Background
The General Assembly met this morning to appoint a new member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and to hold a by-election and a regular election to fill 19 vacancies on the Economic and Social Council.
By-Election
The General Assembly held a by-election to fill the unexpired term of office of Portugal, which had announced its decision to relinquish its seat on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the remainder of its term, commencing on 1 January 2004 and expiring on 31 December 2005. The new member to fill this vacancy was to be elected from among the Western European and other States.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:54 a.m. and resumed at 11:15 a.m.
Western European and Other States:
Total number of ballots: 187
Number of invalid ballots: 4
Number of valid ballots: 183
Abstentions: 6
Number of members voting: 177
Required majority: 118
Number of votes received:
Turkey 155
United States 6
Belgium 5
Canada 5
Portugal 3
Italy 2
Israel 1
Turkey was thus elected to fill the vacant seat left by Portugal.
Elections
The Assembly then proceeded to elect 18 new members to the Economic and Social Council.
The Assembly was informed that those eighteen members should be elected as follows: five from African States, four from Asian States, two from Eastern European States, three from Latin American and Caribbean States, and four from Western European and other States.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:33 a.m. and resumed at 1:09 p.m.
African States:
Total number of ballots: 188
Number of invalid ballots: 0
Number of valid ballots: 188
Abstentions: 1
Number of Members voting: 187
Required majority: 125
Number of votes received:
Tunisia 186
Namibia 183
Mauritius 180
Nigeria 180
United Republic of Tanzania 175
Mauritania 1
Asian States:
Total number of ballots: 188
Number of invalid ballots: 0
Number of valid ballots: 188
Abstentions: 1
Number of Members voting: 187
Required majority: 125
Number of votes received:
United Arab Emirates 167
Bangladesh 143
Republic of Korea 133
Indonesia 130
Cambodia 121
Kyrgyzstan 31
Pakistan 1
Eastern European States:
Total number of ballots: 188
Number of invalid ballots: 1
Number of valid ballots: 187
Abstentions: 1
Number of Members voting: 186
Required majority: 124
Number of votes received:
Armenia 127
Poland 123
Belarus 112
Republic of Moldova 3
Romania 1
Latin American and Caribbean States:
Total number of ballots: 188
Number of invalid ballots: 0
Number of valid ballots: 188
Abstentions: 3
Number of Members voting: 185
Required majority: 124
Number of votes received:
Belize 180
Colombia 179
Panama 179
Western European and Other States:
Total number of ballots: 188
Number of invalid ballots: 0
Number of valid ballots: 188
Abstentions: 7
Number of Members voting: 181
Required majority: 121
Number of votes received:
Belgium 176
Italy 172
Canada 171
United States 165
Israel 1
Portugal 1
The following States received the required two-thirds majority and would become members of the Council: Armenia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Italy, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Panama, Republic of Korea, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania and the United States.
Second Round of Balloting
With only Armenia receiving the required majority during the first round of voting, a restricted ballot was held to fill the remaining vacant seat from the Eastern European States.
The Assembly adjourned at 1:25 p.m. and resumed at 1:45 p.m.
Eastern European States
Total number of ballots: 184
Number of invalid ballots: 0
Number of valid ballots: 184
Abstentions: 1
Number of Members voting: 183
Required majority: 122
Number of votes received:
Poland 108
Belarus 75
