A/32/PV.43 General Assembly

The fust item on our agenda for this morning is the election of fIVe non-permanent members of the Security Council to replace those whose term ofoffice expires on 31 December 1977. The fIVe outgoing members are the following: Benin, libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Pakistan" Panama mld Romania. These fwe countries cannot be re·elected and therefore their names must not appear on the ballot papers. 2. Apart from the llV~ permanent members, the Security Council in 1978 will include the follOWing States: Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, India, Mauritius and Vene- zuela. Therefore, the names of these States also should not appear on the ballot paper. 3. Of the fIVe non-permanent members which wiJil remain in office in 1978, two are from Africa and Asia, one from Latin America and two from Western EuroPe and other States. Therefore~ in accordance with paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 1991 A (XVIII) of 17 Decem- ber 1963, the non-permanent members to be elected should be as follows: three from Africa and Asia, one from Eastern Europe and one from Latin America. The ballot paper takes that pattern into account. In this connexion, I have been asked to announce that there is an understanding to the effect that of the three States to be elected from Africa and Asia, two mould be from Africa and one from Asia. 4. In accordance with existing practice, the required number of candidates receiving the largest number ofvotes and not less than the majority required will be declared elected. In case of a tie vote for the last place, there will be a restricted ballot limited to those candidates which have obtained an equal number ofvotes. 5. May I take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure? NEW YOlK

In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election shall be held by secret ballot, and there shall be no nommations. 7. The ballot papers are now being distributed. May I request representatives to use only tlie ballot papers that have been distr~buted and to write on them the names of the lIVe Member States for which they choo~ to vote. As I have indicated, the ballot papers should not include the names of the f"lve permanent members, of the fIVe outgoing non-permanent members, or of the f"lve countries that are already non-permanent members for 1978. My ballot paper containing more than fIVe names will be declared invalid. .

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspendedat 11.20 a.m. and reflUmedat 11.50a.m.

The result of the voting for the election of fIVe non-permanent members of the Security Council is as follows: 145o 145 1 144 96 Number ofvotes obtained: Czechoslovakia .••.•....•......•.... 131 Kuwait •••••••••••.•••••••••••••.• 130 Bolivia .••• ., ••••••••.•••••.••••••• 115 Gabon •••••••••••••••••••••••.••• 103 Niger • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . . •• 8S. Nigeria • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • • ••• 84 Jarnaica •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 13 3 1 1 1 1 1 Cuba ..••....••••.•....•...•..... Argentina ..•..•....•........•.•••• Ira.q . • • • • • • • • • • . . • . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • Oman .•..•..•....•... it •••••••••• Poland ..•.•••••..•.........•..... Zambia .•.••.••.........•........ A vote was taken by secret ballot.. •

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. A meeting was suspended at 12.15 p.m. and resumed at 12.25 p.m.

The result of the voting is as follows: 146 1 145o 145 97 Number ofvotes obtained: N· . Cl3 1gena ~ . . . . . . .. . . . . .. c Niger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 62 13. Th~ PRESIDENT: As neither of the two candidates obtained the required two-thirds majority, the General Assembly will continue the voting and will hold a second restricted ballot. The only countries whose names may be included on the ballot papers are Nigeria or Niger. Any ballot papers containing the names of other countries wnI be declared invalic. The ballot papers will now be distributed.

I shall again suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspendedat 12.40 p.m. and resumed at 12.45 p.m.

The result of the voting is as follows: 146o 146o 146 98

I call on the representative of Niger on a point of order. The statement should be only about the voting procedure. ;

I should like to remind the entire Assembly that Niger's candidacy is that of an African country. We note that at this stage of the elections certain principles governing the various groups of States in the Assembly as a whole have 110t been respected. We note also that the "African candidacy seems less and less to be borne in mind by the entire Assembly. Consequently, Niger does not insist that the election continues. We should like to add, however, that it is not Niger that has been beaten but the OrgaIrlzation of Mrican Unity.

The representative of Niger has withdrawn his candidacy. I shall give representatives a few more minutes for reflection before the third restricted balloting begi!ls. 20. I call on the representative of the United Kingdom on a point of order.

Number of us have, I think, already fllled in our particular voting slips. It would seem aurely better not to continue with this part~cular balloting but to have a'completely fresnballoting with completely fresh ballot forms distributed, if I might suggest it.

I call· on the representative of Senegalto speak on a point of order.

I should like to ask the Secretary of the General Assembly whether voting can legally be interrupted. It has already begun. Two delegations have already voted. I think we should pursue the voting to the end.

