Sixty-second General Assembly

Plenary

46^th Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES 15 SEPTEMBER INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY;

ALSO ELECTS 18 MEMBERS TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

 

The General Assembly today declared 15 September as the International Day of Democracy, “which should be brought to the attention of all people for its celebration and observance”.

Adopting by consensus a new resolution, the Assembly recognized that 2008 marked the twentieth anniversary of the first International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, which would offer a special opportunity to focus attention on the promotion and consolidation of democracy at all levels.  As such, the world body decided to commemorate the International Day, and invited all Member States to participate in a manner that contributed to raising public awareness. 

By the resolution, which was introduced by Qatar during an animated 5 November plenary debate on new or restored democracies, the Assembly reaffirmed that democracy was a universal value based on the freely-expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life.  It also reaffirmed that while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy.

The Assembly further encouraged Governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to promoting and consolidating democracy, including through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation.  Also by the text, the Assembly urged the Secretary-General to improve the United Nations’ capacity to effectively respond to States’ needs by supporting their efforts to achieve good governance and democratization.

In other action, the Assembly elected 18 members to the United Nations Economic and Social Council to serve for three-year terms beginning 1 January 2008.

Those elected today were Brazil, Cameroon, China, Congo, Iceland, Malaysia, Mozambique, Moldova, New Zealand, Niger, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Sweden, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

The 18 outgoing members were Albania, Brazil, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Guinea, Iceland, India, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

The new members were elected according to the following pattern:  four from African States, four from Asian States, three from Eastern European States, three from Latin American and Caribbean States and four from Western European and Other States.

Ahead of those elections, the Assembly acted on a request from Germany to relinquish its Council seat for the Group of Western European and Other States at the end of 2007 for the remaining term in favour of Liechtenstein.   Liechtenstein was then elected to the Council for a one-year term of office beginning 1 January 2008.

As of 1 January 2008, the remaining members of the Council will be Algeria, Angola, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cuba, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and the United States.

Speaking on the resolution for new or restored democracies were the representatives of Benin and the Russian Federation.

The Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday, 12 November, to consider the report of the Security Council on the question of equitable representation.

Background

The General Assembly met today to resume its consideration of the draft resolution entitled “Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies” (document A/62/L.9).  For background, see Press Release GA/10654 issued 5 November.

The Assembly was also expected to elect 18 members to the Economic and Social Council to serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2008.

Action on Draft

The Assembly first resumed its consideration of a draft resolution related to its agenda item on “United Nations support to new or restored democracies,” following its plenary debate held on 5 November.

BORIS V. CHERNENKO ( Russian Federation), speaking before the vote, said his country supported the draft resolution and had actively participated in the intergovernmental practice of its principles.  In the opinion of the Russian Federation, the process of consolidating new or renewed democracies resolved two issues:  first, it performed an important function in facilitating the exchange of positive experiences in building democracies; second, it put in place a provision of support to States with new or renewed democracies as requested.  That would allow the enrichment of democracies across the world, giving them substantive principles.

He continued, saying there was not a single model for democracy and any attempts to unilaterally inculcate or implant a country’s own idea of democracy went against the spirit of the resolution.

The Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus.

Speaking in explanation of vote, JEAN-MARIE EHOUZOU ( Benin), as the host country of the Fourth International Conference on New or Restored Democracies, welcomed adoption of the draft resolution.  At the African level, his country was one of the main forces behind the drafting of the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.  That text was a “true, priceless victory for the people of the African continent”.  The activities of Qatar and the advisory council were particularly welcome, and it was fortunate that the action plan of the advisory council for 2007-2009 had been adopted.  Member States should cooperate with the implementation of that plan, as it would have a practical impact on democratic institutions.  In closing, he reiterated his support for the bold actions of countries to strengthen their democratic institutions and his belief in the International Conferences on New or Restored Democracies as the best framework for discussion.

Voting Results

Liechtenstein ’s Election to the Seat Vacated by Germany

Ahead of the general elections for the Economic and Social Council, the Assembly President drew attention to a letter from Germany to the United Nations, announcing it would relinquish its seat for the Group of Western European and Other States at the end of 2007, in favour of Liechtenstein, which would hold the seat until 31 December 2008.  The Assembly then elected Liechtenstein a member of the Council.

Western European and Other States (1 seat)
Number of ballot papers:	180
Number of invalid ballots:	14
Number of valid ballots:	166
Abstentions:	14
Number of Members voting:	152
Required majority:	102
Number of votes obtained:
Liechtenstein	129
Sweden	8
Iceland	6
United Kingdom	5
Germany	3
Switzerland	1
Economic and Social Council Membership
African States (4 seats)
Number of ballot papers:	188
Number of invalid ballots:	0
Number of valid ballots:	188
Abstentions:	1
Number of Members voting:	187
Required majority:	125
Number of votes obtained:
Cameroon	183
Congo	183
Mozambique	184
Niger	183
Nigeria	2
Democratic Republic of the Congo	1
Somalia	1
Sudan	1
Asian States (4 seats)
Number of ballot papers:	188
Number of invalid ballots:	0
Number of valid ballots:	188
Abstentions:	0
Number of Members voting:	188
Required majority:	126
Number of votes obtained:
China	181
Malaysia	185
Pakistan	177
Republic of Korea	179
Qatar	1
Saudi Arabia	1
Laos People’s Democratic Republic	1
Eastern European States (3 seats)
Number of ballot papers:	188
Number of invalid ballots:	0
Number of valid ballots:	188
Abstentions:	3
Number of Members voting:	185
Required majority:	124
Number of votes obtained:
Moldova	184
Poland	176
Russian Federation	180
Albania	1
Belarus	1
Latin American and Caribbean States (3 seats)
Number of ballot papers:	188
Number of invalid ballots:	0
Number of valid ballots:	188
Abstentions:	2
Number of Members voting:	186
Required majority:	124
Number of votes obtained:
Brazil	182
Saint Lucia	181
Uruguay	181
Costa Rica	1
Mexico	1
Western European and Other States (4 seats)
Number of ballot papers:	188
Number of invalid ballots:	0
Number of valid ballots:	188
Abstentions:	5
Number of Members voting:	183
Required majority:	122
Number of votes obtained:
Iceland	178
New Zealand	174
Sweden	174
United Kingdom	174
Denmark	2

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For information media • not an official record