Switzerland Geared Up for U.N. Membership

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 23, 2002

Switzerland Geared Up for U.N. Membership

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The Swiss government has been holding meetings to make preparations for the country's entry into the United Nations in the coming fall after the electorate voted in March for membership in the institution.

Swiss Radio International (SRI) reported on Thursday that the government had met in canton Thurgau in the past couple of days for closed-door talks to discuss areas of priority in the run-up to September 10, when Switzerland will submit its application for U.N. membership. It will then be up to the Security Council to grant final approval to the country's admission.

Preparations by the Swiss Foreign Ministry have gathered momentum since the results of the March vote were officially validated on May 14, with further talks due to be held next week.

Switzerland is not the only nation applying for U.N. membership this year, the SRI reported. East Timor, which became independent only last week, is likely to become the 190th U.N. member, ahead of Switzerland, analysts said.

"The people of East Timor are in a hurry and they want endorsement from the international community that they are now truly independent," said Erwin Hofer, a Swiss Foreign Ministry official.

Hofer added that East Timor's membership would be a welcome sign of the U.N. willingness to expand further.

To deal with Switzerland's entry, eight diplomatic posts have been created, which are said to be key to the country's getting a greater say in decision-making within the U.N. humanitarian and social affairs committees.

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