A/32/PV.44 General Assembly

The frrst item Qn our agenda is the election of 18 members of the Economic and Social Council to replace those members whose term of office expires on 31 December 1977. The eighteen outgoing members are: Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czecho- slovakia, Denmark, EcuaGor, Ethiopia, Gabon, Japan, Kenya, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Union of So'liet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Zaire. Those 18 countries are eligible for immediate re-election. 2. I should like to remind members of the Assembly that after 1 January 1978 the following States will still be members of the Economic and Social COunCh: Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nether- lands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Polan9, Portugal, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Repablic, United States of America, Upper Volta, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Those 36 States should therefore not appear on the ballot papers. 3. In accordance with paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 2847 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971, the 18 members to be elected should be made up as follows: four from the group of African States, four from the group of Asian States, three from the group of Latin American States, four from the group ofWestern European and other States and three from the group of socialist States of Eastern Europe. The ballot papers take that pattern into account. 4. In accordance with existing practice, the required number of candidates which receive the largest number of votes, 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. NEW YOlK 5. May I take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure?

In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election shall be held by secret ballot and there shall be no nominations. 7. I request members of the Assembly to use omy the ballot papers that are being distributed and to write on them the names of the Member States for which they wish to vote in each group. Ballot papers containing more names that the number assigned to that group will be declared invalid.

I propose to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspended at 3.50.p.m. and resumed at 4.50 p.m.

The result of the voting for the election of 18 members of the Economic and Social Council is as follows: 144o 144o 144 96 Number ofvotes obtained: United Republic of Cameroon ..•.....•.• 140 United Republic of Tanzania ..•...•..... 140 Central African Empire .....•...•...... 137 Lesotho ............•...••........ 137 Angola • . . • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . 1 Benin . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cape Verde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 1 Chad •.•. . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . . • . . . 1 Mali •... : • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • .. . . • 1 Moz3ltlbique • . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . • . • . .. 1 India: •...............•........... 130 Cmna •.•....•....•..••............ 124 United Arab Emirates •••...•••....•.•• 116 Japan. 114 Fiji S9 JordaIl . t, • .. • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 Kuwait ., . . . . 1 wo People's Democratic Republic •......• 1 Nepal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Oman 1 Viet N8J11 • . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . • . . . . . . . . . 1 144 1 143o 143 Number o/votes obtained: Trinidad and Tobago •...•...••....... 117 Argentina ' 113 EClIador . • • . . .. • . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . .. 86 Dominican Republic . • . . . . . • . . • . . . • • •. 84 Barbados 7 UmgtJay . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .. 144o 144o 144 96 Sweden 141 FiJlland ..........'.................. 137 M.alta 137 United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Northern Ireland 126 .Denmark 1 Turkey -. . • .. • • • . • . . . . . . • . . . . .. 1 Number ofballot papers: 144 Im'alid ba!lotl: 0 Numberolvalld ballots: 144 ~m~~ 4 Number ofmembers voting: 140 Having obtained the required majority, Argentina, Central African Empire, China, Finland, Hungary, India, Japan, Lesotho, Malta, Romania, Sweden,- Trinidt:id and Tobago, Union ofSoviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Cameroon, and United Republic of TtJnzQnia were elected members ofthe Economic and Social Coundl for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1978 (decision 32/3/1 1). 10. The PRESIDEN'r: Since one seat in group et that of the Lttin Americ~n States, remains to be rd1ed~ we shall now proceed, in accordance with rule 94, to a second ballot ~ restricted to two candidates, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, the two countries which were not elected but which obtained the greatest number of votes in the vote which hasjust been taken. 11. The ballot pa~ers will now be distributed~ 12. I call on the representative of Albania, who wishes to speak on a point of order. 13. , Mr. BALETA (Albania) (interpretation from French): I shall be brief. In announcing the results of the vote, Mr. President, you said that Albania had received two votes within the group of Eastern European States. I should like to explain that Albania is not a member of that group.

This clarification by the Albanian delegation wnt be duly recorded in the verbatim record of this meeting. We shall proceed to the voting as the ballot papers have already been distributed. 15. May I ask representatives to write on the ballot paper the name of one country for which they wish to vote. Ballot papers containing the names of States other than Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, as wen as any containing more than one name, will be declared invalid. 16. I invite the representatives of the German Democratic Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic to serve as tellers and to stand by the ballot box. 17. I call on the representative of Bolivia, who would like to speak on a point of CIder.

