A/63/PV.39 General Assembly

I should like to remind representatives that, pursuant to rule 88 of the rules of procedure, “After the President has announced the beginning of voting, no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order in connection with the actual conduct of the voting.” Any announcements, including those concerning withdrawals of candidatures, should therefore be made prior to the commencement of the voting process, that is to say, before the announcement of the beginning of the voting process. We shall now begin the voting process. Ballot papers will now be distributed. Representatives are requested to use only the ballot papers now being distributed. Only those candidates whose names appear on the ballot papers are eligible. Representatives will indicate the five candidates for whom they wish to vote by placing crosses to the left of their names on the ballot papers. Ballot papers on which more than five names are marked will be considered invalid. Votes may be cast only for those whose names appear on the ballot papers.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number of ballot papers: 191 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 191 Abstentions: 0 Number of members voting: 191 Required absolute majority: 97 Number of votes obtained: Mr. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade (Brazil) 163 Mr. Christopher Greenwood (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 157 Mr. Ronny Abraham (France) 152 Mr. Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh (Jordan) 151 Ms. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (Philippines) 106 Mr. Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia) 92 Mr. Maurice Kamto (Cameroon) 81 Mr. Sayeman Bula-Bula (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 23 The following five candidates have obtained an absolute majority in the General Assembly: Mr. Ronny Abraham, Mr. Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, Mr. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade, Ms. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Mr. Christopher Greenwood. I have communicated the result of the voting to the President of the Security Council. I have also received a letter from the President of the Security Council, which reads: (spoke in Spanish) “I have the honour to inform you that at the 6011th meeting of the Security Council, held on 6 November 2008, for the purpose of electing five members of the International Court of Justice for a term of office beginning on 6 February 2009, Mr. Ronny Abraham, Mr. Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, Mr. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade, Mr. Christopher Greenwood and Mr. Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf obtained an absolute majority of votes.” (spoke in English) As a result of the independent voting in the Security Council and in the General Assembly, the following four candidates have obtained an absolute majority in both organs: Mr. Ronny Abraham, Mr. Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, Mr. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade and Mr. Christopher Greenwood. They are therefore duly elected members of the International Court of Justice to serve for a nine-year term commencing on 6 February 2009. I should like to take this opportunity to extend to them the congratulations of the Assembly on their election. In accordance with the provisions of article 11 of the Statute of the Court, it will be necessary to hold another meeting to fill the remaining vacancy. I propose that the present meeting should be adjourned and that the 40th meeting should be held immediately to vote on the remaining vacancy.