Following the Declaration of Independence, a newly-born state would normally seek to join the international community as a first step towards the recognition of its independence. This aspiration can be materialized by becoming a member of the United Nations. Since the first day of its independence, Kuwait realized the importance of the United Nations in the life of the international community and applied for membership in the world organization. The story of Kuwait's membership in the United Nations started directly after Kuwait acquired its independence on June 19, 1961 when.....*"Kuwait and the United Kingdom agreed to terminate the 1899 agreement which had permitted a British military presence in Kuwait. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali in his Introduction in the United Nations Blue Book "Iraq Kuwait Conflict - 1990-1996" had given an excellent background about the story of the membership of Kuwait to join the international community through the United Nations.

    On 6 July 1961, Kuwait applied formally for membership in the United Nations. Also on that day, the United Kingdom submitted a draft resolution by which the Security Council would call upon all States to respect the independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait and urge that all concerned work for peace and tranquillity in the area. In its preambular paragraphs, the draft resolution noted the statement by the United Kingdom that British forces would be withdrawn as soon as Kuwait considered that the threat to it was removed. On 7 July, the United Arab Republic, which regarded the text as incomplete because it did not require the withdrawal of British forces, submitted its own draft resolution by which the Council would urge that the question be solved by peaceful means and call upon the United Kingdom to withdraw its forces from Kuwait immediately.

    Both draft resolutions came to a vote on 7 July. The United Kingdom draft was not adopted owing to the negative vote of the Soviet Union. The United Arab Republic draft was not adopted because it failed to obtain the required seven affirmative voters (the Council having a total of 11 members at that time). After the voting, the President of the Security Council appealed to all parties to abstain from any action that might aggravate the situation and started that he would reconvene the Council's if circumstances made it necessary to do so.

    Meeting at the same time as the Security Council on 5 July 1961, the Council of the League of Arab States voted to admit Kuwait to membership in the League subject to Kuwait's requesting the withdrawal of British forces, and further agreed to deploy a League force along the Iraq-Kuwait border. The League mandated that Iraq undertake not to use force to annex Kuwait and also agreed to assist Kuwait in joining the United Nations. Having accepted the provisions relating to the British withdrawal and the stationing of a League force, Kuwait was admitted to the Arab League on 30 July 1961, despite Iraqi objections.

    On 12 August 1961, an agreement was reached between the League and Kuwait governing the disposition of Arab League Security Forces in Kuwait. These forces, composed of contingents drawn from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and the United Arab Republic, began to take up positions along the Kuwaiti side of the border on 10 September. Accordingly, the United Kingdom began to remove its forces from Kuwait, finishing the withdrawal by 19 October.

    On 30 November 1961, the Security Council met at the request of the United Arab Republic to consider Kuwait's earlier application for United Nations membership. During the debate, Iraq, supported by the Soviet Union, contested Kuwait's eligibility for membership on the grounds that it had no standing as an independent State. A draft resolution sponsored by the United Arab Republic which would have had the Council recommend Kuwait for membership was not adopted owing to the negative vote of the Soviet Union.

    On April 20, 1963, after more than a year of general stability along the Iraq-Kuwait border and following the withdrawal of Arab League forces from Kuwait. Kuwait wrote again to the United Nations to apply for membership. When the Security Council met on 7 May to consider Kuwait's request, Iraq restated its position that Kuwait was an integral part of its territory and requested postponement of Kuwait's application. This time, however, the Council voted unanimously to recommend that the General Assembly act favourably on Kuwait's request. The Assembly, at its fourth special session, endorsed the recommendation by acclamation on 14 May 1963, thereby admitting Kuwait as the Organization's 111th Member State."*

*Boutros Boutros-Ghali Blue book - The United Nations and the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict, 1990-1996