IRELAND: Ireland has backed Guatemala in the long-drawn-out contest between it and Venezuela for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. At time of writing the Latin American rivals had gone through 16 ballots without either of them obtaining the requisite two-thirds majority of those present and voting and there was speculation that a "third-way" candidate might emerge.
Possible compromise candidates included Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico or Nicaragua. Guatemala received 108 votes in the 11th-round ballot, compared to Venezuela's 76.
Out of 192 ballots cast, eight were abstentions, which meant that 123 votes were required for a two-thirds majority.
In the first ballot on Monday, Guatemala received 109 votes compared to 76 for Venezuela. By the sixth round, the two countries were level with 93 votes each but, amid reports of intense lobbying, Guatemala has been pulling ahead of Venezuela in subsequent ballots.
Although the voting is by secret ballot, The Irish Times has learned from authoritative diplomatic sources that Ireland has supported Guatemala.
This is motivated by a number of considerations, including the fact that Guatemala supported Ireland's successful bid for election to the Security Council in October, 2000, despite coming under very strong pressure to support Italy's candidacy.
Irish support is also a reflection of the high standing Guatemala holds within the UN system where its record of contributing to a broad range of UN activities including peacekeeping is widely-admired. Given Venezuela's vociferously anti-American stance in world affairs, it would be surprising if Ireland backed the Caracas candidacy.
Although European Union member states are free to vote for whomever they choose, it is understood that most, if not all, EU votes also went to Guatemala. When there is a contest between different countries to represent a particular region, eg, the Latin American and Caribbean states in this instance, the matter is decided by a vote of the entire UN membership.
Venezuela has mounted a very vigorous campaign and received strong support from African member states, and members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77.
However, comments made by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez during his visit to the UN last month were seen as damaging to his campaign.
Speaking after President Bush had addressed the General Assembly, Mr Chavez said there was "a smell of sulphur" from the podium and, in a separate New York address, he referred to the president as an "alcoholic".
There is a total of 15 seats on the Security Council.
Five of these are held on a permanent basis by countries which were on the winning side in the second World War: China, France, Russia, the UK and US and all of these have a veto power over resolutions. The other 10 seats are filled on a temporary, two-year basis.