UNGA President-elect promises to back Security Council reform
The General Assembly's President-elect Miroslav Lajcak has promised to back the reform agenda of the United Nations and transform the Security Council into a "21st century body".
Lajcak, 54, was elected by acclamation as president of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly at a special session here on Wednesday.
The 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the 193-member powerful body, will commence from September 12.
Lajcak, who was one of the candidates last year for the position of UN Secretary General, will succeed Fijian diplomat Peter Thomson.
"Thank you @UN General Assembly 4 electing me the next @UN_PGA. Looking fwd to work w/all of you to make this world a better place to live in," Lajcak, Slovakia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, tweeted following his election.
He also said it is high time to transform the Security Council into a 21st century body.
Lajcak called for greater trust between the UN and its Members, stressing that he would do "his utmost to support progress on the United Nations reform agenda, which is vital to improve the efficiency and role of the General Assembly, as well as reform the Security Council into a twenty-firstcentury body."
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres congratulated Lajcak on his election, saying he has always demonstrated an "impressive command" of all aspects of UN action and a strong commitment to the principles that govern our work.
Lajcak has expressed his firm belief that "strengthening the UN is the best investment to achieve the universal desire for peace, development, equality and justice in the world," the UN chief said.
"I think that both of us saw high expectations and got a strong sense of how much governments and people need the United Nations to respond to the deserving cries of people around the world for lasting peace, justice, human rights and human dignity," Guterres said.
The UN chief thanked Thomson for his leadership over the past year, voicing appreciation for guiding the General Assembly "outstandingly well" during the transition from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Guterres taking charge at the helm of the UN.
"Your very strong commitment to the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate change and your enthusiastic leadership in relation to the Oceans Conference represent a legacy that will never be forgotten in the United Nations," Guterres said.
In May last year, the Slovak government had formally nominated Lajcak as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general.
The 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the 193-member powerful body, will commence from September 12.