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Federated States of Micronesia and the United Nations

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Federated States of Micronesia
United Nations membership
MembershipFull member
Since1991 (1991)
UNSC seatNon-permanent (never elected)
AmbassadorJane J. Chigiyal

The Federated States of Micronesia joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991, five years after obtaining their independence from the United States of America.[1][2] Since December 2011, their 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] In December 2017, Micronesia was one of just nine countries (including the United States and Israel) to vote against a motion adopted by the United Nations General Assembly condemning the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The United States government had threatened to cut aid to states voting in favour of the motion.[10]

Micronesia's priority within the United Nations is to highlight issues relating to climate change, and its impact on small island states.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Insular Area Summary for the Federated States of Micronesia" Archived 2010-01-20 at the Wayback Machine, 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. December 2, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  4. ^ "Micronesia" Archived 2011-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, 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" Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, CNS News, October 14, 2008
  8. ^ "UN condemns Cuba embargo for 24th consecutive year", The Guardian, October 27, 2015
  9. ^ "Countries that Supported Israel On UN General Assembly Votes", Jewish Virtual Library
  10. ^ "Jerusalem: UN resolution rejects Trump's declaration", BBC News, 21 December 2017
  11. ^ Address by President Emanuel Mori to the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 25, 2009
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