Security Council recommends East Timor for admission to UN

The United Nations Security Council today recommended to the UN General Assembly that the Democratic Republic of East Timor be admitted to the world body later this year.

The Council took the action without a vote at a formal meeting this afternoon after its Committee on the Admission of New Members had examined the application of East Timor and recommended membership to the UN for the new nation.

Afterwards, Foreign Minister Shunmugam Jayakumar of Singapore, the current chair of the 15-member body, read out a presidential statement extending the Council's congratulations to East Timor on the historic occasion.

"The Council notes with great satisfaction the Democratic Republic of East Timor's solemn commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to fulfil all the obligations contained therein," the statement said. "We look forward to the day in the near future when the Democratic Republic of East Timor will join us as a member of the United Nations and to working closely with its representatives."