The Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdullah Shahid has won the election of the new chairman of the UN General Assembly.
Shahid promised to promote equal access to the new crown vaccine, promote a stronger and greener economic recovery, and step up efforts to combat climate change.
On Monday, he defeated former Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasul by a secret ballot of 143 to 48. Two of the 193 members of the General Assembly abstained.
Diplomats from member states all wore masks due to the epidemic, took turns to the Great Hall, putting ballots in a large wooden box.
The current chairman of the General Assembly, Turkey’s Volcan Bozkir said that Shahid will “bring rich experience in multilateral diplomacy” to this job. He has served as the foreign minister of the Indian Ocean island countries twice, and before that Served as the president’s chief of staff for 10 years.
Bozkir said that Shahid has always “strongly called for attention to the impact of pandemics and climate change on small island developing countries”, and climate change threatens people’s lives and livelihoods.
“A Critical Moment for the United Nations”
Shahid, 59, said he was “deeply humbled” for the trust shown by UN member states and the honor given to the Maldives. The island nation is located in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean in southwestern India. It has 26 atolls and a population of approximately 550,000.
Shahid said that he “has an immortal belief in multilateralism and eagerly hopes to serve the international community.” He said that his goal is to become a “hopeful chairman” and “to start work as soon as possible after he was sworn in on September 1st.” .
“This is a critical moment for the United Nations and the world,” Shahid said. “There is very little free time.”
He pointed out that in the past year, the pandemic caused “disease, despair and destruction”, “inequality, injustice and instability” increased, and the earth “suffered” due to climate change.
Shahid said that during his one-year term as the chairman of the 76th General Assembly, his first task will be to recover the world from the pandemic, provide vaccines to everyone around the world, and rebuild stronger and greener. “Ensure that no country is left behind.”
He said that this year can also be a “super meeting of nature”, “seize the momentum of responding to the needs of the earth”, referring to the upcoming events related to climate change, oceans, biodiversity, sustainable transportation and food systems. meeting.
The leader of the Maldives warned that the country’s survival is threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change.
Shahid said he will also focus on “respecting the rights of all people”, revitalizing the United Nations, and involving the media and civil society.
“I will speak out against gender discrimination and advocate gender equality. (And) will not join any gender imbalanced organization,” he said.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated Shahid, saying that the General Assembly is the most representative organ of the United Nations and the foundation of its work, which is “critical to the effectiveness of this organization.”
“In 2021, the world needs this effectiveness more than ever before,” Guterres said. “We mourn the millions of people who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Although the chairman of the conference is largely ceremonial, the position is equally prestigious.
The agency controls the UN budget, adopts treaties to solve global problems from poverty to corruption, and passes many resolutions. Although these resolutions are not legally binding, they always reflect global opinions.
It is also a United Nations agency where countries large and small can speak, and it is also the only place in history where world leaders gather annually.
Last year, because of the epidemic, leaders of various countries made video speeches, but this year’s arrangements have not yet been announced.
In recent months, the conference allowed face-to-face meetings with two representatives from various countries in a huge conference hall, while maintaining social distancing.
In answering questions about future meetings, Shahid said that it is necessary to maintain a cautious attitude. “But, if possible, yes, it is in the interest of us and the organization to return to normal conditions as soon as possible.”
The election of the chairman of the conference follows the regional rotation system. This year it is the turn to elect the next one-year chairman from Asia.
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