A/48/PV.43 General Assembly

The draft resolution recommended by the Credentials Committee in paragraph 12 of its first report (A/48/512) reads as follows: "The General Assembly, "Having considered the first report of the Credentials Committee and the recommendation contained therein, "Approves the first report of the Credentials Committee." We shall now proceed to consider the draft resolution recommended by the Credentials Committee in its first report. Before I call on the first speaker in explanation of vote on the recommendation of the Credentials Committee, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned within one week of the date of publication to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Section, Room C-178, and incorporated in a copy of the record. NEW YORK

My delegation wishes to express its reservations regarding paragraph 4 of the first report of the Credentials Committee, document A/48/512, on the credentials of Israel. For this reason, and in line with the position of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the issue, my delegation wishes to dissociate itself from the parts of the said report referring to the approval of the credentials of Israel.

At a time when the General Assembly intends to approve the first report of the Credentials Committee, document A/48/512, the approval of my delegation of this report does not mean at all recognition of the credential papers of Israel. Despite the latest developments on the question of Palestine we do not think that this is an overall, comprehensive solution to this question. The solution would be the full recognition of all the rights of the Palestinian people and, especially their rights of return to their homeland, self-determination and the establishment of their own independent State.

We shall now take action on the recommendation of the Credentials Committee contained in paragraph 12 of its first report (A/48/512). The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 3.

The General Assembly will now proceed to the election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council to replace those members whose term of office expires on 31 December 1993. The five non-permanent outgoing members are the following: Cape Verde, Hungary, Japan, Morocco and Venezuela. These five States cannot be re-elected and therefore their names should not appear on the ballot papers. Apart from the five permanent members, the Security Council will include in 1994 the following States: Brazil, Djibouti, New Zealand, Pakistan and Spain. The names of those States, therefore, should not appear on the ballot papers. Of the five non-permanent members which will remain in office in 1994 two are from Africa and Asia, one is from Latin America and the Caribbean and two are from the Group of Western European and other States. Consequently, pursuant to paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 1991 A (XVIII) of 17 December 1963, the five non-permanent members should be elected according to the following pattern: three from Africa and Asia, one from Eastern Europe and one from Latin America and the Caribbean. The ballot papers reflect this pattern. In accordance with the established practice there is an understanding to the effect that of the three States to be elected from Africa and Asia, two should be from Africa and one from Asia. I should like to inform the Assembly that the number of candidates, not exceeding the number of seats to be filled, receiving the greatest number of votes and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting will be declared elected. In the case of a tie vote for a remaining seat, there will be a restricted ballot limited to those candidates which have obtained an equal number of votes.

In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election shall be held by secret ballot, and there shall be no nominations. Does any Member wish to speak before we proceed to the election? I now call on the representative of Zimbabwe as Chairman of the Group of African States.

Africa has endorsed the candidature of Rwanda from the central Africa region to fill one of the two non-permanent seats in the Security Council to be vacated on 31 December 1993. However, the same cannot be said for the west Africa region. Hence both Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria are candidates to fill the other non-permanent seat in the Security Council to be vacated on 31 December 1993.

I now call on the representative of Indonesia as Chairman of the Group of Asian States.

In my capacity as Chairman of the Asian Group for the month of October 1993 I have the honour to inform the Assembly that the Asian Group has endorsed the candidature of the Sultanate of Oman for election to a non-permanent seat in the Security Council.

I now call on the representative of the Russian Federation as Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States.

As Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States for the month of October I have the honour to announce that for the one seat for a non-permanent member of the Security Council allocated to the Group of Eastern European States there are two candidates, Belarus and the Czech Republic.

I now call on the representative of Cuba as Chairman of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

As Chairman of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, I have the honour of informing the General Assembly that the Group supports and endorses Argentina as the single candidate from our region

In accordance with the rules of procedure, we shall proceed to the election by secret ballot, taking into account the statements made by the representatives of Zimbabwe, Indonesia, the Russian Federation and Cuba. Ballot papers marked "A", "B" and "C" will now be distributed. I request representatives to use only those ballot papers that have been distributed and to write on them the names of the five States for which they wish to vote. A ballot paper containing the names of more States from the relevant region than the number of seats assigned to it will be declared invalid. Names, on a ballot paper, of Member States that do not belong to that region will not be counted.

