[TRANSCRIPTIONIST’S NOTE: SIDE 3 OF THIS SET OF TAPES WAS MOSTLY BLANK.] [STARTS AT END OF SIDE 2] Strengthening the Role of the United Nations in Enhancing and Genuine Elections and the Promotion of Democratization (A/C.3/64/L.26/Rev.1) UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is my honor to bring before the Committee for action the resolution entitled Strengthening the Role of the United Nations in Enhancing Periodic and Genuine Elections and the Promotion of Democratization, L.26, Rev. 1. I have the pleasure of announcing that the following countries have been added to the list of cosponsors since the tabling of the revisions – Netherlands, Slovenia, and Sweden. Mr. Chair, for the first time in many years, the traditional cosponsors of this text have held open, informal consultations. For over a month, we have been in discussions with interested delegations and have made many amendments to the original text. The Rev. 1 before you now contains five new preambular paragraphs. Three of these new paragraphs echo the words of the World Summit Outcome document paragraph on Democracy and the other two reinforce further the notion, already present in the text, that countries themselves are responsible for their own electoral processes and electoral assistance is given only upon request of the host government. A new operative paragraph reaffirms the objective, impartial, neutral and independent nature of UN electoral assistance. In addition to these new paragraphs, several proposed amendments from our negotiating partners have been incorporated into the text before you, including adjustments to the references to cost-effective and sustainable technology, the coordination of the multiplicity of actors involved in electoral assistance, and the evolving needs and legislation of states regarding electoral processes. The text before us acknowledges the aim of harmonizing the different methods of electoral assistance used by different organizations. In that context, the resolution expresses appreciation for the principles of international electoral observation ... [END SIDE 2] [START SIDE 3] MALE SPEAKER: ... well, the mere fact that if we vote on an amendment it is a text or even if it’s an oral amendment, it is something that is outside the resolution. So we vote on something that is outside the resolution. If it passes, it goes into the text. If it doesn’t, it remains outside. It never was – as if never was discussed. [REMAINING SIDE 3 IS BLANK] [START SIDE 4] CHAIRMAN: Can we continue? Representative of Egypt, you have the floor. EGYPT REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can see some merits here to what is being discussed. However, we would like to request suspension for five minutes to seek instructions on this, if possible, and we would appreciate if the Chairman and the Committee would indulge us on this. We don’t wish to call for a vote on this, so we would appreciate if we have just two minutes. Thank you. RUSSIAN FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I merely wanted to clarify that before we formulate our proposal on the second part of the Operative Paragraph 8 of this draft resolution, before we did that, deliberately tried to formulate it in a way such that this would not provoke a vote on the resolution as a whole. Since, in any case, we were planning to vote for the resolution as a whole, if someone were to request a separate vote on the resolution as whole. At the same time, our goal, however, here was not to put the entire resolution up for a vote. Thank you. UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In light of that clarification from the Russian Federation, if no one has specifically requested a vote, I would ask you that we move towards adoption of this resolution immediately without a vote and bring this to a close. Thank you. CHAIRMAN: I thank the representative of the United States. May I ask the representative of Egypt, are you insisting on the suspension of the meeting? EGYPT REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank delegations who took the floor to give us time to consult on this. We managed to do that in the short time that we were given. We note that the motion that was made, there was no objection to it, so it was carried without any objection and in that case, yes, Rule 129 does not apply here. We are happy to join consensus on this resolution. Thank you. CHAIRMAN: So may I take it that the Committee wishes to adopt Draft Resolution L.26/Rev. 1 as already revised without a vote. I hear no objection. It is so decided. CUBA REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Cuba observes that given that the text with the changes brought by the main sponsor, leaves the text modified appropriately so. That said, Cuba has read OP8 as ... declaration of principles on international observation election and the code of conduct of international observers is not a document that has been negotiated in an intergovernmental manner. It has not been adopted by the UN member states. Hence, we disassociate ourselves with it. Cuba believes that genuine and legitimate democratic elections do not necessarily need the international observation. This observation is only – only comes when it has been expressly requested with the consent of the member state in question. We reaffirm that in holding of elections there must be a respect for the principles of that enshrined in the UN Charter and, in particular, as regards the right for national sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference in the internal matters of a state. We further reaffirm the right to free determination pursuant to which all people freely determine their political status for which reason there is no single model of democracy in the world. Further, we confirm the principle of the fullest popular participation in electoral processes. Thank you very much. IRAN REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Islamic Republic of Iran has joined the consensus on Draft Resolution L.26/Rev. 1. However, we would like to express the following explanation. