A/72/PV.52 General Assembly
In the absence of the President, Mr. Tevi (Vanuatu), Vice-President, took the Chair.
The meeting was called to order at 5.10 p.m.
113. Elections to fill vacancies in principal organs (c) Election of five members of the International Court of Justice Memorandum by the Secretary-General (A/72/181) List of candidates (A/72/182 and A/72/182/Add.1) Curricula vitae (A/72/183)
As members are aware, there is still one vacancy on the Court to be filled. The Assembly will now proceed to vote in respect of the remaining vacancy.
We shall now begin the voting process. Ballot papers will now be distributed. Ballot papers will be given only to the representative seated directly behind the country’s nameplate. Representatives are requested to use only the ballot papers that are being distributed.
The two candidates whose names appear on the ballot paper are eligible.
May I remind delegations that only the box next to the name of one candidate should be marked with a cross. Any ballot paper on which more than one name
is checked will be considered invalid. Votes may be cast only for those whose names appear on the ballot papers.
At the invitation of the President, Mr. Aldoseri (Bahrain), Ms. Sánchez Rodríguez (Cuba), Mrs. Le Diffard (Hungary), Ms. Rheindrayani (Indonesia), Mr. McSwiney (Ireland) and Mr. Waweru (Kenya) acted as tellers.
A vote was taken by secret ballot.
The meeting was suspended at 5.15 p.m. and resumed at 5.40 p.m.
The result of the voting is as follows:
Number of ballot papers: 192 Number of invalid ballots: 1 Number of valid ballots: 191 Abstentions: 1 Number of members present and voting: 190 Absolute majority: 97 Number of individual votes obtained:
Mr. Dalveer Bhandari (India) 118 Mr. Christopher Greenwood (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 72
Mr. Dalveer Bhandari obtained an absolute majority in the General Assembly.
I have communicated the result of the voting to the President of the Security Council.
The President of the General Assembly has received from the President of the Security Council the following
letter, which I will read out on behalf of the President of the Assembly:
“I have the honour to inform you that, at the 8097th meeting of the Security Council, held on 13 November 2017, for the purpose of electing one member of the International Court of Justice for a term of office beginning on 6 February 2018, Mr. Christopher Greenwood (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) obtained an absolute majority of votes.”
The same candidate was not successful in both the General Assembly and the Security Council. 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 this meeting be adjourned and that the 53rd meeting be held immediately to vote on the remaining vacancy.
It was so decided.
The meeting rose at 5.45 p.m.