Word: voting
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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After three days of intense, sometimes emotional debate, the time had come to vote. Normally, delegates in the U.N. General Assembly cast their ballots electronically, pushing buttons at their desks and watching the results -- green for yes, red for no -- wink up instantly on two display boards overlooking the hall. This time, 18 Arab countries insisted on a voice vote as well. By a draw of lots, Britain went first, and abstained. Next came Uruguay, with a decisive si. Soon there was a oui and a da, then the Arabic assent na'am. As the U.N.'s six official languages...
Despite the nervous mirth, the vote was thoroughly earnest. By a resounding count of 151 to 2, the U.N. deplored the U.S. refusal to grant a visa to Yasser Arafat so that he could address the General Assembly. The Arab- sponsored resolution gave Washington 24 hours to "reconsider and reverse" its decision. As expected, Secretary of State George Shultz, who made the decision in the first place, refused to yield, reasserting that Arafat, as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, was an "accessory" to terrorism and consequently barred under American law from entering the U.S. Two days later the General...
...Reagan Administration emerged as a clear loser. Rarely had the U.S. been the target of such overwhelming international criticism. Even Washington's most loyal allies in Western Europe lined up against Shultz, challenging the legality and the political soundness of his position. While Britain abstained from both U.N. votes, British officials made it clear that they too favored an Arafat appearance before the U.N. Israel alone stood with Washington, casting the only other no vote and hailing Shultz's refusal as a "brave decision...
...that he has serious, apparently growing troubles at home. In recent weeks there have been bloody riots in the Caucasus and protests along the Baltic. At a special session of the Supreme Soviet, a few deputies to the traditionally rubber-stamp parliament took glasnost and democratization seriously enough to vote against some of Gorbachev's reforms. These difficulties give Gorbachev two reasons to keep hitting the diplomatic high road: he must reduce international tensions if he / is to devote more resources to internal restructuring, and he needs a demonstrably successful foreign policy to compensate for the setbacks to his domestic...
...deputies at last week's session of the Supreme Soviet were forced to turn their heads to see what was going on -- not on the podium but in their midst. A motion to approve major changes in the constitution had just been put to a vote, but the show of hands was not unanimous. "Could I ask for a count of those voting against?" asked acting parliamentary speaker Avgust Voss, somewhat disconcerted, as aides hurried along the aisles...