A/45/PV.38 General Assembly

The ~eneral Assembly will now proceed to the election of five members of the International Court of Justice for a nine-year term commencing on 6 February 1991. The te~. of office of the followinq Judqes expire the previous days Mr. J. M. Rude, Mr. K. Mbaye, Sir Robert Jenninqs, Mr. G. Guillaume and Mr. R. S. Pathak. In connection with this election I should like to brinq the followinq matters to the attention of the General Aesemblys First# in accordance with General Assembly resolution 264 (Ill), a State which is a party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice but not a Member of the United Nations may participate in the (General Assembly in electinq the members of the Court in the same manner as States Members of the United Nations. On this occasion I am happy to welcome here the representatives of Nauru, San Marino end Switzerland. Secondly, I should like to confirm that at this time the Security Council, independently of the General Assembly, is also proceeding to elect five members of the Court. This procedure is in accordance with Arti~le 8 of the Statute of the Court, which provides that "The General Ass~mbly and the Security Council shall proceed independently of one another to elect the members of the Court". Accordinqly, the results of tbe voting in the General Assembly will not be communic,ated to the Security Council until five candidates have obtained the required majority in the A~sembly. Finally, I should like to draw the attention of tho Assembly to the documents relating to the election. The list of candidates nominated by national groups is to be found in document Al45/544/Rev.1. The curricula vitae of the candidates are to be found in document Al45/545. The Assembly also hee before it document A/45/543, containinq a memorandum by tbe Secretary-General on the present composition of the Court and the procedure to be followed in the Aseembly and in the Security Council with regard to the election. (Tbe Presid~nt) In accordance with Article 10, paragraph 1 of the Statute of the Court, those candidates who obtain an absolute majority of votes both in the General Assembly and in the Security Council shall be considered to be ~·lected. ror the present election, 82 votes constitute an absolute majority in the General Assembly. The Gener3l Assembly will now proceed to a secret ballot. If in the first ballot fewer than five candidates obtain an absolute majority it will be necessary to proceed to other ballots until five candidates have obtained that majority. Pursuant to the decision taken by tbe General Assembly at its 915th meeting, held on 15 November 1960, these ballots shall be unrestricted. Representatives are re~uested to use only the ballot papers now being distributed and to place a cross at the left of the names of the five candidates for whom they wish to vote. Ballot papers OD which more than five names are marked will be considered invalid. Votes may be cast only for thoss whose Dames appear on the ballot papers. At the ipyitAtion of the President. Mr. PaDoy (Bulgaria). Ms. Cepeda (Qgminic3p Republic)p Mr. COnmY (Irelapd) and Mr. Nfulo (Zambia) Acted as t§llers. Ayote was taken bY secret ballot. (Tbe President) Tbo meeUng 'D' InlpenO.d at 3.30 ptm. onO relumed at 4.35 »-am•• The PIISIDmI Th. result of the voUng il a. fo110wsI Number of ballot paplrll Humber Of ipyalid ballOtsl Humber of valid ballots: Abstentions I Number of members yot:ingl 8e9»i[,O majority: Humborof votos obtainedI Mr. ADdros Aguilar Ma"dsle1' (Venezuela) 143 Mr. Gilbert Guillaumo (Franco) 140 Sir Robert Ye"dall JeDDiDglI (United Kingdom of Groat Britain and Northern I~elanO) 124 Mr. BDriquo P. S1'~ula (Philippines) 68 Mr. Christophlr Gr090r]( WeorBmantr1' (Sri Lanka) Mr. Raymond Ru'eva (Madagaacar) Mr. S81'40u Mada! 