee recommends to the Council that it should have recourse to the provision of the last paragraph of rule 60 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure in order to present its recommendation to the General Assembly at its fifty- fourth session. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Council wishes to waive the time limits set forth in the penultimate paragraph of rule 60. There being no objection, it is so decided. In paragraph 4 of the report, the Committee recommends to the Security Council the adoption of a draft resolution on the application of Tuvalu for admission to membership in the United Nations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution contained in paragraph 4 of the report of the Committee on the Admission of New Members (S/2000/70). Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. I shall first give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

The Chinese delegation attaches great importance to Tuvalu’s desire to join the United Nations and has seriously considered its application. The Chinese delegation believes that, as a State Member of the United Nations, a country In considering the question of Tuvalu’s joining the United Nations, we believe that the most important thing is the upholding of the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and the implementation of General Assembly resolution 2758 (XXVI). Proceeding from this principled position, the Chinese delegation cannot support the Security Council’s recommendation to the General Assembly that Tuvalu should be accepted as a new Member State. At the same time, bearing in mind the long-term interests of the peoples of China and Tuvalu, and also taking into consideration the requests of various parties, including the countries of the South Pacific, we will not block this recommendation. It is our hope that, after joining the United Nations, Tuvalu will strictly abide by the Charter of the United Nations and implement General Assembly resolution 2758 (XXVI).

I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in paragraph 4 of the report of the Committee on the Admission of New Members (S/2000/70).

The result of the voting is as follows: 14 votes in favour, none against and one abstention. I shall immediately convey the decision of the Security Council recommending the admission of Tuvalu to membership in the United Nations to the Secretary-General for transmittal to the General Assembly, in accordance with rule 60 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. I shall now make a statement, in my capacity as President of the Security Council, on behalf of the members of the Council. “The Security Council has decided to recommend to the General Assembly that Tuvalu be admitted as a Member of the United Nations. On behalf of the members of the Council, I wish to extend my congratulations to Tuvalu on this historic occasion. “We look forward to the day in the near future when Tuvalu will join us as a Member of the United Nations and to working closely with its representatives.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2000/6. The Council has thus concluded its consideration of the matter before it.