Villiger works on his United Nations speech while on the flight to New York on September 9, 2002.
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Villiger, accompanied by bodyguards, makes his way to the Swiss Mission.
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"We are not an island on this planet. We have an interest in standing together with the rest of the world."
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"This is one of the most important moments of my life."
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The Swiss representative to the UN, Jenö Staehelin, Villiger and Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss (from left to right), take their seats in the UN General Assembly on September 10, 2002.
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"Switzerland is prepared to support humanitarian and peacekeeping operations."
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"The Swiss are here. We've waited a long time," Annan said.
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It was on this day exactly 15 years ago that the Swiss voted to join the United Nations.
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We look back at the trip six months later of then president Kaspar Villiger to New York where he addressed the UN general assembly, and Switzerland was confirmed as the UN’s 190th member.
(All pictures: Keystone)
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You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.