Maldives’ international minister Abdulla Shahid elected president of 76th session of UN General Assembly

Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was on Monday overwhelmingly elected as President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, garnering 143 votes out of the 191 ballots solid.India had already voiced its sturdy assist for Shahid’s candidature as President of the 76th session of the UNGA, saying he’s greatest geared up to preside over the General Assembly of 193 nations of the world.The General Assembly voted on Monday to elect the President, who will preside over the upcoming session of the UN physique that may start in September.In the fray for the election was Shahid in addition to former international minister of Afghanistan Dr Zalmai Rassoul, who received 48 votes.”Hearty congratulations to Maldives Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid for the robust victory and for being elected as the 76th President of the UN General Assembly,” India’s Permanent Mission to the UN tweeted.Hearty congratulations to Maldives Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid for the sturdy victory and for being elected because the 76th President of the @UN General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/iHp8kEsmUA— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) June 7, 2021
“This is a crucial time for the United Nations and for the world. There’s very little time to spare, so I intend to get to work right away.I intend to hit the ground running on day one in September as soon as I take my oath of office,” Shahid, 59, mentioned in his remarks to the press following his election.I’m deeply humbled by the belief and confidence positioned in me, and on my nation, the Maldives, by this election for the President of #UNGA76. Honoured to have this chance to serve for the betterment of our individuals, planet and prosperity.#PresidencyOfHope pic.twitter.com/GBLxAg87XG— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) June 7, 2021
The Maldivian minister mentioned his “immediate priority” can be restoration from the Covid-19 pandemic and dealing to make sure “vaccine equity” to revive hope from a 12 months characterised by “disease, despair and devastation.””We approach the 76th session in challenging times. Disease, despair and devastation have characterised the past year. Inequality, injustice and instability have increased. The environment, the ocean, our planet is suffering. But we need to get moving again, rebuild communities, rescue the planet, recover economies and above all restore hope,” Shahid mentioned in his remarks to the General Assembly after his election.He underlined that “we need to move to a different normal” and mentioned that his “five rays of hope, my five priorities” are geared towards that.The “first precedence” is recovering from Covid-19, particularly guaranteeing equitable entry to vaccines; then rebuilding sustainably “so that we build back better, stronger, greener and bluer”; subsequent is responding to the wants of the planet.“Humanity must be at the centre of all our efforts so my fourth priority is respecting the rights of all. And because a stronger United Nations is necessary to implement this vision, revitalising the United Nations is my fifth priority. This includes bringing the United Nations close to the people,” Shahid mentioned.”I will be looking to address the health of our people and our economies and work to ensure vaccine equity. We need to vaccinate the entire world. No one is safe until everyone is safe,” he said.UN SEC GEN’S REMARKSCongratulating Shahid on his election, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres commended him for his selection of “hope” as the central theme in his vision statement.The UN Chief said Shahid’s “longstanding diplomatic experience, including in his current role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, has given him a deep understanding of the importance of multilateralism in addressing today’s global challenges.”Coming from a small island developing state, Shahid will bring unique insights to the 76th session of the General Assembly, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November, Guterres said.The UN Chief noted that as the UN’s most representative organ, the General Assembly is the “foundation of all our work at the United Nations, and essential to our effectiveness as an Organization.In his remarks to the press, Shahid added that his ultimate objective is to strengthen multilateralism, enhance cooperation, make the United Nations deliver, reign in a presidency of hope.GENERAL ASSEMBLY AMID PANDEMICIn response to a question on whether in-person meetings will resume in the General Assembly session in September after the pandemic forced over year of virtual meetings, he said “now we have began with one plus one formulation, which appears to be functioning to this point so good. It could be prudent for us to be sure that we preserve our cautious method to this in order that we can proceed the operate of the United Nations within the new regular.””But as quickly as doable, sure it needs to be in our curiosity, within the curiosity of this organisation to return again into the normalcy, if in any respect doable,” he mentioned.Under a pilot undertaking applied within the UN from June 1, delegations would decide to have solely absolutely vaccinated delegates accessing conferences of the General Assembly and its subsidiary our bodies within the General Assembly Hall.According to the