The Security Council this afternoon recommended to the General Assembly that the Republic of Kiribati be admitted to membership of the United Nations. That admission would bring to 186 the Organization's total membership.
Adopting, without a vote, resolution 1248 (1999), the Council acted upon the recommendation of the Committee on Admission of New Members, to which the application of the Republic of Kiribati had been referred for examination. The final decision on the granting of United Nations membership rests with the General Assembly.
After the action, the Council President, Baboucarr-Blaise Ismaila Jagne (Gambia), read out the following statement on behalf of the Council:
"The Security Council has decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the Republic of Kiribati be admitted as a Member of the United Nations. On behalf of the members of the Security Council, I wish to extend my congratulations to the Republic of Kiribati on this historic occasion.
"The Council notes with great satisfaction the Republic of Kiribati's solemn commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to fulfil all the obligations contained therein. We look forward to the day in the near future when the Republic of Kiribati will join us as a Member of the United Nations and to working closely with its representatives."
The meeting was called to order at 4:24 p.m. and adjourned at 4:28 p.m.
Resolution
The text of resolution 1248 (1999), which is contained in the report of the Committee on Admission of New Members on the application of the Republic of Kiribati for admission to United Nations membership (document S/1999/715), reads as follows:
Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6692 4016th Meeting (PM) 25 June 1999
"The Security Council,
"Having examined the application of the Republic of Kiribati for admission to the United Nations (S/1999/477),
"Recommends to the General Assembly that the Republic of Kiribati be admitted to membership in the United Nations."
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