81' (Senogal) Mr. Samuel K.D. A.ante (Ghua) Mr. Dore!» Patel (Pakbtan) Mr. Atsu-Koffi Amega ('logo) Mr. Bdilbert RaBafindralambo (Madagascar) Mr. Sompong Sucharitkul (Thailand) • The Pr.sident took the Chair. o o tbe PRESIDENt: The following three candidates have obtained an absolute majority in the General Assembly: Mr. ADdres AguUar Ma"dsley.. Mr. Gilbert Guillaume and Sir Robert Yevdall Jennings. The Assembly "ill have to proceed to another unrestricted ballot to fill the two r.maining vacanci.s. Ballot papers are being distributed. All candidates whose nemes appear on the ballot papers are eligible. The name. of the three candidates who have already obtained the necessary majority of votes have been deleted. I again remind d6legations that the names of only two candidates should be marked with a cross. Any ballot papers on which more than ~wo names are marked "ill be considered invalid. Votes may be cast only for those whose names appear on the ballot papers. At the invitAtion of the President, Mr. PODQY (BulgAria), Ms. Cepeda (Dominican Republic), Mr. Copmy (Ireland) and Mr. Mfula (Zambia) acted al tellers. A yote wom takip bY secret ballot. De PIIIIPlQEl'a ft. r••uIt of the votiag 1. AI fol1on, 'u'b'r oC ballot; RlRlr., !bUlb'r QC Ipyalld ballot;I' IhlPbet QC vaUd ballo!;" Ab't;'Pt!9P" Iymhtr of Pl8btf. votipg, tfumber Of YOt;'1 OtaiDICh Mr. Chrl.toph.r Gregory Keeramantry (Sri Lanka) 70 Mr. BDri~u. P. Syquia (PhilIppIn••) 64 Mr. Rapond lanjeva (Madagascar) 62 Mr. I.ydou MedanI Sy (S.negal) 54 Mr. Samuel K.S. Asant. (Ghana) 27 Mr. Atau-Koffi Amega (Togo) 10 Mr. Dorab Pate1 (Pakistan) 10 Mr. Edilbert RaaafIndralambo (Ma4ag~scar) 6 Mr. Sompong Sucharitkul (T'~aIland) 1 SInce no candidate has obtaIned an ab.olut. majority, the Aa••mbly vIII proceed to another UDr••trlct.d ballot to fIll the r.mainlDg vacanci••• Ballot paper. are b.ing dIstributed. All individual. v~o•• n.... appear on the ballot paper al" elIgIble. Once again I remind delegations that the names of only two candI4at.. .hould be marked with acroms. Any ballot paper on vhicb more than two n.... are ..rlced wIll be considered i~valid. Votes may b. cast only for those who•• n.... appear on the ballot paper. o At th' lpyll;aUoD Of t;h, 'ralldeDI;.· Hr. PapOL(Bulgarla». HI. Capeda (Dnbalc;u 'UyhUc;), Mr· CoDPIY Ur.lADsS) ODd Mr. Hful. (Zambia) aeted al t.llors. A ul;' P' tia"D bJr ,.er'l; bAllOI;. %be lDIet.i~!9..."!tA1 suapoDdod It 5,3Q p.m. Ipd r.'Wlld at 0,35 p,m. Th' PRESIPENT; The result of the voting 18 aa follows: Humber of blllot PAQlrl: Number of iDYali" ballots: Number of valid ballots: AbstentioDI: Numb,r of membors yotipg: BeguiEed mBjoritv: Humber of votes obtaiped: Mr. Christopber Gregory Weeromantry (Sri Lanka) 97 Mr. Baymond Ranjeva (Madagascar) 82 Mr, Seydou Madani Sy (Senegal) 58 Mr. Enriqu, P. Syquia (P~ilippines) 51 Mr. Samuel K. B. Asante (Ghana) 11 Mr. Atau-Xoffi Amega (Togo) 7 Mr. Dorab Patel (Pakistan) 2 Mr. Edilb,rt Bazafindralarnbo (Madagascar) Mr. Sompong Sucharitkul (Thailand) Since Mr. Raymo~d ~a~java and Mr. Christopher Gregory W.lrarnantry have obtai~ed the required majority, the following five candidatea have now received an absolute majority in the General Assembly: Mr. Andres Aguilar Mavdsley, Mr. Gilbert Guillaume, Sir Robert Yewdall Jenning8, Mr. RaYrnQD4 Ranjlvl and Mr. Christopher Gregory Weerarnantry. o o o I havo c~UDlcate4 the r••ult of the votlDg to tbe. Pr~8ldeat of the security Council and have received from the Pre.ldeat of the "curlt~ Couacil the follovlag lettera Itl have the hODour to InfoN you that at tIuI ZIS5tJl _tl.. of the Security Council, held oa 15 .ove~r 1"0 for the ,arpo.e of electlDg five vacant OD 5 Pebrv.ary 1991, the follovlag caad14ate. obtaiu4 _ ab~~lute majority of vot.sa Mr. Andre. AguUar lfatfttaley, Mr. Gilbert Guill_.., Sir Robert Ye"da1l JeDJll~., Mr. Ser40u Mad_i Sy u4 Mr. Chdstopher Gr8gory Weor_utry. II (De 'rllldeM;) Aa • ee.u1t of tbs voUag vblcea b.. tauD place lac181e"atl!' 18 tM a._eal Aa."lJ' ADC! tile lecul'ltl' CGWlCU, the followlag fenae cucUdate. baw obtlMiM4 ••01ute ,,'ol'ltltlt. la I»otb bOdi••: NI'. bell" ••11... Mavdel~" Mi'. GUbel't Gu111...." lie aobel't Yewdall J.uing. aDd Ne. Cbd.topber Gl'etOcsr WeeeMUtlY. '!bel' .e tbeeefoee clull' 81.ctH DellHI'. of tJw latenatloaal COUl't of .lutic. to ••eve foe. al..