A/49/PV.40 General Assembly

The draft resolution recommended by the Credentials Committee appears in paragraph 10 of its first report. We shall now proceed to consider the draft resolution recommended by the Credentials Committee. We shall first hear representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote or position 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.

As the General Assembly is about to approve the first report by the Credentials Committee, as it appears in document A/49/517, the fact that my delegation does not object to this report does not mean in any way that we recognize the credentials of the Israelis, because in spite of the latest developments regarding the Palestinian question, we do not find that this constitutes any comprehensive solution to this question, and that such solution will be achieved only by recognizing all the rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is their right to return to their land, to exercise self-determination and to establish a democratic state in Palestine where Arabs and Jews live together, with Al-Quds as its capital.

My delegation would like to express its reservation regarding paragraph 10 of the first report of the Credentials Committee (A/49/517) on the credentials of Israel. 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.

We shall now take action on the recommendation of the Credentials Committee contained in paragraph 10 of its first report (A/49/517). 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.

I wish to remind members that the deadline for submission, in writing, of the views of Member States on Programme 6 of the medium-term plan (Elimination of apartheid) contained in document A/49/6 (Prog. 6) - which will be transmitted to the Fifth Committee - is Wednesday, 26 October.

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 1994. The five non-permanent outgoing members are the following: Brazil, Djibouti, New Zealand, Pakistan and Spain. 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 1995 the following States: Argentina, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda. 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 1995 three are from Africa and Asia, one is from Eastern Europe and one is from Latin America and the Caribbean. 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: two from Africa and Asia, one from Latin America and the Caribbean and two from the Group of Western European and Other States. The ballot papers reflect this pattern. In accordance with the established practice, there is an understanding to the effect that, of the two States to be 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. 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. I now call on the representative of the Gambia as Chairman of the Group of African States.

On behalf of the African Group I am pleased to indicate that the African Group endorses the candidature of Botswana for the vacancy allocated to Africa in the Security Council.

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

As Chairman of the Group of Asian States Samoa is honoured to inform the General Assembly that the Republic of Indonesia is the endorsed and sole candidate for election to the non-permanent seat in the Security Council allocated to the Asian region for the term 1995-1996.

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

The delegation of Paraguay as Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Group for this month has the honour of informing the General Assembly that the candidacy of the Republic of Honduras

I now call on the representative of Canada as Chairman of the Group of Western European and Other States.

On behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States I wish to remind members of the Assembly that Germany and Italy are candidates for the two non- permanent seats in the Security Council allocated to our region. The candidatures of these two countries, Germany and Italy, have been endorsed by our Group.

In accordance with the rules of procedure, we shall now proceed to the election by secret ballot, taking into account the statements made by the representatives of Gambia, Samoa, Paraguay and Canada. 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.

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: 170 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 170 Botswana 168 Indonesia 164 Gabon 1 Japan 1 Group B - Latin American and Caribbean States Number of ballot papers: 170 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 170 Abstentions: 0 Number of Members voting: 170 Required two-thirds majority: 114 Number of votes obtained: Honduras 170 Group C - Western European and other States Number of ballot papers: 170 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 170 Abstentions: 0 Number of Members voting: 170 Required two-thirds majority: 114 Number of votes obtained: Italy 167 Germany 164 Australia 1

I congratulate the States which have been elected members of the Security Council, and I thank the Tellers for their assistance in this election. That concludes our consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 15.