New York, US - The UN General Assembly Thursday admitted the Republic of South Sudan, which became an independent nation on 9 July, as the 193rd member of the world body. The Pan African News Agency (PANA) reported that 192 member states of the assembly voted unanimously to support the resolution moved by the African group at the UN. Speaking at the ceremony, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: 'At this moment and in this place, the world gathers to say in one voice: Welcome, South Sudan. Welcome to the community of nations.' Ban, who was among the UN dignitaries that attended the independence ceremony in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, last Saturday, pledged the world body’s assistance as the country shapes its future.

'The commitment of all member states will be essential as South Sudan moves forward,” he stated, adding: 'together, let us say to the citizens of our newest member state: You now sit with us. We stand with you.'

Earlier, the UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss said Thursday marked a 'historic' moment for Africa and for the world community.

'Today, we are firmly entrenching South Sudan in the community of nations in the same way as other member states with the same rights and responsibilities.

'The universality of the United Nations and the values that are enshrined in its Charter are thereby enhanced,” he stated.

Deiss also said: 'I am confident that South Sudan will contribute to promote the objectives of security, peace, prosperity, friendship and cooperation between peoples as they are promoted by the United Nations and this for the good of the people of South Sudan, for the good of the region and for the entire African continent.'

Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Vice President of South Sudan, who spoke at the General Assembly, thanked all the members of the UN for supporting and voting South Sudan as a new member of the organisation.

'As a new member of the United Nations, the Republic of South Sudan undertakes to respect all of its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations.

'I pledge to you today that the Republic of South Sudan will be a responsible member of the international community and will respect all of its obligations under international law,' Teny-Dhurgon noted.

He also said that South Sudan would work to accede 'as quickly as possible to all relevant international conventions and treaties, more especially those related to human rights.'

He, however, called on the international community to assist the new country to tackle its challenges of nation-building, as well as to enable it to develop and prosper.

Teny-Dhurgon also urged other troubled countries in Africa, including Somalia, Ethipoia and Eritrea to resolve their lingering differences, in order for peace and stabililty to reign.

PANA reported that the event was followed by a flag-raising ceremony of the Republic of South Sudan at the front of the UN headquarters premises.

The flag is a white-fimbriated horizontal tricolour of black, red and green, with a blue triangle at the hoist charged with a five-pointed gold star.

The colours are said to represent the South Sudanese people (black), peace (white), the blood shed for freedom (red), the land (green) and the waters of the Nile (blue), the gold star, the Star of Bethlehem, represents unity of the states of South Sudan.

The flag was adopted following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and it was previously used as the flag of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLA).

South Sudan’s independence from the rest of Sudan followed the January 2011 referendum held under the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the decades-long civil war between the North and the South.

Pana 15/07/2011