, ~ ~, I 4' I "',- .; ..; If " I United Nations 100th GENERAL PLENARY MEmNO ASSEMBLY Wednesday, 15 December 1976, G S THIRTY·FIRST SESSION at 3.35 p.m. in Official Records • NEW YORK CONTENTS association between my country and Samoa. 1 This I need Page not recapitulate. New Zealand takes pride in the fact that, Agenda item 26: after the United Nations had set new goals for the N Admission of new Members to the United Nations (con- self-determination of peoples which were then under cluded) ...........•...•...•.•••...•..•.• 1491 Trusteeship or colonial administration, Samoa was the first Agenda item 54: South Pacific nation to achieve independence, and that it SI Comprehensive review of the whole question of peace­ did so through a peaceful and democratic process that was hI keeping operations In all their aspects: report of the supervised and approved by the United Nations at every Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations Report of the Specinl Political Committee .•........ 1498 step. 6. Samoa is not newly independent. It became an indepen­ President: Mr. Hamilton Shirley AMERASINGHE dent State on I January 1962, and since then it has been (Sri Lanka). 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 AGENDA ITEM 26 process of the development of Samoa's international relations, but that process of development will nevertheless Admission of new Members to the United Nations continue. Samoa is already well versed in the exercise ofits (collc/llded) * political independence, but, as a small and remote island State with limited resources, it may legitimately look to the 1. The PRESIDENT: The recommendation of the Security United Nations for continued help in strengthening and Council regarding the admission of the Independent State making more secure its economic independence. of Western Samoa to membership in the United Nations is se contained in document A/31/369. 7. Samoa is situated in a vast ocean region, the South Pacific. It is the fifth member of the South Pacific Forum, 1. 2. I call on the representative of New Zealand, who wishes an association of independent and self-governing countries S to introduce draft resolution A/3 I/L,32 and Add. I. in the regior., to join the United Nations. For us, this is an o event of no little significance. The South Pacific island e) 3. Mr. TEMPLETON (New Zealand): It is an honour and a countries have in common special problems arising from w pleasure to introduce, on behalf of a large number of their small size, their maritime environment, their limited a sponsors, draft resolution A/31/L,32 and Add.1 by which resources and, above all, their geographic isolation. The a the Assembly is asked to admit the Independent State of negotiations on the law of the sea, in particular, have served Western Samoa as the one hundred and forty-seventh to heighten a sense of common purpose among these Member of the United Nations. I am confident that it will countries. One may expect to hear their voices more often do so unanimously. in these halls. A significant number of South Pacific island peoples are still in a transitional stage of their constitutional 4. Samoa, as it wishes simply to be known in ordinary development, and before long a number of them will help United Nations usagf), is an island State in the South Pacific to swell still further the membership of this Organization. which is already a mcmbl~r of the South Pacific Forum, of My Government, for its part, looks forward with keen the Commonwealth and of a number of the United Nations anticipation to the strengthening of the South Pacific voice agencies. It is appropriate that its application should be in this Assembly, to which the membership of Samoa and sponsored by those of its partners in the South Pacific other South Pacific countries will undoubtedly contribute. Forum which are Members of the United Nations, by a large number of Commonwealth countries, by the member 8. In conclusion, may I extend from my delegation the States of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and warmest of welcomes to the Deputy Head of State of other Asian States bordering on the Pacific and by still Samoa, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV, and his accompanying other countries with which Samoa has established friendly delegation, and convey through him to the Head of State, relations. the Prime Minister, the Government and the pwple of Samoa, our congratulations on this important moment in 5. I have already had the privilege of speaking in support their history. of Samoa's membership application in the Security Council, 9. I commend the draft resolution to the Assembly. p and in doing so I gave some account of the long and close c I Sec Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-first Year, * Resumed from the 84th meeting. 1977th meeting. vc 1491 Ai. '/PV.IOO . >.... • !!!I!!!-.Q~;;;:e=!'!!;:z;g~-_!!!!!'JC!!·!!!'L~-*!!'!.I!III~\al;;;:i:!!.-'!!!~!!!iI~--,- -----------------------..:..-----------II&-II!!!!!•• ,- '\ - !\l_ ."- 1~92 GtIlenl Allembly - ThIrty·ftnt SeIIIon - PlCIIIUY Meetinp 10. The PRESIDENT: The Assembly has before it draft 19. We did not join the United Nations in 1962, when the problems well resolution A/31/L.32 and Add.l, recommending the admis· world acknowledged that we were indepehderlt. We stood make the wor sion of the Independent State of Western Samoa to back and waited. We were busy.at home putting our house membership in the United Nations. May I take it that the back in order, rearranging some of the furniture, putting 28. With the General Assembly approves the recommendation of the some of the old familiar things back where they belonged. bond. We are Security Council and adopts the draft resolution unan· That gave us breathing space, time to stand back and take are not enviab imously? stock ofthe world. with the supp be Insurmount Tile draft resollltion was adopted (resoMion 31/104). 20. The Pacific islands no doubt all look alike from the capitals of Europe and North America. To those of us who 29. To all 11. The PRESIDENT: I decla~ the Independent State of live there they are not. Some of the things which are most friendship. Western Samoa admitted to membership in the United precious to us are the thinss which make us different from Nations. our nearest neighbours. A Pa.:ific island is a fragile thing. 30. In 1962, We had been touched by an alien world. That touch had United Natio Tile delegation of tile Independent State of Western left its mark. We needed time to recover, to look at the with keeping Samoa was escorted to its place in tile General Assembly world, to decide for ourselves how close to it we could United Natio lIal1. afford to come and still retain our way of life and the Africa. It wa things that are important to us. concerned us. 12. The PRESIDENT: On behalf of the General Assembly, survival of m it is both an honour and a pleasure to welcome the 21. Now we believe we know where we are going. The should be. In fllpresentatives of the Independent State ofWestern Samoa pace of international events is such that the Pacific will not spiritual, is to the United Nations and to extend to them my sincere remain a quiet backwater much longer. Many countries, planet can fee congratulations on their country's election to membership including the old colonial Powers, have rediscovered a allow them in the Organization. I am confident that their presence here forgotten interest in the region. There is already evidence of matters. will b:~ of mutual benefit to them and to the United gwat-Power interest-even rivalry. The influences of the Nation~. cash economy have had their inevitable effect. The expecta­ 31. I make n tions of our people have changed with education and this Organiza 13. I take this opportunity to state that the new Member contact with the world. We ourselves feel better able to the Samoan has expressed the desire to be known as Samoa. move and speak with confidence in the international we are able' community of nations. people will b 14. I now invite the member of the Council of Deputies of position on d the Independent State of Western Samoa, His Excellency 22. We know that in today's world we need friends. Our only as they Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV, to address the General As· old friends have stood by us over the years. We acknow­ countries and sembly. ledge their help, and patience, with gratitude. In tomor­ row's world we will need new friends. We understand well 32. The com 15. Tupua TAMASESE LEALOFI IV (Samoa):2 Western the concept of the interdependent world. We know that stop. The dec' Samoa was recognized as an independent State by this just over the horizon there are challenges which we will not the last centu Organization 15 years ago. On 1 January 1962 under the be able to meet alone. possessions a eyes of the Trusteeship Council the Trusteeship Agreement with New Zealand was ended. Before coming under the 23. For those reasons we have joined the United Nations. 33. The proc administration of New Zealand, we had been administered out in Africa. 24. We know that our country is small and will not greatly as a colony by European nations. debatable. Th change the course ofhistory. Yet we wish to speak with our the Pacific.