A/50/PV.53 General Assembly

This morning the General Assembly will 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 1995. The five non-permanent outgoing members are the following: Argentina, the Czech Republic, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda. 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 1996 the following States: Botswana, Germany, Honduras, Indonesia and Italy. 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 1996 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. 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.

In my capacity as Chairman of the African Group for the month of November 1995 I have the honour to inform the General Assembly that the candidatures of Guinea-Bissau and Egypt for election to the two non-permanent seats on the Security Council for the period 1996-1997 were endorsed by the African Group on 22 May 1995 and 31 October 1995 respectively.

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

As Chairman of the Group of Asian States for the month of November 1995 I have the honour to inform the General Assembly that the Republic of Korea is the endorsed and sole candidate for election to the non-permanent seat on the Security Council allocated to the Asian region for the term 1996-1997.

The representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has asked to speak on a point of order. I now call on that representative.

The statement that has just been made by the Chairman of the Asian Group is not accurate. The delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has expressed its strong objection to the Asian candidate for the Security Council. South Korea’s membership of the Council would not contribute to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, as the Korean Peninsula is still in a state of war. My delegation requests Member States to pay serious attention to the deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula as a consequence of meaningless competition for a Security Council seat.

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

In my capacity as Chairman of the Eastern European Group for the current month, I have the honour to inform the General Assembly that the Group has not been in a position to endorse one candidate from the Group for the non-permanent Security Council seat allocated to it for the term 1996-1997.

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

In my capacity as Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Group for the month of November, I wish to inform the General Assembly that the Group has endorsed the candidature of Chile for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period 1996-1997.

I now call on the representative of Albania in his national capacity.

I have the honour to introduce the candidature of the Republic of Albania for the non- permanent seat on the Security Council allocated to the Eastern European Group for the term 1996-1997. The Charter of the United Nations stipulates that, in electing non-permanent members of the Security Council, the General Assembly will pay due regard to the contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security and also to equitable geographical distribution. My country meets these criteria required by this supreme document of the United Nations. Albania has respected the Charter and has actively cooperated with the Organization. It has faithfully implemented the resolutions of the General Assembly and those of the Security Council. It has joined in all constructive initiatives in favour of international peace and security and has been a factor for stability in its region by promoting good- neighbourliness. Albania and the Albanians endeavour to ensure that dialogue and understanding are the first and the main means of resolving conflicts. My country is on the list of States that contribute personnel to United Nations peace- keeping operations, and we have taken measures to participate further therein. Meanwhile, the Republic of Albania has discharged its financial obligations to the Organization in respect of both the regular budget and the peace-keeping operations. The election of Albania would also serve to achieve a more equitable geographical distribution in the Expressing my country’s readiness to continue on its path of contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security, I assure the Assembly that Albania is ready to play its role in the Council, fully aware of the responsibilities that rest on a non-permanent member of this main organ of the United Nations. Finally, I express the hope that Member States will vote for the candidature of Albania.

I now call on the representative of Benin.

I have the honour to reconfirm to the Assembly the decision of the Government of Benin, already conveyed on various occasions by correspondence, to present Benin as a candidate for one of the non-permanent Security Council seats allocated to Africa for the biennium 1996-1997.

I now call on the representative of Poland.

I wish to confirm that Poland is a candidate for a Security Council seat for the term 1996-1997. I should like to emphasize that six years ago we expressed our willingness to serve on the Council during the period 1996-1997, and we started our campaign a couple of years ago. I have extensively presented our candidature in meetings with Permanent Representatives here, pointing out our involvement in United Nations activities in different fields, including peace-keeping operations, to which we are among the largest contributors. Let me just mention that this time, in a way, will be the first time for Poland in the Security Council. Although we already served on the Council, nevertheless it was under totally different political circumstances. This time, for the first time in the history of the United Nations and the history of Poland, we will have a chance to speak with our own voice, and we want to use it for the benefit of the

I now call on the representative of Egypt.

I would just like to make reference to the statement made a few moments ago by the Ambassador of South Africa in his capacity as Chairman of the African Group for the month of November. I would like also to refer to the letter received by you, Sir, on 31 October from the representative of Sierra Leone in his capacity as Chairman of the African Group for the month of October, where he conveyed to you that the African Group met at the ambassadorial level and endorsed the candidature of Egypt for the non- permanent seat allocated to North Africa.

In accordance with the rules of procedure, we shall proceed now to the election by secret ballot, taking into account the statements made by the representatives of the different delegations. 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: Number of ballot papers: 177 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 177 Abstentions: 0 Number of Members voting: 177 Required two-thirds majority: 118 Number of votes obtained: Egypt 159 Republic of Korea 156 Guinea-Bissau 128 Benin 60 Ghana 1 Tunisia 1 Group B — Eastern European States Number of ballot papers: 177 Number of invalid ballots: 1 Number of valid ballots: 176 Abstentions: 0 Numbers of Members voting: 176 Required two-thirds majority: 118 Number of votes obtained: Poland 128 Albania 48 Number of ballot papers: 177 Number of invalid ballots: 1 Number of valid ballots: 176 Abstentions: 7 Number of Members voting: 169 Required two-thirds majority: 113 Number of votes obtained: Chile 168 Mexico 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.