Security Council's final seat remains undecided after 35 rounds of voting

The United Nations General Assembly remained deadlocked Thursday after a third day of voting to choose a nonpermanent member of the Security Council designated to Latin American and Caribbean states.

After 13 rounds of voting Thursday, which takes the total number of rounds so far to 35, neither Guatemala nor Venezuela had yet obtained a two-thirds majority. Balloting is scheduled to resume next Wednesday.

Guatemala and Venezuela are contending to serve as a nonpermanent Council member for a two-year term starting Jan. 1 2007, replacing Argentina. It is the only seat not yet determined.

In the 35th round Thursday, when 123 votes would have been enough to secure victory, Guatemala obtained 103 votes and Venezuela received 81. There were seven abstentions. Guatemala has led in every round so far, with the exception of the sixth round on Monday, when the two countries were tied.

Balloting will continue until a State from the region achieves the required majority. There is no limit to the number of rounds of voting and in 1979-80 there were a record 155 ballots before Mexico was chosen from the Latin American and Caribbean Group to serve a two-year term.

On Monday Assembly members, following an agreed geographic allocation, elected Belgium, Indonesia, Italy and South Africa to serve as nonpermanent members starting Jan. 1 next year. They will replace Denmark, Greece, Japan and Tanzania when their terms end on Dec. 31.

The Council's five other nonpermanent members, whose terms end on Dec. 31, 2007, are Congo, Ghana, Peru, Qatar and Slovakia.

Source: Xinhua