Before suspending the meeting for the counting of ballots, I propose that the General Assembly pay a tribute to the memory of the late President of the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Mr. Melchior Ndadaye. Just over three weeks ago the General Assembly had the honour to hear President Ndadaye’s eloquent, thoughtful and profound address. In the course of his statement he informed us that on 1 June 1993 Burundi had held free, open and fair general elections for the first time. He believed that the path of democracy was the only way to resolve the problems of power that affected the Republic. Last week’s attempted military coup against his Government, in which the President was assassinated, was a serious blow to Burundi’s progress and a personal shock to all of us who retain very vivid memories of this respected leader. I invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the late President of the Republic of Burundi.

I call on the representative of Zimbabwe.

I should like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for the tribute that has been paid at this meeting to the memory of the late President of the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Mr. Melchior Ndadaye. Allow me, on behalf of the African Group, to express to our colleagues in the delegation of Burundi and, through them, to the bereaved people of their country our sincere sympathy and condolences on the very untimely death of their President. We in the African Group received the tragic news of the assassination of President Ndadaye with great shock and personal grief. We had had the singular honour and privilege only three weeks earlier of welcoming President Ndadaye to the United Nations, and I as Chairman of the African Group enjoyed the privilege of presenting him to the Group. His address to the Group, just like his earlier address to the General Assembly that same morning, was most profound and inspiring. Brutally murdered in the very prime of his young life and at the pinnacle of his political leadership and statesmanship, President Ndadaye had dedicated his life to the promotion of democracy and the general well-being of his people. He had gained deserved recognition in Africa as a courageous fighter for democratic principles and peaceful cooperation between peoples and nations. It was in recognition of his courage and leadership qualities that, in Burundi’s first democratic elections on 1 June this year, the people of Burundi overwhelmingly mandated Mr. Ndadaye to lead the country as President. The tragedy that has befallen the people of Burundi is enormous. The bloody and senseless attempted coup and the In that regard, we note with appreciation the dispatch by the United Nations Secretary-General of a Special Envoy to Burundi, as well as the efforts of the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity to consult with neighbouring Heads of State on the best way to restore the authority of the legitimate Government of Burundi. We also note with appreciation the rapid response of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme and other relief agencies to the humanitarian needs of the people of Burundi. I should like, therefore, on behalf of the Group of African States, to reiterate our grief and sorrow at this tragic loss and to convey to the bereaved families of the President and the others who lost their lives in this tragedy our deepest sympathy and condolences. Finally, I wish to thank Mr. Insanally for allowing us this opportunity to share our grief with the people of Burundi over their irreparable loss, and to pay homage to that fine son of Africa, the late President Melchior Ndadaye.

I now call on the representative of Indonesia, who will speak on behalf of the Asian Group of States.

I have the sad duty to state, on behalf of the Asian Group of States, that the members of our regional Group have learned with a profound sense of sorrow and grief of the passing of President Melchior Ndadaye. His untimely death under tragic circumstances has cut short a promising career in the service of his country and of the continent of Africa. From the early years of his life, he saw it as his duty to place himself at the service of his country. Because of his unshakeable faith in freedom, progress, democracy and human rights, he enjoyed the esteem and admiration of his people. He will undoubtedly leave his mark as a man who served his country with devotion and dedication.

I now call on the representative of the Russian Federation, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

On behalf of the members of the Eastern European Group of States, I would like to pay tribute to the deceased President of Burundi, Mr. Melchior Ndadaye, who fell victim to the military coup against the democratically elected Government of Burundi. The criminal acts of violence committed by the perpetrators of the coup have been unanimously condemned by the international community. I ask the delegation of Burundi to convey to the family of the deceased President and the Government and people of Burundi our sincere condolences. It is our sincere hope that democracy and constitutional rule will be promptly restored in Burundi.

I call on the representative of Cuba, who will speak on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group of States.

The members of the Latin American and Caribbean Group of States learned with profound sorrow of the death on 21 October of the President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Melchior Ndadaye, and of prominent members of his Government as a result of a bloody coup d’état in that fraternal African country. May I today, on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, express the heartfelt condolences of our members to the people and Government of Burundi, the members of the President’s family and all those others who were close to him. We hope that the country can continue along the path freely and in a sovereign manner chosen by its people towards progress, development and well-being.

I next call on the representative of New Zealand, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States.

It was with great sadness and regret that the delegations of the Group of Western European and Other States learned of the tragic death of the President of Burundi, Mr. Melchior Ndadaye. His untimely death, just when real political progress was being made in Burundi, leaves us all with a sense of loss and outrage. We condemn those responsible for the deaths of the President and his compatriots, and we hope that they will be brought to justice. On behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States, I should like, on this solemn occasion, to convey our most sincere condolences to the bereaved families, to the people and the Government of Burundi, and to our colleagues in the Burundi delegation.

I now call on the representative of the United States of America as the host country, Her Excellency Mrs. Madeleine Korbel Albright.

The United States, as host country, joins the world in condemning the murder of President Ndadaye and other high Government officials. This reprehensible action violates the most fundamental principles of law and morality. We extend our sincere condolences to the late President’s wife and family and to the families of all those who were killed or injured, or who have disappeared. We are shocked and deeply saddened by the violence and mounting casualties in Burundi. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and to respect the authority of the elected Government. The United States reiterates its demand that those responsible for perpetrating the action against the democratically elected Government of Burundi reveal the whereabouts and fate of all Government officials and others who may have been taken prisoner or who disappeared during this action. We support the Government’s right to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those responsible for murder, rebellion and other offences against the Government and people of Burundi. We salute the freely elected Government and the people of Burundi, who remain committed to consolidating their country’s democracy. The international community is unanimous in its support of Burundi’s democratic transition and will condemn any attempt to reverse it.

I now call on the representative of Burundi, His Excellency Mr. Therénce Sinunguruza, Permanent Representative of Burundi.

The tragic circumstances that so recently brought sorrow to my country lead me to speak today in this forum, where you have just paid a final tribute to a man who, only three weeks ago and from this very rostrum, conveyed to you a message of peace, unity and democracy from the people of Burundi. I should like in turn to carry out that duty. But before so doing, may I first of all thank most sincerely, on behalf of the people of Burundi, of my Government and on my own behalf, all those who have supported us and continue to support us during the tribulations forced upon us by a military group intent on achieving their own self-interest by any means possible. Yes, indeed! The Assembly stood together in silence just now to condemn this putsch and the assassination of our President, and the people of Burundi are deeply grateful for this tribute. I thank most particularly those who spoke on behalf of their organizations and of their Member States for the sympathy and support they expressed to my people, who are going through a very difficult period. I also thank the Security Council for the swiftness with which it reacted to the situation in my country and for its crystal-clear declaration to those who were usurping the sovereignty of our people. We are certain that assistance from the international community will help us quickly to restore peace and stability in Burundi. The enemies of peace have struck, and they have struck with great force. His Excellency Mr. Melchior Ndadaye was the first President of the Republic of Burundi democratically elected by the people. The Assembly has just paid a final tribute to him, and for this I should like to thank the Members wholeheartedly. His most earnest desire was that the people of Burundi might finally be shielded from ethnic confrontation, so that not one more drop of blood might be shed. But alas, he did not know that the enemies of peace, unity and democracy were going to begin by By sacrificing himself, he has become a martyr for democracy. "Never again" - the phrase he spoke from this rostrum only 17 days before his tragic passing - will give pause to many peace-loving Burundians for a long time. And today, I say, "Enough of this!" We must finally put an end to the cycle of tragedies which have struck my country. Indeed, the consequences of this putsch were such that the old demons of division have arisen again just when we thought that they had finally been relegated to the trash heap of history. Ethnic violence is currently ravaging the countryside of Burundi. People are seeking refuge in wretched and unsafe areas, and a great many of them have fled to neighbouring countries. The number of displaced persons and refugees is now estimated at 400,000. Though irreparable harm has already been done, the international community must now help us put a stop to this carnage. This requires the restoration and protection of the constitutional order resulting from the June elections. My Government, which is prepared to take things in hand once again, nevertheless requires a minimum of security. Indeed, it can no longer trust its army, which rose up one fine morning to shoot down an innocent President without any apparent reason. That is why the international community must understand the appeal made by my Government for an international force to come to Burundi to ensure the security of political and democratic authorities, to restore peace and security to our population and to help in the return and resettlement of displaced persons and refugees. We have no doubt that this community, already aware of the situation in my country, will not fail to give us its full support. We also would like to avail ourselves of this opportunity to appeal to all States Members of the United Nations, to international organizations and to non-governmental organizations to lend my country emergency humanitarian assistance for displaced persons and refugees. His Excellency Mr. Ndadaye has just been assassinated on the battlefield of democracy. He therefore deserves to be called a hero of democracy in Burundi. For all those who wish to address their written condolences to my people, our Permanent Mission has opened a register for that purpose. To all those who have already done so, I would like to convey my gratitude.

