A/35/PV.42 General Assembly

Since one seat in the Security Council remains to be filled from the group of Latin American States, we shall now proceed, in accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure, to a second ballot restricted to Costa Rica and Guyana, the two countries which obtained the greatest number of votes in the vote taken at the 41st meeting. Ballot papers will now be distributed. 2. May I ask representatives to write on the ballot paper the name ofthe one country for which they wish to vote. Ballot papers containing the names of States other than Costa Rica or Guyana, as well as any containing more than one name, will be declared invalid. 3. In the interest of expediting the work of the Assembly, I should like to suggest a simpler procedure for collecting the ballot papers. With the permission ofthe tellers, I shall request each ofthem to accompany the conference officers as they collect the ballot papers. I am sure that delegations will agree with me that this will not only save the Assembly's time, but will also expedite our work. Most of the representatives will be familiar with this procedure from their experience of the casting of ballots in the Committees. At the invitation ofthe President, Mr. Tinea (Roma- nia), Mr. Jasudasen (Singapore) and Mr. Adeyemi (Nigeria) acted as tellers. A vote was taken by secret ballot. 4. The PRESIDENT: I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspended at 3.50 p.m. and resumed at 4 p.m, 5. The PRESIDENT: The result of the voting is as follows: \ e ' Number ofballot papers: 142 Invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 142 Abstentions: 1 Number ofmembers voting: 141 Required majority: 94 Number of votes obtained: Costa Rica 78 Guyana........................... 63

As neither of the two coun- tries obtained the required majority, the General Assembly will now proceed to the second unrestricted ballot. As before, only Costa Rica and Guyana are eligible, and papers containing the names of other States or more than one name will be declared invalid. The ballot papers will now be distributed. At the invitation ofthe President, Mr. Tinea (Roma- nia), Mr. Jasudasen (Singapore) and Mr. Adeyemi (Nigeria) acted as tellers. A vote was taken by secret ballot. 7. The PRESIDENT: I propose to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspended at 4./0 p.m. and re- sumed at 4.20 p.m. 8. The PRESIDENT: The result of the voting is as follows: Number ofballot papers: 145 Invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 145 Abstentions: 1 Number ofmembers voting: 144 Required majority: 96 Number of votes obtained: Costa Rica 74 Guyana........................... 70

As neither of the two can- didates obtained the required majority, the General Assembly will now proceed to the third restricted ballot. As before, only Costa Rica and Guyana are eligible, and papers containing the names of other States or more than one name will be declared invalid. The ballot papers will now be distributed. 10. The representative of Chile wishes to speak on a point of order. I now call upon him. 11. Mr. DtEZ (Chile) (interpretation from Spanish): In my capacity as Chairman of the group of Latin American States, and at the request of the delegations of Costa Rica and Guyana. I would request you, Mr. President, with the consent of the General Assem- bly, to suspend the voting procedure so that the Latin American group may meet to consider the situation that has arisen. 20. Mr. DfEZ (Chile) (interpretation from Spa1.lish): I wish to inform the General Committee and, through it; the General Assembly, that the group of Latin American States met to consider the situation resulting from the election of non-permament members of the Security Council with respect to a vacant seat to be filled from that group. 21. The Latin American group heard several state- ments during its debate, including statements made by the representatives of Costa Rica and Guyana. The delegation of Guyana stated that while it had dis- tributed to the group a document presenting its can- didature for the 1981 elections to the Security Council, the number of votes it obtained in the series 'of ballots held today competled it to reconsiderits position and to inform its Government of the situation. Since it was unable to get a reply from its Govemment today, the delegation requested the Latin American group to suspend its meeting until tomorrow at 10a.m. and asked that the Chairman of the group inform the Assembly of the situation. 22. The group agreed and is to meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. to continue its examination of the situation. The Latin American group thanks the Assembly for its consideration in the light of this situation, which came as a surprise to the group itself.

Having heard the statement by the Chairman of the Latin American group, may I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to suspend its consideration ofthis item until tomorrow afternoon? It was so decided.