A/RES/56/283 United Nations Distr.: General 24 May 2002 General Assembly Fifty-sixth session Agenda items 46 and 98 (a) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/56/L.78)] 56/283. Participation of East Timor in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and its preparatory process The General Assembly, Expressing its congratulations to the Government and people of East Timor on the attainment of independence by East Timor on 20 May 2002, Noting with satisfaction the submission by East Timor of an application for membership in the United Nations, 1 Mindful of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 20 May 2002, 2 in which the Council welcomed the attainment of independence by East Timor, Noting that the World Summit on Sustainable Development will be held from 26 August to 4 September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and that the fourth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Summit will be held from 27 May to 7 June 2002 in Indonesia, Noting also that the World Summit on Sustainable Development and its preparatory process are open to all States Members of the United Nations and States members of the specialized agencies, 1. Welcomes the attainment of independence by East Timor on 20 May 2002; 2. Invites East Timor, pending its admission to membership in the United Nations or the specialized agencies, to participate as a State, without the right to vote, in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and its preparatory process, including the fourth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Summit; 3. Decides to conclude its consideration of the agenda item entitled “The situation in East Timor during its transition to independence”. 99th plenary meeting 22 May 2002 _______________ 1 2 01 49536 A/56/953-S/2002/558, annex. S/PRST/2002/13.