The representative of Senegal has made a correct point of order concerning the conduct of the voting. Two countries have already cast their ballots. Those members yet to vote may, if they wish, make another' choice before they are called upon to cast their votes. The voting will now proceed. 27. I want to remind members that at the beginning of the balloting the President read out the names of .oountries which were candidates for the five seats for non-permanent members of the Security Council. Also, during the past week or so I spoke to a few persons and I was able to gather documents and proof to the effect that in Africa there was no agreement as to what candidates were proposed. All the documents of the Organization of African Unity to which people have been referring say categorically that Nigeria is a candidate for the Security Council. 28. Furthennore, in case anyone should not be aware, I would point out that Article 23 of our Charter clearly states that it is the responsibility of the General Assembly to elect Member countries to the Security Council. I do not know of any instance when regional groups-which wet.... established to facilitate election progresres-have u-surped the powers ofthe General Assembly. 29. Lastly, I should like to have some clarification regarding my coll~ague's point ~f order. Was he with- drawing his country's candidatur--.: or was he disassociating himself from the results ofthis present ballot? I am seeking clarification because if his intention was to whip up emotions I do m~lt think that that is fair to my country.

I call on the representative ofSaudi Arabia on a point of order.

I wish to deal with this question seriously and to take precedent into account. I shall not go into the pros and cons that lulve been adduced here for one country or the other. 32. Therehave been several precedents; some were resolved quietly and other semi-quietly, but now we are trying to solve this question riotously, and that is no way to proceed to a solution. If we go by the numbers, we have to respect those numbers. 33. I do not want to appear from what I say to be favouring one country over the other. We should like to respect the wishes of our Mrican brothers, but it is not always possible to please everybody. Therefore, it is not a question nf repeating the ballot. There is a solution, and we have had recourse to such a solution on several previous occasions. I do not wish to mention their names, but two big Asian countries were faced with the same problem. The Asians for the most part wanted one country, and very few of them opposed the candidature of that country for election to the Security Council. However, we could not bridge the gap, and fmally there was a gentleman's agreement that one of tl.'~ t,,,·.) countries, without subject- ing itself to further balloting, would cede to the other- noblesse oblige-on the understanding that it would itself be elected to the Council later. T~t is what happened, not only then but on several other occasions. 35. Therefore, you, Sir, as our President may suggest to us, if the results of the latest ballot should prove adverse to one and favourable to the other, not to proceed with balloting ad nauseam, because it does not redound to our dignity in the United Nations. Hence I propose-or, rather, I suggest, because sometimes a proposal becomes the focus for a debate-that the country which loses should be assured by us all that it would have the fust chance, regardless of what regional groups do or do not do, to fill the post in the future. 36. I can say that because Saudi Arabia, a founding Member of this Organization, can be objective since it has never sought to be a member of the Security Council or Chairman of a Committ~e. We believe that those posts are onerous and burdensome, and not always honorific. At the same time, wbenever we wish to speak before the Security Council, all we have to do is to write a I:etter to its President. So it is feasibl~ for any country which loses to appear before the Council with regard to somethirlg of import to it whenever it wiCaes. 37. But, for heaven's sake, let us not keep going round in circles and giving an opportunity to peoples outside this building to say: uLook how in elections there is contention and dissidence between the Members of the United Na- tions". That would not redound to our dignity or to our honour. 38. My suggestion stands that: if the result of this latest ballot is not favourable to one of the two countries, the losing country should be assured of & seat on the Security council the next time the Asoombly ~:.olds such elections. 39. The PR['~IDENT: I thank the representative ofSaudi Arabia for his suggestion; but may I remind representatives that, under rule 88 of the rules of procedure, after the President has announced the beginning of the voting no representative can interrupt the voting except on a point of order in connexion with the actual conduct of the voting. 40. I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for remind- ing the Assembly about past experiences and for proposing useful suggestions; but let us wait for the result of the third restricted ballot, and if that is not conclusive I shall then allow enough time- for consultations about how to proceed further. For the time being, we are awaiting the results of the vote which will be announced very soon and then· we shall know the exact situation with respect to the voting. 41. The result of the vote is as follows: 144o 144 3 141 94 Number ofvotes obtained: Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 92 Niger . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 49 43.. The representative of Niger has, on a point of order, explained that Niger has withdrawn ita candidature to the Security Council for this year. 44. I propose to proceed immediately to the next ballot in order to have the result of the vote before lunch. After lunch we shall, if ~his proves inconclusive, proceed to further unrestricted ballots according to the roles of procedure; if it proves conclusive we shall proceed with the electionsto the Economic and Social Council [Item 16J. 45. In the unrestricted balloting, any Member State may be a candidate for election-except, of course, the five pennanent members of the Security Council, those which the Assembly elected this morning, those whose term as members of the Council is stm unexpired and the outgoing members of the Council. The ballot papers will now be distributed.

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. 145 1 144 16 128 86 Number ofvotes obtained: Nigeria • • • • • • •• , • :: • • • • "• • . • • .' • • .: •• 96 Niger •••••••• "••••••••••••••••-• •• 21 Cuba ' .. ~. 2 Ango13 • • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • .. • 1 Senegal ••.••• ~ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 United Republic ofTanzania .•...•.•.••• 1 Having obtained the required majority, Nigeria wal elected a non-p...'mZanent member of the Security CouncU for a two-year term beginning on 1January 1978 (decision 32/306).2

I wim to congratulate Bolivia, Czechoslovakia, Gaoon, Kuwait and Nigeria on their eIee- .tion as members of the s.,curity Council for a two-year period beginning 1January 1978. I thank the tellers for their assistance. 2 See also paragraph 9 above.