| Date | 20 November 1997 |
|---|
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Agenda item 17
Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments
(j) Appointment of a member of the Joint Inspection Unit
Note by the Secretary-General (A/52/110)
The President
In connection with sub-item (j) of agenda item 17, a note by the Secretary-General has been circulated in document A/52/110.
As indicated in that document, the General Assembly is required, during the fifty-second session, to appoint a member to fill the vacancy in the Joint Inspection Unit that will arise from the expiration of the term of office on 31 December 1998 of Mr. Raul Quijano of Argentina.
As also indicated in that document, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the President of the General Assembly shall consult with Member States to draw up a list of countries -- in this case, one country -- which would be requested to propose a candidate for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit.
After holding the necessary consultations, I should like to communicate to the Assembly the following information received from the Chairman of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States: two countries -- namely, Argentina and Colombia -- have decided to present their candidatures for one vacancy from among the Latin American and Caribbean States.
I should like, in accordance with past practice, to consult with Member States through the procedure of holding an advisory vote by secret ballot to select from among the Latin American and Caribbean States one country, which would be requested to propose a candidate for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit.
Although this advisory vote would not be an election, we would follow the rules of procedure of the Assembly governing elections.
If there is no objection, may I take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure?
The President
In accordance with existing practice, the country receiving the greatest number of votes, and not less than a majority of the votes of those present and voting, shall be the country selected.
May I also take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure?
The President
In accordance with rule 93 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, when only one person or member is to be elected and no candidate obtains in the first ballot the majority required, a second ballot shall be taken, which shall be restricted to the two candidates obtaining the largest number of votes. If in the second ballot the votes are equally divided, and a majority is required, the President shall decide between the candidates by drawing lots.
I take it that the Assembly also agrees to that procedure.
The President
Before I request the Secretariat to distribute the ballot papers, I should like to remind members of the Assembly that we are now going to proceed to the selection of one country from among the Latin American and Caribbean States, which will be requested to propose a candidate to fill the vacancy in the Joint Inspection Unit. The Assembly is not -- I repeat, not -- appointing a member to the Joint Inspection Unit at this time. It is only selecting one country which will be requested to propose a candidate. Therefore, only the name of a country and not the name of an individual should appear on the ballot paper.
I should like to repeat the names of the two countries from among the Latin American and Caribbean States that decided to present their candidatures: Argentina and Colombia.
The ballot papers will now be distributed.
May I request representatives to use only those ballot papers.
May I further request members of the Assembly to write on the ballot paper the name of one State from among the Latin American and Caribbean States for which they wish to vote. A ballot paper containing more than one name from among the Latin American and Caribbean States will be declared invalid. Any ballots with the name of a State outside the relevant region or with the name of an individual shall not be counted at all.
The President
The result of the voting is as follows:
Latin American and Caribbean States
Number of ballot papers: 167 Number of invalid ballots: 3 Number of valid ballots: 164 Abstentions: 1 Number of members voting: 163 Required simple majority: 82 Number of votes obtained: Colombia 86 Argentina 77
The President
I thank members for their advice and assistance. I thank the tellers for their assistance.
In accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, Colombia will be requested to submit the name of a candidate and a curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate's relevant qualifications for the task ahead.
After holding the appropriate consultations described in article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary-General in his capacity as Chairman of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, I will propose a qualified candidate to the Assembly for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit.
We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (j) of agenda item 17.
