Security Council

5471^st Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL REFERS MONTENEGRO’S MEMBERSHIP BID TO ADMISSION COMMITTEE

The Security Council today referred to its Committee on the Admission of New Members the application of the Republic of Montenegro -- the first step for the newly independent Balkan country to join the United Nations -– and set a time later in the day to review the bid.

If Montenegro’s application is approved by the 15-nation Council and the 191-nation General Assembly, it will become the world body’s 192^nd member.  The Council’s Membership Committee will meet today at 3 p.m. to weigh the application.

President Filip Vujanović sent his country’s request for membership in a 5 June letter (document A/60/890/-S/2006/e409) to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who referred it to the President of the Security Council and the President of the General Assembly.

A tiny country of some 650,000 people, Montenegro voted in a May referendum to end its 88-year confederation with Serbia.  The Council is expected to announce its decision in a formal meeting tomorrow.

The meeting began at 10:09 a.m. and ended at 10:11 a.m.

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For information media • not an official record