A/64/PV.35 General Assembly

The number of States nominated from among the African States, the Eastern European States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States is equal to or less than the number of seats to be filled in each of those groups. May I therefore take it that the Assembly wishes to declare those States nominated by the Economic and Social Council from among the African States, the Eastern European States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States, namely the Comoros, Haiti, Israel, Namibia, the Russian Federation and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, elected members of the Committee for Programme and Coordination for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2010? It was so decided.

I congratulate the States that have just been elected members of the Committee for Programme and Coordination. Members will recall, as indicated in document A/64/307, that there remain four vacancies in the Group of Western European and other States for members whose terms of office would begin on the date of election. Three terms will expire on 31 December 2011 and one term on 31 December 2012. The General Assembly will be in a position to act on those vacancies upon the nomination by the Economic and Social Council of four Member States from that region. (spoke in English) I call on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on a point of order.

I want to inform the Assembly that the Islamic Republic of Iran opposes the election of Israel as a member of the Committee for Programme and Coordination.

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 111. (c) Election of thirty members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The President (spoke in Arabic): The General Assembly will now turn to the election of 30 members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. The 30 outgoing members are as follows: Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Gabon, Guatemala, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, the United States of America, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Those Member States are eligible for immediate re-election. I should like to remind members that, as of 21 June 2010, the following States will continue to be represented on the Commission: Armenia, Bahrain, Benin, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Therefore, those 30 States are not eligible for election. The General Assembly will now proceed to the election of 30 members to replace those members whose term of office will expire on 20 June 2010. 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 should like to recall, however, paragraph 16 of General Assembly decision 34/401, whereby the practice of dispensing with the secret ballot for elections to subsidiary organs when the number of candidates corresponds to the number of seats to be filled should become standard, unless a delegation specifically requests a vote on a given election. In the absence of such a request, may I take it that the Assembly decides to proceed to the election on the basis of dispensing with the secret ballot? It was so decided.

With regard to candidatures, I should like to inform members of the following: for the seven seats from among the African States, there are six candidates: Algeria, Gabon, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria and Uganda. For the seven seats from among the Asian States, the Group of Asian States has endorsed Fiji, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. For the four seats from among the Eastern European States, the Group of Eastern European States has endorsed Belarus, the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine. For the five seats from among the Latin American and Caribbean States, there are four endorsed candidates, namely, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For the seven seats from among the Western European and other States, that Group has endorsed Australia, Austria, Israel, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United States of America. Since the number of candidates of the five regional groups is equal to or less than the number of seats to be filled in each group, may I take it that the General Assembly wishes to declare those candidates elected for a six-year term beginning on 21 June 2010? It was so decided.

I congratulate the following States, which have been elected members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for a six-year term beginning on 21 June 2010: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Fiji, Gabon, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States of America and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. With regard to the two remaining vacancies, from the Group of African States and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, the General Assembly will hold elections upon notification by interested Member States from those two regions. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on a point of order.

I would like to state that the Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to the election of Israel as a member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 111. (e) Election of twenty-nine members of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly will first proceed to a by-election to elect one member of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme. In that connection, I would like to draw the attention of members to document A/64/297, which contains a letter dated 12 August 2009 from the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations announcing that Belarus would like to relinquish its seat on the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, as of 31 December 2009, for the remaining term, in favour of Hungary. As a result, a vacancy will occur and a new member must be elected to fill the unexpired term of office of Belarus, commencing on 1 January 2010 and expiring on 31 December 2011. In accordance with paragraph 1 of resolution 2997 (XXVII), of 15 December 1972, and taking into account that the vacancy will occur from among the Eastern European States, the new member should be elected from that region. The President has been informed that the Group of Eastern European States has endorsed Hungary as the candidate for the one vacancy. As members are aware, in accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, all elections shall be held by secret ballot, and there shall be no nominations. However, I should like to recall paragraph 16 of decision 34/401, whereby the practice of dispensing with the secret ballot for elections to subsidiary organs when the number of candidates corresponds to the number of seats to be filled should become standard, unless a delegation specifically requests a vote on a given election. In the absence of such a request, may I take it that the Assembly decides to proceed to the election on that basis? It was so decided.

May I therefore take it that the Assembly wishes to declare Hungary elected as a member of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme for a term of office beginning on 1 January 2010 and expiring on 31 December 2011? It was so decided.

I congratulate Hungary on its election as a member of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme. The General Assembly will now turn to the election of 29 members of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme. Pursuant to resolution 2997 (XXVII), of 15 December 1972, and decision 43/406, of 24 October 1988, the Assembly will proceed to the election of 29 members of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, to replace those members whose term of office expires on 31 December 2009. The 29 outgoing members are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Burundi, Canada, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, the United States of America and Uruguay. Those States are eligible for immediate re-election. I should like to remind members that, after 1 January 2010, the following States will still be members of the Governing Council: the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Colombia, the Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Fiji, Finland, Guinea, Hungary, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Spain, Tunisia and Tuvalu. Those 29 States are therefore not eligible in this election. As members are aware, in accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, all elections shall be held by secret ballot, and there shall be no nominations. However, I should like to recall paragraph 16 of decision 34/401, whereby the practice of dispensing with the secret ballot for elections to subsidiary organs when the number of candidates corresponds to the number of seats to be filled should become standard, unless a delegation specifically requests a vote on a given election. In the absence of such a request, may I take it that the Assembly decides to proceed to the election on that basis? It was so decided.