Before we begin voting, a process which cannot be interrupted by any delegation, I should merely like to make a few timely ~omments, to safeguard the spirit of regional unity and also the prestige and elegance befitting the General Assembly of the 'United Nations. 19. In the list submitted by the Latin American group, the Dominican Republic is the country which received the 20. In the present case, of course, I am referring to the Latin Ameri",J.n group, because the l:st submitted to you, Mr. President, received the consensus of all its members. In such circumstances the wili of a regional group s!10uld not be altered by the Assembly. It seems to me that a regrettable error has been committed here, a misinterpreta- tion of the rules ef procedure. 21. The other candidatures might have been subject to a general and separate analysis by us all, since they were not sponsored UIWlimously. I deplore the setting of this precedent, because in the future the regions in this universal forum wnI not be certain that their candidates submitted and endorsed by a group will be accepted by the Assembly. On the contrary. They will be subject to review and candidates not truly elected by their region might be designated. 22. I feel that we must learn to be elected by ourselves and no~ by others. I feel this is a fundamental part of the rules of the game which should prevfil here. As it is not possible to make a formal protest during the VOtLlg process, I shou!d like to state for the record that this sets a d~ngerou~ precedent for future elections of representatives from OUt respective regions.

1'he representative of Bobv:!l h.as given an explanation and made an appeal directed to the situation within his geographical group. I should like to remi'ld representatives that they should adhere to rule 88 of the rules of procedure, according to which, after the voting has been announced-and we are now in the process of voting for members of the Economic and Social Council-points of order should be made only in connexion with the voting and not on the substance of the matter. I call on the representative of Ecuador on a point of order.

Had the representative of Bolivia not spoken, we ourselves would not have spoken either. 25. I should just like to mention that precisely in order to maintain the unity ofthe Latin American group, and in full e·~ercise of our rights as a member country, we pressed the candidature of Ecuador among those submitted by the Latin American group, for one of the seats to be awarded as a result of this election. Four candidates were submitted for three posts. 26. It has also been stated that the candidature of the Dominican Republic was endorsed, but the other three members are also fully entitled to submit their names in this vote. 27. I feel that any other consideration would have to be put forward after the election, and not now, when we are

The Assembly has heard another explanation, this time from the representative of Ecuador. I think the Assembly must now proce~d to the vote and not hear explanations made for the record which concern the way in which candidatures on behalf of the Latin American States were arrived at.

1 shall suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted.

The {esult of the voting in the fust restricted ballot is as follows: 141 1 140 10 130 87 Nun·~f!Tofballot papers: Invalid ballots: Number ofvalid ballots: Abstentions: Number ofmembers voting: Required majority: Number ofvotes obtained: Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . .. 67 Dominican Republic. . • . . . . . • • . . . . . . .• 63

As neither of the two countries has obtained the required majority, the General Assembly will now proceed to the second restricted ballot. As before, only Ecuador and the Dominican Republic are eligible and papers containing the names ef other States will be declared invalid. The ballot papers will now be distributed.

i propo~~ to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being coumed. The meeting was suspended at 5.40 p.m. and resumed at 5.45 p.m.

The result of the voting in the second restricted ballot is as follows: 140 1 139 11 128 86 At tIt.e ilWittltionof the President, Mr. Schade (Gennan Dt:mocnetic Republic) and Mr. Al-Hussamy (Syrian Arab Reptttblk) tletedas. tellers.

I propose to suspe~d the meeting whie the ballots:,are being counted. The HJ«ting was suspended at 5.55 and resumed at 6p..m. •'6_ The ~RESIDENT: T~e result of the voting in the third

I just want to state that Ecuador is one of the . four candidates submitted for three posts by the Latin American group with an absolute majority of 22 votes out of 27 within that group. l'e.,~ticted~a1"ot, is as follows: 139o 139 10 129 86 Ecu..ad:iQ[' • • •..- • •. • • • • • • •. • • .. • • • • •. • • •. •• 72 Domm.k:an Republic. . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . .. 57 :'1. The PRESiDENT: As th~ result of the third restricted haIot_ UIo been inconclusive we must, therefore, in accordance with the rules of procedure, proceed now to an un.re1Itricted bal('~ 38. First I ca1I on the representative of the Dominican Rqmblic.

