Federated States of Micronesia and the United Nations

Federated States of Micronesia
United Nations membership
Membership Full member
Since 1991 (1991)
UNSC seat Non-permanent (never elected)
Ambassador Jane J. Chigiyal

The Federated States of Micronesia joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991, five years after obtaining its independence from the United States of America.[1][2] Since December 2011, its ambassador to the United Nations has been Jane J. Chigiyal.[3] Although de jure sovereign, the F.S. Micronesia is bound by a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which provides it with "substantial financial support".[4]

Micronesia's voting pattern is uncommon, in that it systematically refrains from voting in favour of resolutions opposed by the United States, or against resolutions supported by the United States. Thus, the Heritage Foundation noted that, in 1997, Micronesia was the only country to have never voted against a resolution supported by the United States.[5] That same year, the Jewish Virtual Library, citing U.S. Department of State figures, noted that Micronesia was the only country in the world to have matched the United States' voting pattern 100% of the time.[6] That record was still 100% in 2000, but had dropped to 82% in 2003, and 65% in 2007, making Micronesia the 5th most supportive country towards the U.S. (behind Israel, Palau, the Marshall Islands and Kiribati). In 2008, Micronesia's votes on thirteen key issues identified as important to the United States by the State Department (including "resolutions relating to Cuba, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea, Iran, Belarus, Burma and the Human Rights Council") matched the United States' position 90.9% of the time; only Israel and the Marshall Islands' rates were higher (100%).[7] In 2015, however, Micronesia voted to condemn the US embargo over Cuba. The motion at the United Nations was supported by 191 member states, with two votes against (the United States and Israel) and no country abstaining.[8]

Micronesia has also systematically supported Israel through its votes in the United Nations.[9]

Micronesia's priority within the United Nations is to highlight issues relating to climate change, and its impact on small island states.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Insular Area Summary for the Federated States of Micronesia", U.S. government, Office of Insular Affairs
  2. ↑ "Micronesia, Federated States of", UN data
  3. ↑ "New Permanent Representative of Federated States of Micronesia Presents Credentials". Press Release. United Nations. 2011-12-02. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  4. ↑ "Micronesia", AusAID
  5. ↑ Statistics provided by the Heritage Foundation
  6. ↑ "Top Ten Countries that Vote with the United States at the UN (1997)", Jewish Virtual Library
  7. ↑ "Iran’s Security Council Bid Nears a Vote", CNS News, October 14, 2008
  8. ↑ "UN condemns Cuba embargo for 24th consecutive year", The Guardian, 27 October 2015
  9. ↑ "Countries that Supported Israel On UN General Assembly Votes", Jewish Virtual Library
  10. ↑ Address by President Emanuel Mori to the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 25, 2009

External links

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