SC/8759
22 June 2006
Security Council Refers Montenegro's Membership Bid to Admission Committee
NEW YORK, 21 June (UN Headquarters) -- 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 192nd 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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