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STORY: GA / NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS
TRT: 2.53
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ FRENCH/ SPANISH / NATS
DATELINE: 21 OCTOBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
21 OCTOBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, General Assembly
3. Various shots, ballots being deposited
4. Various shots, announcement of Morocco’s election
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Taieb Fassi Fihri, Foreign Minister of Morocco:
“There is no link between our contribution and the role, mandate we have today from the international community and the evolution of the question of the Moroccan Sahara. You know that the Security Council adopted the parameters to reach a political solution in the sense of compromise and the realistic approach and the Security Council also asked all the parties, including neighbourhood parties to engage themselves in deep and substantial negotiations.”
6. Various shots, announcement of Pakistan’s election
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations:
“Ambassador Puri and I have had a good working relationship for quite some time now. You have seen that the usual tendencies have not erupted between us and that is a good factor. I would say that perhaps both of us have been beneficial in starting dialogue between the two countries and we have gone far and I believe we will go much further.”
8. Various shots, announcement of Guatemala’s election
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Roger Haroldo Rodas Melgar, Foreign Minister of Guatemala:
“Guatemala from the beginning has supported both states and this is recognized by President Colon as far the recognition that should be given to the Palestinian State and at the same time the recognition of Israel by all countries.”
10. Various shots, announcement of Togo’s election
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Elliot Ohin, Foreign Minister of the Togolese Republic:
“Togo’s politics are based on peace. We really know what peace means and without peace there is no development. The Government of Togo opens it arms to all political parties to establish a government of unity in order for all Togolese to work together towards peace.”
12. Wide shot, General Assembly
Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo will serve as non-permanent members of the 15-member Security Council in 2012-13 after winning their seats during elections held earlier today (21 October) at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
UN Member States voted in the General Assembly (GA) by secret ballot for five non-permanent seats divided by geographical grouping – three from the Africa and Asia-Pacific grouping, one from Eastern Europe, and one from Latin America and the Caribbean.
To win election, a country must receive a two-thirds majority of those countries present and voting, regardless of whether or not they are the only candidate in their region. Voting continues until the two-thirds threshold is reached for the required number of seats.
Morocco received 151 votes which means it was elected to one of the three seats allocated this year to Africa and the Asia-Pacific.
Morocco has served twice previously on the Council – in 1963-64 and again in 1992-93.
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri told reporters outside the GA that “there is no link” between his countries election and “the evolution of the question of the Moroccan Sahara.”
He noted that with regard to the question of Western Sahara the Security Council has adopted the parameters “to reach a political solution in the sense of compromise and the realistic approach” and has asked all parties ”to engage themselves in deep and substantial negotiations.”
Pakistan received 129 votes and was also elected to represent Africa and the Asia-Pacific. Pakistan has served on six previous occasions, most recently in 2003-04.
Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon spoke about his country’s relationship with India, which also seats in the Council. He said that he has “a good working relationship” with Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri of India. He added that “perhaps both of us have been beneficial in starting dialogue between the two countries and we have gone far and I believe we will go much further.”
Guatemala received 191 votes and was duly elected to the Latin America and Caribbean seat, Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser announced after the conclusion of the first round of voting.
Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Roger Haroldo Rodas Melgar was asked about his country’s position on the Palestinian question. He said that “Guatemala from the beginning has supported both states and this is recognized by President Colon as far the recognition that should be given to the Palestinian State and at the same time the recognition of Israel by all countries.”
In a third round of voting, Togo obtained 131 votes, above the two-thirds threshold, and was therefore elected for the Africa region. It will be the second time in its history that Togo has served on the Security Council, with the first stint taking place in 1982-83.
Speaking about his country’s political situation Foreign Minister Elliot Ohin said that “Togo’s politics are based on peace” and stressed that “without peace there is no development.”
He added that “the Government of Togo opens it arms to all political parties to establish a government of unity in order for all Togolese to work together towards peace.”
In the Eastern European category, after several rounds of restricted balloting, neither Slovenia nor Azerbaijan received enough votes to meet the two-thirds majority threshold.
Today’s elections are being held to replace the departing members of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria.
The new members will join Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa, whose terms end on 31 December 2012, and the five permanent Council members, which each wield the power of veto – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