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes any initiative aiming at the promotion and – promotion of democratization. However, it should be underscored that while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy. To have genuine democracy, it is fundamental to recognize the national and domestic capacities for organizing, conducting and ensuring free and fair electoral process. Any United Nations electoral assistance and support should not undermine the capabilities and capacities of local electoral institutions to administer fair elections. Moreover, my delegation would like to reserve its position with regard to Operative Paragraph 8 of the resolution on the declaration of principles for international election observation and we disassociate – my delegation disassociates itself from this paragraph. Thank you so much. EGYPT REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Although we have voted against the paragraph, as requested by – or the part of the paragraph as requested by the Russian delegation, we have joined consensus on the whole resolution. For Egypt, we are only bound what our heads of state and government or ministers agree to within the African Union context, not what the African Union Secretariat agrees to. The document was adopted or endorsed by the AU Secretariat, not the African Union as an intergovernmental body. In principle, our national position is against bringing texts that are not negotiated through an intergovernmental process to either the AU (the African Union) or the United Nations, whether by the Secretariats, or other states. Thank you. LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The delegation of my country supports the general consensus on the draft resolution adopted now. But my delegation would like to reaffirm that elections are not the sole means for the implementation of democracy, and this ... Libya has adopted another mechanism that is the choice of leaders directly through by the public, the popular public in Libya. Thank you. VENEZUELA REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela appreciates the flexibility shown by the delegation of the United States for having made the decision to hold informal consultations on this draft resolution. Thanks to this exercise, we were able to incorporate important concepts into the text that allowed for an improvement of the content of the same. Our delegation welcomes the fact that this year the text reflects the reference to democracy as a universal value based in the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and in the full public participation in all aspects of their lives. We are also happy to see in this text the inclusion of a recognition that there is not one single model for democracy and that there is no model from one country or one region that is seen throughout the world. This reaffirms the idea that indirect or representative democracy is not the only possible form of democracy. There are other complementary forms of democracy such as participative and – participative democracy in which the people participate directly in the oversight and decisions in public management in order to insure their full development individually and collectively. To this end, participative democracy of the people is in the political sphere in Venezuela by way of holding periodic elections for public positions, consult referendums and four different types of constitutional referendums. These include a consultative referendum, a referendum revoking public posts, that sanctioning international conventions and that overturning laws. However, for our country, the mere holding of periodic elections is not sufficient for attaining a stable and genuine democratic system. Poverty, marginalization, illiteracy and low levels of human development are factors that have a negative effect on the consolidation of democracies. Hence, without bringing social justice in societies we cannot have true, genuine stable and quality democracies. The participation of the citizenry, equity and social justice are fundamental, essential points of democracy. Our delegation believes that any effort that the United Nations takes in order to promote democracy in the world should bear in mind these elements. Mr. Chairman, as regards electoral systems provided by the United Nations for improving the holding of periodic elections around the world, my delegation believes that this assistance should come under the strict request and consent of the states. Our country believes that the states have the single and exclusive authority to hold their own elections. For this reason, we believe that electoral systems provided by the United Nations or by any other international body or regional body including non-governmental organizations, national or international in nature, should be provided in strict adherence to the principles of sovereignty and nonintervention. And they should, furthermore, respect domestic legislation, in particular, the electoral legislation of the state in question. Further, it is incumbent upon the national authorities in election matters to coordinate the activities undertaken by the many bodies that could provide electoral assistance – inside and outside of the United Nations. We wish to reaffirm our position that to have fair and transparent elections in our states, we do not necessarily need national or international electoral observer missions. In many cases, these electoral observer missions can create conditions that lead to a higher level of confidence and calm. However, they’re not necessarily essential when it comes to having free transparent and genuine elections in a state. It is for this reason that we believe that it is essential that all electoral assistance provided at the behest of a country, including through electoral observer missions, should be conducted in strict adherence to neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Lastly, Mr. Chairman, we would like to refer to the tenth preambular paragraph of this resolution. Our delegation believes that all individuals have a right to the freedom of expression, a right that includes the right to seek, find and disseminate information. However, our delegation believes that the exercising of this right brings rights and responsibilities that should be respected as set forth in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Further, we recognize the importance of recognizing that all individuals have access to true and timely information that is not manipulated by the press. Along these lines, we take reservation on the mention to the press, we believe that the work of the press should be regulated by the state and that the exercise of their freedom of expression brings with it duties and responsibilities that they cannot avoid. As we believe that the freedom of the press to which this makes mention is also subject to the contents of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the principles contained in other instruments of international law and domestic legislation in our states. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. [END]   HUDSON INSTITUTE Third Committee: Elimination of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance... Action on Draft Proposals A/C.3/64/L.26/Rev.1 – Russia, Oral Amendment November 23, 2009 (AM SESSION) 4