A/66/PV.53 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. I should like to seek the usual cooperation of representatives during the time of the conduct of the election. Please be reminded that during the voting process, all campaigning should cease in the General Assembly Hall. That means in particular that once the election has begun, no more campaign material can be distributed inside the Hall. All representatives are also requested to remain at their seats so that the voting process can proceed in an orderly manner. I thank members for their cooperation. We shall now begin the voting process. Ballot papers will now be distributed. Ballot papers will only be given to the representatives seated directly behind country name plates. 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: 192 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 192 Abstentions: 0 Number of members voting: 192 Required absolute majority: 97 Number of votes obtained: Mr. Hisashi Owada (Japan) 170 Mr. Giorgio Gaja (Italy) 164 Ms. Xue Hanqin (China) 162 Mr. Peter Tomka (Slovakia) 149 Ms. Julia Sebutinde (Uganda) 109 Mr. Abdul G. Koroma (Sierra Leone) 88 Ms. Tsvetana Kamenova (Bulgaria) 73 El Hadji Mansour Tall (Senegal) 38 The following five candidates have obtained an absolute majority in the General Assembly: Mr. Giorgio Gaja, Mr. Hisashi Owada, Ms. Julia Sebutinde, Mr. Peter Tomka and Ms. Xue Hanqin. 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 6651st meeting of the Security Council, held on 10 November 2011, for the purpose of electing five members of the International Court of Justice for a term of office beginning on 6 February 2012, Mr. Giorgio Gaja, Mr. Abdul G. Koroma, Mr. Hisashi Owada, Mr. Peter Tomka and Ms. Xue Hanqin obtained an absolute majority of votes.” 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. Giorgio Gaja, Mr. Hisashi Owada, Mr. Peter Tomka and Ms. Xue Hanqin. They are therefore duly elected members of the International Court of Justice to serve for a nine-year term commencing on 6 February 2012. 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 54th meeting should be held immediately to vote on the remaining vacancy.