| Date | 27 September 2002 |
|---|
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Agenda item 15
Elections to fill vacancies in principal organs
(a) Election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council
The President
The General Assembly will now proceed to the election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council to replace those members whose term of office expires on 31 December 2002.
The five outgoing non-permanent members are the following: Colombia, Ireland, Mauritius, Norway and Singapore. Those five States cannot be re-elected. Their names, therefore, should not appear on the ballot papers.
Apart from the five permanent members, the Security Council will include in the year 2003 the following States: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and the Syrian Arab Republic. The names of those States, therefore, should also not appear on the ballot papers.
Of the five non-permanent members that will remain in office in the year 2003, three are from Africa and Asia, one is from Eastern Europe and one is from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Consequently, pursuant to paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 1991 A (XVIII) of 17 December 1963, the five non-permanent members should be elected according to the following pattern: two from Africa and Asia, one from Latin America and the Caribbean and two from Western Europe and other States. The ballot papers reflect that pattern.
In accordance with established practice, there is an understanding to the effect that, of the two States to be elected from Africa and Asia, one should be from Africa and one from Asia.
I should like to inform the Assembly that those candidates, their number not exceeding the number of seats to be filled, that receive the greatest number of votes and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting will be declared elected.
In the case of a tie vote for a remaining seat, there will be a restricted ballot limited to those candidates that have obtained an equal number of votes.
May I take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure?
The President
In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election shall be held by secret ballot and there shall be no nominations.
Regarding candidatures, I have been informed by the Chairmen of the respective regional groups of the following.
For the two vacant seats from among the African and Asian States, there are two endorsed candidates: Angola and Pakistan.
For the vacant seat from among the Latin American and Caribbean States, there is one endorsed candidate: Chile.
For the two vacant seats from among the Western European and other States, there are two endorsed candidates: Germany and Spain.
In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, we shall proceed now to the election by secret ballot.
Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind members that, pursuant to rule 88 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting.
We shall now begin the voting process.
Ballot papers marked "A", "B" and "C" will now be distributed. I request representatives to use only those ballot papers that have been distributed.
May I ask representatives to write on the ballot papers marked "A", for the African and Asian States, the names of the two States for which they wish to vote; on the ballot papers marked "B", for the Latin American and Caribbean States, the name of the one State for which they wish to vote; and on the ballot papers marked "C", for the Western European and other States, the names of the two States for which they wish to vote.
A ballot paper containing more names from the relevant region than the number of seats assigned to it will be declared invalid. Names of Member States on a ballot paper which do not belong to that region will not be counted.
The President
I now suspend the meeting for thirty minutes.
The President
The result of the voting is as follows:
Group A -- African and Asian States Number of ballot papers: 183 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 183 Abstentions: 1 Number of members voting: 182 Required two-thirds majority: 122 Number of votes obtained: Angola 181 Pakistan 172 India 1
Group B -- Latin American and Caribbean States Number of ballot papers: 183 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 183 Abstentions: 5 Number of members voting: 178 Required two-thirds majority: 119 Number of votes obtained: Chile 178
Group C -- Western European and other States Number of ballot papers: 183 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 183 Abstentions 0 Number of members voting: 183 Required two-thirds majority: 122 Number of votes obtained: Germany 180 Spain 180
The President
I congratulate the States that have been elected members of the Security Council.
I would also like to thank the tellers for their assistance in the election.
We have thus concluded our consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 15.