The result of the voting for the election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council is as follows: Group A - African and Asian States Number of ballot papers: 176 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 176 Abstentions: 0 Number of Members voting: 176 Required two-thirds majority: 118 Number of votes obtained: Oman 174 Rwanda 153 Nigeria 99 Guinea-Bissau 82 Burundi 2 Group B - Eastern European States Number of ballot papers: 176 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 176 Abstentions: 1 Number of Members voting: 175 Required two-thirds majority: 117 Number of votes obtained: Czech Republic 113 Belarus 62 Group C - Latin American and Caribbean States Number of ballot papers: 176 Number of invalid ballots: 1 Number of valid ballots: 175 Abstentions: 5 Number of Members voting: 170 Required two-thirds majority: 114 Number of votes obtained: Argentina 169 Honduras 1 Since two seats remain to be filled, one from the African and Asian States and one from the Eastern European States, we shall now proceed to the first restricted ballot. This second round of balloting shall be restricted to those two States from among the African and Asian States that were not elected but obtained the largest number of votes in the previous ballot, namely Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria; and to those two States from among the Eastern European States that were not elected but obtained the largest number of votes in the previous ballot, namely Belarus and the Czech Republic. This is in accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure. Ballot papers marked "A" and "B" will now be distributed. May I ask representatives to write on the ballot papers marked "A", for the African and Asian States, the name of the State for which they want to vote, and to write on the ballot papers marked "B", for the Eastern European States, the name of the State for which they want to vote. Ballot papers marked "A" will be declared invalid if they contain the name of a State other than Guinea-Bissau or Nigeria and if they contain the name of more than one State. Ballot papers marked "B" will be declared invalid if they contain the name of a State other than Belarus or the Czech Republic and if they contain the name of more than one State.

The result of the voting for the election of two non-permanent members of the Security Council is as follows: Group A - African and Asian States Number of ballot papers: 176 Number of invalid ballots: 2 Number of valid ballots: 174 Abstentions: 1 Group B - Eastern European States Number of ballot papers: 176 Number of invalid ballots: 1 Number of valid ballots: 175 Abstentions: 1 Number of Members voting: 174 Required two-thirds majority: 116 Number of votes obtained: Czech Republic 127 Belarus 47 Having obtained the required two-thirds majority, the Czech Republic was elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year period beginning 1 January 1994.

I congratulate the State that has been elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Since one seat remains to be filled from among the African and Asian States, we shall now proceed to the second restricted ballot. This third round of balloting will be restricted to the two States from among the African and Asian States which were not elected but obtained the largest number of votes in the previous ballot - namely Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria. This is in accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure. The ballot papers will now be distributed. May I ask representatives to write on the ballot papers the name of one State for which they wish to vote. Ballot papers containing the name of a State other than Guinea-Bissau or Nigeria, as well as any containing more than one name, will be declared invalid. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Suziedelis (Lithuania), Ms. Jonsvik (Norway) and Mr. Berguido (Panama) acted as tellers. A vote was taken by secret ballot. The meeting was suspended at 1.05 p.m. and resumed at 1.15 p.m.

The result of the voting for one non-permanent member of the Security Council is as follows: Group A - African and Asian States Number of ballot papers: 176 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 176 Abstentions: 1 Number of Members voting: 175 Required two-thirds majority: 117 Number of votes obtained: Nigeria 116 Guinea-Bissau 59

This restricted ballot has been inconclusive. In accordance with the rules of procedure, we all continue with the series of restricted ballots, but in view of the late hour I propose that we postpone further balloting until the next meeting.