Regarding candidatures, I have been informed by the Chairmen of the regional groups that, for the eight seats from the African States, the eight endorsed candidates are the Central African Republic, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritania, Mozambique, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. For the six seats from the Asian States, the six endorsed candidates are China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea. For the three seats from the Eastern European States, the three endorsed candidates are the Czech Republic, Romania and the Russian Federation. For the five seats from the Latin American and Caribbean States, the five endorsed candidates are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay. For the seven seats from the Western European and other States, the seven endorsed candidates are Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States of America. Since the number of candidates endorsed by each of the five regional groups corresponds to the number of seats to be filled in each region, may I take it that the General Assembly decides to elect these candidates as members of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2010? It was so decided.

The following 29 States have thus been elected members of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2010: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Central African Republic, China, the Czech Republic, France, Gabon, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia. I congratulate the States that have been elected members of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 111? It was so decided.

Regarding the remaining vacant seats from among the African States, the Eastern European States and the Latin American and Caribbean States, I urge those regional groups to submit candidatures as soon as possible. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 112. (g) Appointment of members of the Joint Inspection Unit Note by the Secretary-General (A/64/106) The President (spoke in Arabic): As indicated in document A/64/106, the General Assembly is required, during the sixty-fourth session, to appoint four members to fill the four vacancies on the Joint Inspection Unit that will arise from the expiration of the term of office on 31 December 2010 of Mr. Gérard Biraud of France, Mr. Papa Louis Fall of Senegal, Mr. István Posta of Hungary and Mr. Cihan Terzi of Turkey. As also indicated in document A/64/106, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the President of the General Assembly shall consult with Member States to draw up a list of countries, in this case, four countries, which would be requested to propose candidates for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. Also, as indicated in document A/64/106, paragraph 4, the General Assembly, by its resolution 61/238, decided that, beginning on 1 January 2008, the President of the General Assembly, when drawing up the list of countries, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Unit, will invite Member States to submit the names of the countries and their respective candidates simultaneously, on the understanding that the candidates submitted would be the candidates that the respective Member States intended to propose, to the extent possible, for appointment by the Assembly, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute. After holding the necessary consultations with the regional groups, I should like to communicate to the Assembly the following information received from the Chairmen of the regional groups. For the one vacancy from the African States, there is one endorsed candidate: Senegal. For the one vacancy from among the Eastern European States, the Group has endorsed Hungary. For the two vacancies from among the Western European and other States, there are three candidates: France, Spain and Turkey. As the Group of African States and the Group of Eastern European States have each endorsed one candidate for one vacancy, namely, Senegal and Hungary, respectively, those two countries will therefore be requested to propose a candidate each for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. Since, from among the Western European and other States, there are three candidates for two vacancies, I should like, in accordance with past practice, to consult with Member States through the procedure of holding an advisory vote by secret ballots, to select two countries from among the Western European and other States to be requested to propose candidates for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. Although this advisory vote would not be an election, we would follow the rules of procedure of the Assembly governing elections. If there is no objection, may I take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure? It was so decided.

In accordance with existing practice, the two countries receiving the greatest number of votes and not less than a majority of the votes of those present and voting shall be the countries selected to propose a candidate each for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. May I also take it that the General Assembly agrees to that procedure? It was so decided.

In the case of a tie vote, there will be a restricted ballot limited to those candidates who have obtained an equal number of votes. May I take it that the Assembly also agrees to that procedure? It was so decided.

May I remind members that the Assembly is not appointing members to the Joint Inspection Unit at this time. It is only selecting two countries, which will be requested to propose a candidate each. Therefore, only the names of two countries, and not the names of individuals, should appear on the ballot paper. I should now like to repeat the names of the three countries from among the Western European and other States that wished to propose a candidate: France, Spain and Turkey. I should further like to point out that from the Western European and other States, the United States of America already has a national serving on the Joint Inspection Unit. The name of that State therefore should not appear on the ballot paper. Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind members that, pursuant to rule 88 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting. We shall now begin the voting process. Members are requested to remain seated until all ballots have been collected. Ballot papers will now be distributed. May I request representatives to write on the ballot papers the name of the two States for which they wish to vote. Ballot papers containing more than two names will be declared invalid. If a ballot paper contains the name of a Member State that does not belong to the relevant region, that ballot paper will be declared invalid. Ballot papers bearing the name of an individual will not be counted at all. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Toba (Brazil), Ms. Lalama (Ecuador), Mr. Perestrelo Pinto (Portugal), Ms. Latif (Romania), Mr. Guidiglo (Togo) and Mr. Al-Shahari (Yemen) acted as tellers. A vote was taken by secret ballot.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number of ballot papers: 186 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 186 Abstentions: 0 Number of members present and voting: 186 Required majority: 94 Number of votes obtained: Turkey 146 France 117 Spain 101 The following two countries have obtained the required majority and the largest number of votes: France and Turkey. I declare that they are therefore selected to propose one candidate each for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. I thank members for their advice, and the tellers for their assistance. I should also like to congratulate Turkey and France on their selection by majority vote. In accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, France, Hungary, Senegal and Turkey will be requested to submit the names of candidates and the curricula vitae highlighting the candidates’ relevant qualifications for the tasks ahead. I would like to remind members that, in accordance with resolution 59/267, of 23 December 2004, candidates should have experience in at least one of the following fields: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, valuation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resources management, management, public administration, monitoring and/or programme performance, as well as knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations. After holding the appropriate consultations described in article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary-General in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, I will submit the names of the candidates to the Assembly for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 112.