A/34/PV.120 General Assembly

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted, voting is 11, The PRESIDENT: The result of the as follows: Number l~f' ballot papers: Invalid bnllots: Number of valid ballots: Abstentions: N umber of members voting: Required majority: Number of votes obtained: Mexico , . Cuba . 144 0 144 8 136 91 133 3

I wish to congratulate Mexico and the other countries that have been elected nonpermanent members of the Security Council for a twoyear term that began on 1 January 1980. I also thank the tellers for their assistance in this election. 13. I now call on the representative of Mexico.

We wish to express our thanks to the General Assembly, this sovereign and democratic body of the United Nations, for having elected Mexico a non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term that began on the first day ofthis decade. Minute of silent prayer or meditation 15. We are pleased that Mexico's candidacy was unanimously proposed by the States members of the group of Latin American States, which was entitled to the vacant seat on the Council, and that Mexico's candidacy received such broad support from the community of nations. The Government of Mexico has heeded the appeal made by the countries of our region, and accepts this Assembly's decision, in a desire to contribute to the solution of the institutional crisis that faced the United Nations at the end of last year and prevented the Security Council from being constituted in accordance with the terms of the Charter. 17. Everyone must be aware that throughout the process that has ended today Mexico gave its firm support to Cuba's aspirations, not only because Cuba was the first candidate chronologically speaking, but also because we wished to contribute to repairing the harm done to that country, which, since its 1959 revolution, has seen one avenue after another closed to the normal development of its international relations. During the past weeks, various allegations have been circulating against the group of Latin American States. Some have undoubtedly been the result of understandable impatience; others have perhaps been the result of an unawareness of the political reality of our region. Among the countries of the third world, the Latin American countries have the most difficult and the oldest independent course. Because of limitations imposed by geography and history, we coexist in diversity but with one single purpose: fundamental unity. We must be understood and respected; we must never be reproached. 18. Fortunately, this episode through which the Assembly has just passed has culminated in a convergence of Latin American wills. Mexico is aware of the responsibility that this entails, and we believe it relevant to state to the General Assembly that in discharging the functions entrusted to it in the Security Council Mexico will remain faithful to the defence of the principles that have consistently inspired its foreign policy: friendship for all peoples; solidarity with the independence struggles; unconditional respect for the principles of self-determination and non-intervention; the search for peaceful settlements of disputes; the achievement of universal disarmament and collective security; and the prompt and effective application of the principles and rules at the basis of the new international economic order.

I invite representatives to stand and observe one minute of silent prayer or meditation. Closing qf the session 20. The l*E-SIDENT: I declare closed the thirty- fourth .session of the General Assembly.