A/64/PV.118 General Assembly

I should like to remind representatives that, pursuant to rule 88 of the Assembly’s 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.” We shall now begin the voting process. Ballot papers will now be distributed. Representatives are requested to use only the ballot papers that are now being distributed and to place a cross to the left of the name of the candidate for whom they wish to vote. Votes may be cast only for the candidate whose name appears on the ballot papers.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number of ballot papers: 167 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 167 Abstentions: 8 Number of members present and voting: 159 Required absolute majority: 97 Number of votes obtained: Ms. Joan Donoghue (United States of America) 159 Ms. Joan Donoghue has obtained an absolute majority in the General Assembly. 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: “I have the honour to inform you that at the 6381st meeting of the Security Council, held on 9 September 2010 for the purpose of electing one member of the International Court of Justice to fill a vacancy on the Court for a term of office expiring on 5 February 2015, Ms. Joan E. Donoghue obtained an absolute majority of votes.” As a result of the independent voting in the Security Council and in the General Assembly, Ms. Joan Donoghue has obtained an absolute majority in both organs. She is therefore duly elected a member of the International Court of Justice to serve for a term of office commencing today, 9 September 2010, and ending 5 February 2015. I take this opportunity to extend to her the congratulations of the Assembly on her election and to thank the tellers for their assistance. The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran has asked to speak on a point of order.

My delegation wishes to congratulate Her Excellency Joan E. Donoghue on her election as a judge of the International Court of Justice. Nonetheless, my delegation would like to underline that articles 2 and 9 of the Court’s Statute provide the only criteria for electing qualified candidates to the post, and any practice or precedent to the contrary that may imply or bring in other elements other than geographical distribution and that could grant a special privilege or privileged treatment to certain States is not acceptable.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 110?