In order to help to fmish this procedure, I should lik~ ltll) remind Mffilbers that the Doomicm Republic was the ~'nIy on~ of the four Latin Amerit;;an countries which came to this vote in the General Auembly with a broad consensus within the Latin All1erican JrOup itself. 40, The PRESIDENT: The representative of the Domi- mcaa lU~b1i: ha made an explanation, and I now call on the representative ofEcuador. 41. Mr. ALBOlt."fOZ (Ecuador) (mterpretation from SfA.--J: I merely want to supplement the information provided by my friend and colleague, the n:;resentative of the Domin.icart Republic, by stating that the candidacy of Earador WM also officially submitted to the Assembly by the Lata .~tican group as one of the three candidates tativ~ of the Dominican Republic, I should like to remind him that, under rule 88, points of order are allowed at this juncture only in the context of the voting procedure and not for further explanation, debate or even lobbying for votes.

Actually I think that these explanations do make for a better understanding of the situation. My friend, the Ambassador of Ecuador, has pointed out the truth, but I should also like to repeat that it is true also that the only country which came here with the support of the consensus of the group was the DomirJcan Republic. • 44. The £RESIDENT: For one fmal time I call upon the representative of Ecuador, but not in order to proceed to further polemics about who has the bigger consensus. A consensus is always the same. 46. 'The PRESIDENT: That is the end of the explanations and alSo, I think, of the election campaign. 47. We shall now proceed to the frrst unr~stric1ed ballot. May I remind the Assembly that members now have the right to vote for any countrj in the group of Latin American States xcept, of course, for those in that group which are alreaci.y ITlembers of the Econom.::..: and Social Council and those elected a few minutes ago for a term beginning 1 January 1978. In order to make this clear, I shall mention tIte names ofthose members which cannot be voted for in the present ballot because they are already members of the Economic and Social Council from the Group of Latin American States. They are the following: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and Venezuela, plus the two newly elected, Argentina and Trinidad ~d Tobago. 48. Ballot papers will again be' distributed and I would request members to write the name of one country only. Ballot papers bearing more than one name will be declared invalid.

The meeting will now be suspended while the votes are coun!ed. The meeting was suspended at 6.15 p.m. and resumed at 6.20 p.m. Number 0/votes obtained: Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 68 Dominican Republic . . . . . . . 0 • • • • • • • • •• 60 Barbados 2 Haiti 1

Since the required majority has not been obtained, according to the rules of procedure we have to go to two more unrestricted ballots, unless there is a proposal or suggestion from members of the Assembly to postpone the elections until some later date to allow time for further consultations. . 52. First I should like to ask the representatives of the Dominican Republic and of Ecuador whether they insist on countinuing the ballot now?

I do not feel that there is any difficulty in accepting a postponement of the ballot.

We would prefer the two ballots stipulated in the rules of procedure to be held. SS. The PRESIDENT: We shall therefore proceed with two more unrestricted ballots. 56. We shall now take the second unrestricted ballot. May I ask representatives to write on the ballot paper the name of one country for which they wish to vote, other than the names of the present members of the Economic and Social Councn from the group of Latin American States and those of the two States from that group that have already been elected. I have already mentioned the names of those countries. 57. The ballot papers will now be distributed. Those bearing more than one name will be declared invalid.

I propose to s\.:spend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspended at 6.25 and resumed at 6.30 p.m. Number ofvotes obtained: Dominican Republic . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . .. 63 Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63 Barbados 3 GUYaJ1a .....•...........>......... 1

The result of the second unre· stricted ballot also is inconclusive. 61. I shall call on the representatives of Ecuador and of the Dominican Republic in turn.

Mr. President, I do not feel that it is appropriate to continue to take up the time ofthe Assembly, and I am quite pleased to follow the course you have outlined and what my colleague from the Dominican Republic had said, namely, that we should postpone further balloting.

I should simply like to reiterate that the Dominican Republic delegation is pre- pared to have the voting postponed, and also to say that we do indeed hope that it will be possible to reach an agreement within the Latin American group and bring before the Assembly a decision already approved by that group. 64. I should like to say something in addition, namely, that this fraternal competition has not in any way -jeopardized relations between Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, but rather has demonstrated that we can compete rratemaRy and yet continue to be good friends.

We have heard the representatives of Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. I propose that we should postpone to a later datE: the election for the one seat that remains to be filled, and thus give more time for further consultations. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Assembly agrees to this proposal.

Before we proceed to the next item on our agenda, I should like to advi~e the Assembly that I propose to continue this meeting until 7.15 p.m.-that is for half an hour more. 67. On a point of order, I call on the representative of the United Republic ofTanzania.

Mr. Presi- dent, I know you have a very busy schedule, but I really believe that all of us here have had ~uite sufficient for one day, and though we are quite anxious to proceed to the next item, by virtue of the importance of the item itself,

The Assembly has heard the pro- posal of the representative of the United Republic of The meetingrose at 6..45 p.m.