-yeSI' ten. ,c"'Dc111CJ 6 r.bnu, 11'1. I take this oppoetualt, to ••t.Dd to ~ the cODgcatulatloDa of the Aaee8bll' oa tbel~ ol.ctloa. Mr. PIIIWACII (2'090) (laterpe.tatloD feCtl 1'l'eaclah Wo wl.b fbat of an alDc.eely to tbaak the delegatio.. of the Stat.. pactle. to tIae Statute 01 the latel'Datloaal COUl't of Ju.tice wbicb VOl'. .0 klDd •• to .uptOct ~ %0901e•• cudidat." Mr. Ateu-lolU AMcJa. I. puttllllJ fonracd Mr. ANt- as • cAD41dattt fol' a .eat OD tba latol'aatioaal Court of Justice, tbe Togol••• aatloaal Iroup ea4 the ~~l••e Govel'DBOat bD4 two prlacip.l ~tive.; flcet" to ~D8tl'ate ~il' .tt.c~.t to the 'ul't.dictlon of th. Court" wblch pla,. aD t.poCtaDt 1'01. o. the 'l'laclp.l jUdlcl.1 01'9" of the U.it.d Ratio.., aDd" ••coDd17" to aake • ~.t coatl'1butloa to the cJhcb.l'g. 02 the vsl'1' i.,ortut 1'01e the Couct 1&&8 be•• ·•••lgaa4" ,.rtlcul&rll' i. view of the fact that a Togole•• ba8 ....1' be.a a ..-bel' of the Court. Streagtlaealag tb. 1'01. of the Court requlr••" ia pactlcular" that it. co-po.ltloa .bould r.flect complianco with Artlcl. I of It. Statute. 2hat Articl. pl'ovldel that "At .v.rl' election, the elector. 5ball bear la .lad DOt oD1J' that tbD ,.r.oa. to be elected sbould individually po••••e the quallficatloDS ~...ir.d" but al.o that In the bodl' a. a whole the re,r••~Dtatl0. of the aaia fo~ of civilisation aad of the principal legal 'l'at... of tbe world abould ~ •••u..ed." ("he 'nIl4l.t.) It .... iD tile 11_,= of all tIIoM COIM11tiollUl tllat tbe S'otOl... aaUoaal 9COUP IU44 Goftr_nt. declde4 to tat 'onrud .. 1aitb1J' COIIfeuat cucUdate w!tJa a fuel of espGl'i.DCG 1. the fl@14 of 1.teraatloDal law. Chat 0' our co..a for co-op4tl'&tlo•• WoO wltb4l'awlaig t~ CUllU4aq 0' MI'. Ats.-hffl AM9&. III so "lag _ alacel'.17 tla&t Cbe c...udag "Ill ... cho••a flro. ..... Uos. otUl OB t!Ie 110t "Ill IliMt tbo I'tttUl'...ta I jut cited - .....1r. the latdulc value of tlMl caadJ.date MC1 Ilia I'epn•••tatlo. of tJM; ..la foru of clvlU••Uoa aa4 of t!ae ,d.aclpa! lop! Qau. of tM wo1'14. Dt nUlpme la vi.. of tile ata~.t wo ... 'ut. ....1'4 tlaat tU a.tionl 91'018p of 1'@90 hu vitbcll'_ the cadlclacl' of _. .tu-hfli 1Mf-. Ili. a... "U1 DO lODger "".1" 011 tile ballot ""1'. la the legal 'lrot.aaloa. bat. la aOM vi... tilt. NU.' bu DOt bMa bonte out ~ the votiD9. All. I'••ult. u4 1. spite of CIw fact that we still I'.tat..... delegetloa aDd oa bebelf of tile MUo••l group of Gbmaa .. tM ".1'10'" coatd•• wblcb auppol'ted bla c:ueU4aq•• "..••t deal of faith 1. Ik" Aaute .... ula 'ul'lat ana • 1..,.1' witb eA lateraatloaal l'eputatiOD. particul.1'1!, i. tbe ar•• of .c08Oll1.: aa4 develo,..Dt.l lw. wo "lab to atate oa OUI' owa _ball ADd Cbat of Mr. but. that .. al'a wlthdl'awl.. 1Ila cM41c1aq aD4 .1'8 ••eel.. tbat bill .... be retnOw4 £1'011 tb.9 b.llot paper. De DISlpm. la vi.. of the atau-at "" beft.'ut ....1'4. that the cudld8cr of Mr. ""1 Aaute Ma Haa vlth4r.... llla __ "Ul .. longer appear OD the ballot paper. (Mr. ,...,..... ZS8') In accor4ance with the provisions of Article 11 of the Statute of the Court, it .111 be nec.ssary to hold a second meeting, to fill the remaining vacancy. I therefore propose to adjourn this msetlng and to convene a second meeting imMediately to vote on th~ remaining vacancy. Ib' melting rose at 6.50 p.m. <tb' President)