established guidelines of regional rotation, the President of the 76th session of the General Assembly was to be elected from the Group of Asia-Pacific States.VOLKAN BOZKIR REACTSShahid will succeed Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir who was UNGA President for the seventy fifth session that got here amid the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.Bozkir “wholeheartedly” congratulated Shahid on his election as the following president of the General Assembly, saying he “brings to the position extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy.”He mentioned because the Covid-19 pandemic continues to devastate communities around the globe and local weather change threatens individuals’s lives and livelihoods, Shahid has been a powerful voice in calling consideration to the impression on small island growing states.I wholeheartedly congratulate @abdulla_shahid of #Maldives on his election because the President of the 76th session of #UNGA. With his dynamic persona & in depth expertise in UN halls for a few years, #UNGA will certainly have an incredible President & chief throughout subsequent session. pic.twitter.com/0F1xGJAYYs— Volkan BOZKIR (@volkan_bozkir) June 7, 2021
“I have no doubt that he will lead the General Assembly in a dedicated, transparent and inclusive manner,” Bozkir mentioned.HOW IS PRESIDENT ELECTED?The President of the General Assembly is elected yearly by a secret poll and requires a easy majority vote of the General Assembly.The Presidency of the General Assembly rotates among the many 5 regional teams – the Group of Asian States, the Group of Eastern European States, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Group of African States, the Western European and different States Group.Traditionally, a regional group agrees on one candidate and presents his or her candidature for election as President of the General Assembly, paving the best way for election by acclamation. But this 12 months the 2 candidates in fray had been from the Maldives and Afghanistan, with each of whom India shares shut ties.EAM JAISHANKAR ON SHAHIDExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his remarks at a joint press convention together with his Maldivian counterpart in Male in February this 12 months, had praised Shahid’s huge diplomatic expertise and management qualities.”In this context, I reiterate today India’s strong support to the candidature of Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid for President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly next year.”Foreign Minister Shahid, together with his huge diplomatic expertise and his management qualities is, in our view, the perfect geared up to preside over the General Assembly of 193 nations of the world. We will work collectively to make this a actuality. We would love to work with you throughout our membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2021-22,” Jaishankar had mentioned.FIRST UNGA PRESIDENT FROM MALDIVESShahid is the primary President-elect of the General Assembly from the Maldives within the 75 year-old historical past of the UN and within the 55 years for the reason that Maldives turned a United Nations member. He is the sixth president from the small island growing states, “a step that I believe brings us closer to true representation.”Shahid mentioned that the worldwide group must rebuild sustainably and the last decade of motion will now additionally must be a decade of restoration, “focusing on building back better, building back stronger and building back greener and bluer.””Targeted interventions will be needed to ensure that no one, no country is left behind,” he mentioned, including that the 76th session could be a tremendous session for nature.”There is momentum on responding to the needs of our planet. Addressing the needs of our people is equally important, ensuring that we respect the rights of all, mobilizing the collective will, and conscience of humanity is a process requiring constant work.”ALSO READ: 200,000 Covid vaccines given by India for UN peacekeepers are already being put to make use of: UN spokespersonHe added that he’ll guarantee extra voice and house for youth within the General Assembly and he’ll increase his voice in opposition to gender discrimination, advocate for gender equality. “I reiterate my pledgeas President of the General Assembly, I will not participate in any panels that are not gender-balanced.”He additional asserted that addressing the calls for of the day will most positively require a stronger United Nations, “a transparent, efficient, effective and an accountable United Nations, coordination, coherence and cooperation within the United Nations system and between its organs.”So we might want to proceed engaged on revitalizing the United Nations, constructing on positive aspects, exploring new avenues.”He expressed gratitude to Rassoul “on your dignified conduct via this marketing campaign.”India, currently serving the 2021-22 term as non-permanent member of the powerful UN Security Council, will assume the Presidency of the 15-nation UN organ in August.In November last year, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, on a visit to Male, had said that the Maldives should play a more prominent role in the United Nations and had reiterated India’s support to Shahid’s candidature for the presidency of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.ALSO READ: India hits out at UN General Assembly President for comments on Jammu and Kashmir