A service to mark the 60th Anniversary of Samoa's independence held at the Bahai Temple in Tiapapata has recognised the importance of the role played by the United Nations in the country's march to freedom.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Simona Marinescu, recalled Samoa's journey in getting the United Nations attention.

"It    was    in    1947    when    Samoa    petitioned    the    UN    asking    for    self-Government.    Six    UN    missions     followed    - 1947,    1950,    1953,    1956,    1959    and    1961    until    the    UN    General    Assembly    terminated    the     Trusteeship    Agreement    recognizing    Samoa    in    December 1961    as    an    Independent    State," said Dr. Marinescu. 

"  There    have    been    a    series    of    milestones    along    those    6    decades.    In    1971,    Samoa    moved    from    a    Heavily     Indebted    Poor    Country    (less    than    USD    500    per    capita)    to    a    Least    Developed    Country.    In    2014,    in     recognition    of    the    progress    made,    Samoa    was    classified    as    a    Mid-Income    Country.    In    between,    in     1976,    Samoa    joined    the    United    Nations    and    embraced    our    values    and    principles."

There have also been so many challenges.

"   The    triple    planetary    crisis    - climate     change,    nature    (biodiversity    decline)    and    pollution    (human    and    planetary    health    threat)    - is    at    play     as    well.    The    UN    is    still    needed    and    so    are    bilateral    donors    and    partners    to    which    we    are    grateful," she added. 

She thanked the Baha' i community for hosting the important service to promote UN values.

 Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, also spoke on behalf of the government making reference of Samoa's involvement with the United Nations.

" Sixty    years    ago    Samoa’s    long    march    to    self    determination    became    a    reality    with    the    first     flag    raising    of    our nascent    nation. In    doing    so,    Samoa    became    the    first    Pacific    Island     country    to    gain    independence    from    foreign    powers," he said. 

"     It    achieved    this    with    much    needed     guidance    from    the    United    Nations and    I    acknowledge    the    many    and    varied    contributions     of    the    U.N    that    help our    small    island    nation    country    to    progress    – fa‘afetai, thank you," he said. 

  "   His    Highness    Susuga    Malietoa     Tanumafili    II    became    the    first    reigning    monarch    in    the    world    to    embrace    the    Faith    of     Bahá’u’lláh,    a    decision    he    chose    to    not    tell    the    world    until    1973," he said. 

"    Malietoa    ranks    as    one     of    the    longest    serving    monarchs    in    the    world,    with    most    of    his    distinguished    service     influenced    by    Bahá’í    teachings," he added. 

The deputy Prime Minister also read a quotation from the Baha'i writings.

"     As    we    navigate    this    increasingly     interconnected    world, it    is    time    we    pay    attention    to    this    fundamental    belief    espoused    so     eloquently    by    Bahá’u’lláh:  ( founder of the Bahai Faith),  The    world    is    but    one    country,    and    mankind    its    citizens ~    O    le     lalolagi    o    se    atunu‘u    e    tasi,    ma    o    tagata    soifua    o    ona    tagatanu‘u    ia.”