A/53/PV.56 General Assembly

This morning the General Assembly will proceed to the election of 18 members of the Economic and Social Council to replace those members whose term of office expires on 31 December 1998. The 18 outgoing members are Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, the Central African Republic, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, Gabon, Guyana, Jordan, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Romania, the Russian Federation, Sweden, Togo, Tunisia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As of 1 January 1999, the following States will continue to be represented on the Economic and Social Council: Algeria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, the Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, El Salvador, France, the Gambia, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United States of America, Viet Nam and Zambia. The names of these 36 States should therefore not appear on the ballots. In accordance with paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 2847 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971, and taking into account the number of States which will remain members of the Council after 1 January 1999, the 18 members should be elected as follows: four from African States, three from Latin American and Caribbean States, four from Asian States, four from Western European and other States and three from Eastern European States. The ballot papers reflect this pattern. 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 this 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. Regarding candidatures, I have been informed by the Chairmen of the regional groups that, for the four vacant seats from among the African States, the four endorsed candidates are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco and Rwanda. For the Eastern European States, there are five candidates for three vacant seats. The candidates are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. For the three vacant seats from among the Latin American and Caribbean States, there are four candidates, namely, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras and Venezuela. For the Western European and other States, the Group of Western European and other States has endorsed four candidates for four vacant seats: Canada, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, we shall now proceed to the election by secret ballot. Ballot papers marked “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” and “E” will now be distributed. I request representatives to use only those ballot papers and to write on them the names of the States for which they wish to vote. A ballot paper containing more names from the relevant region than the number of seats assigned to it will be declared invalid. Names of Member States on a ballot paper which do not belong to that region will not be counted at all.

The result of the voting is as follows: Group A — African States Number of ballot papers: 175 Number of invalid ballots: 1 Number of valid ballots: 174 Group B — Asian States Number of ballot papers: 175 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 175 Abstentions: 2 Number of members voting: 173 Required two-thirds majority: 116 Number of votes obtained: Indonesia 142 China 140 Saudi Arabia 138 Syrian Arab Republic 117 Turkmenistan 114 Uzbekistan 2 Bangladesh 1 Group C — Eastern European States Number of ballot papers: 175 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 175 Abstentions: 3 Number of members voting: 172 Required two-thirds majority: 115 Number of votes obtained: Russian Federation 120 Bulgaria 98 Czech Republic 98 Republic of Moldova 86 the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 84 Group D — Latin American and Caribbean States Number of ballot papers: 175 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 175 Abstentions: 3 Group E — Western European and other States Number of ballot papers: 175 Number of invalid ballots: 3 Number of valid ballots: 172 Abstentions: 16 Number of members voting: 156 Required two-thirds majority: 104 Number of votes obtained: Canada 152 Norway 151 Denmark 149 United Kingdom 148 Finland 2

I congratulate the States which have been elected members of the Economic and Social Council. Two seats from among the Eastern European States remain to be filled. In accordance with the rules of procedure, we should now proceed with a series of restricted ballots. However, in view of the late hour, I propose that we postpone further balloting until 3 p.m. today. May I take it that the Assembly agrees to this proposal?