| Date | 5 November 2003 |
|---|
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Agenda item 17
Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments
(h) Appointment of a member of the Joint Inspection Unit
Note by the Secretary-General (A/58/108)
The President
As indicated in document A/58/108, the General Assembly is required, during the fifty-eighth 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 2004 of Mr. Sumihiro Kuyama of Japan.
As indicated in document A/58/108, 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 that the information that I have received from the Chairman of the Group of Asian States is that for one vacancy from the Asian States, there are two candidates, namely Japan and Pakistan.
Since there are two candidates for one vacancy, 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 one country from among the Asian States to 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 requested to propose a candidate for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. May I take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure also?
The President
In the case of a tie vote, there will be a restricted ballot limited to those candidates that have obtained an equal number of votes -- which is not a problem in this case. May I take it that the Assembly agrees to that procedure also?
The President
Also in connection with this selection process, I would like to remind members that in accordance with Article 19 of the Charter and resolution 58/1 of 16 October 2003, two Member States will not be given ballot papers.
May I remind members that the Assembly is not appointing members 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 now to repeat the names of the two countries from among the Asian States that wished to propose a candidate: Japan and Pakistan.
I should further like to point out that from the Asian States, China already has a national serving on the Joint Inspection Unit. The name of that State should therefore not appear on the ballot paper.
The Assembly will now proceed to the selection of one country from among the Asian States, which will be requested to propose a candidate to fill the vacancy in the Joint Inspection Unit.
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 "B" will now be distributed. May I request representatives to write on the ballot paper the name of the one State for which they wish to vote. Ballot papers bearing the name of more than one State will be declared invalid. A ballot containing the name of a Member State that does not belong to the relevant region or the name of an individual shall not be counted at all.
The President
The result of the voting is as follows:
Number of ballot papers: 185 Number of invalid ballots: 2 Number of valid ballots: 183 Abstentions: 0 Number of members voting: 183 Required majority: 92 Number of votes obtained: Japan 101 Pakistan 82
The President
I thank members for their advice, and I thank the tellers for their assistance.
In accordance with article 3, paragraph 1 of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, Japan will be requested to submit the name of a candidate and a curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate's relevant qualifications for the tasks 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 United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, the President of the General Assembly 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 (h) of agenda item 17.
