UN General Assembly gets new president
Updated: 2015-06-16 08:58
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
Chairman of the Danish parliament Mogens Lykketoft poses for a photo at his office at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen September 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies] |
UNITED NATIONS - Mogens Lykketoft, speaker of the Danish Parliament was elected president of the 70th annual UN General Assembly by acclimation Monday, succeeding Sam Kutesa who served as president of the 69th annual session.
There was no suspense leading up to the election because he was choice of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), whose turn it was to nominate an assembly president. The WEOG decision to name him was made behind closed doors by group members. Representatives of the other groups and WEOG welcomed Lykketoft.
He is the first Dane to hold the post and the third Scandinavian for the position, coming behind Norway's Edvard Hambro in 1970 and in 2005, Sweden's Jan Eliasson, now Deputy Secretary General to Ban Ki-moon.
Lykketoft, 69, is scheduled to open the benchmark anniversary session Sept 15. On Sept 22 he will preside over the annual General Debate where global leaders will address the world body.
In his opening remarks to the General Assembly Monday, Lykketoft recalled how 55 years ago he visited the UN Association in Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect information about the United Nations and its role in peace making and keeping, disarmament, international cooperation, development and civil rights.
"Today, this hope and these objectives remain as relevant as ever," he said. "We will celebrate the UN's 70th anniversary throughout the session. I aim to organize our work in a way that allows us to reflect on the successes -- but also the shortcomings - in these first 70 years, while also looking to the future."
"The theme of my term as President will therefore be 'The United Nations at 70 -- A New Commitment to Action'," said Lykketoft, who also has held Denmark's foreign and financial ministerial portfolios. He also headed up the Social Democrats party.
- Quotable quotes from Chinese FM's statement at UN General Assembly
- China pledges support for work of UN General Assembly
- Backgrounder: General debate of UN General Assembly
- UN General Assembly president denies Vietnamese report
- Ugandan FM elected UN General Assembly president
- UN General Assembly votes `yes' on Ukraine unity
- Ten photos you don't wanna miss - June 16
- Shaolin monks harvest bumper crop
- Cambridge students mark end of exam with boat race
- Village attracts tourists after first lady's visit
- Top 9 US-listed Chinese companies going private
- Hainan San Jose to Beijing: Ready for take-off
- Trending Across China: A Porsche gilded in gold
- Paris Air Show: From Bombardier's new C Series to China Airlines
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Patent applications lead the world |
Today's Top News
Jeb Bush announces bid for 2016 Republican presidential run
China, US develop new MERS treatment
China to complete land reclamation of construction on some Nansha Islands soon
Military launches drive to root out corruption in construction projects
China, US to kick off key talks next week
China, US sign agreement to boost army cooperation
City honors slain NYPD
Detective Liu
Chinese students on trial in alleged torture of peer
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |