Mr. President,

I have the high honor to address this fifty-fifth session of this General Assembly and to make this statement on behalf of the following South Pacific countries who are members of this August body: Australia; my own country the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Fiji Islands; Kiribati; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Nauru; New Zealand; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands; Samoa; Tonga and Vanuatu.

Let me, at the very outset, offer the warm congratulations of the South Pacific Group (SOPAC) to Your Excellency on your election to guide this 5 5th session of this August body at this historic opening of a new millennium, With your leadership and wide-ranging experience, Mr. President, we are confident that this session of this Assembly will deal effectively with the many important and monumental tasks facing this Assembly. I assure you of the full support and best wishes of the SOPAC group as you carry out the task of your high office.

Mr. President,

Let me also extend our most profound appreciation to outgoing President, H.E. Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, whose dedicated efforts have guided the 54th session of this Assembly to a successful conclusion His untiring efforts have smoothly paved the way for this Millennium Assembly, and prepared us for the Millennium Summit.

Mr. President,

We welcome the adoption by this Assembly of the resolution admitting another member to our ranks. This resolution is of particular significance to the SOPAC group as this new member of the United Nations family, the small island state of Tuvalu, is truly one of our own and sister island member of our Pacific Forum to which the SOPAC belongs. While we extend our best wishes and congratulations to the Government and people of Tuvalu and celebrate with them on this momentous occasion in their history, the SOPAC group would like to state its sincere appreciation to the United Nations Security Council for its wise decision to recommend admission of Tuvalu to membership in this August body. Our heart felt appreciations are also in order to the many members of this organization who have also joined in co-sponsoring and supporting the resolution on Tuvalu’s admission to the United Nations.

Mr. President,

This is the second time in a row that a new member of this Organization comes from the ranks of small island developing states. Last year, this Assembly admitted the three Pacific small island developing states of Kiribati; Nauru, and Tonga. And today, Tuvalu, another small island country from the Pacific. While today’s admission of another small island country is symbolic and further strengthens the universality of the United Nations, its significance is not totally lost on many of us who share the same vulnerabilities and problems that island countries like Tuvalu faces. Our smallness and isolation have not insulated us from the impacts of decisions made elsewhere. We have decided, although with great Sacrifices of scarce resources to join this organization, that we must participate with the rest of the world and contribute constructively in little ways we could in the work of this body. We come to the United Nations with high aspirations and confidence that our participation as members of this body will further advance the cause of sustainable development for small island developing states. With renewed dedication and commitments by members of this United Nations, the past efforts of this body will not have been lost in this new millennium.

Mr. President,

In closing, I wish once again to refer to our joy and humility at being permitted to speak on this occasion as we welcome Tuvalu to membership in this organization.

Thank you.