SECURITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS ADMISSION OF SWITZERLAND AS MEMBER OF UNITED NATIONS

Security Council

4584^th and 4585^th Meetings (AM & PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS ADMISSION OF SWITZERLAND

AS MEMBER OF UNITED NATIONS

Acting on the advice of the Committee on the Admission of New Members, the Security Council this morning recommended to the General Assembly that Switzerland be admitted as a Member of the United Nations.  The Council took that action, adopting, without a vote, resolution 1426 (2002) during the second of two meetings on that issue today. 

As a neutral State, Switzerland has been an Observer with the United Nations since 1948.  It also hosts a large number of international agencies and organizations, as well as the United Nations Office at Geneva.  By a vote on

3 March, the people and the cantons of Switzerland authorized the country’s Federal Council to apply for membership.  In the country’s application (document S/2002/801), the President and Chancellor of the Swiss Confederation note that the United Nations recognizes that a Member State’s neutrality does not affect its fulfilment of obligations under the Charter and contributes to the achievement of the purposes of the international organization.  As a United Nations Member State, Switzerland will remain neutral.

In a presidential statement on behalf of the members of the Council, its President, Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom), noted with satisfaction the Swiss Confederation’s solemn commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and to fulfil all the obligations contained therein.  Member States of the United Nations looked forward to the near future when Switzerland would join them, also looking forward to working closely with its representatives.

The decision of the Council will be conveyed to the Secretary-General for transmittal to the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly.

The first meeting of the Council started at 10:42 a.m. and was adjourned at 10:43 a.m.  The second meeting lasted from 1 p.m. to 1:04 p.m.

Resolution

Security Council resolution 1426 (2002) reads, as follows:

"The Security Council,

      "Having examined the application of the Swiss Confederation for admission to membership in the United Nations,

"Recommends to the General Assembly that the Swiss Confederation be admitted to membership in the United Nations."

Text of Presidential Statement

Presidential statement S/PRST/2002/23 reads, as follows:

"The Security Council has decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the Swiss Confederation be admitted as a Member of the United Nations.  On behalf of the members of the Council, I wish to extend my congratulations to the Swiss Confederation on this historic occasion.

"The Council notes with great satisfaction the Swiss Confederation’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 Swiss Confederation will join us as a Member of the United Nations and to working closely with its representatives."

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