Lebanese diplomat elected as vice president of UN General Assembly

Amal Mudallali, Lebanon's top diplomat at the UN, will become one of the vice presidents of its General Assembly after the Middle East country was voted to the position on Monday.

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, president of the current 74th session of the UNGA, announced the results in a letter to all members.

"I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all Vice Presidents of the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session," he wrote.

He also addressed the current crisis. "I avail of this opportunity to express my solidarity with Member States who are fighting Covid-19 and extend my sincere condolences for their loss."

Lebanon’s permanent representative to the United Nations Mrs Mudallali said she looked forward to the task.

"I look forward to be part of this historic year at UN with a great leader," she said on Twitter.

I will be honored to work with the new President of the General Assembly ambassador Volkan Bozkir @volkan_bozkir of Turkey as one of the newly elected Vice Presidents of the 75 th UNGA. I look forward to be part of this historic year at UN with a great leader. pic.twitter.com/Oe0iwJ49P7
— Amal Mudallali (@AmbMudallali) June 30, 2020

Twenty-one vice presidents are elected for each year-long session of the body and they are selected to represent all areas of the world. Traditionally the world's most powerful nations and those with permanent seats on the Security Council do not run to be a president or vice president of the General Assembly.

Alongside Lebanon, Jordan and Libya from the region also won the vote.

An official looks at the empty chairs of leaders ahead of their participation in an open debate of the United Nations Security Council in New York. AFP, pool, file

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Turkey’s Volkan Bozkir was elected to preside over the 75th session of the UNGA from September. Although the agenda for the year is yet to be established, he has said that with the heavy workload already in place he will not look to launch new initiative rather than get concrete action on key areas already being worked.

In his statement of vision, Mr Bozkir said he plans to work to “ensure impartial and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and full respect for international humanitarian law in conflicts and crises.”

He also said that achieving progress on UN Development Goals will also be key.