Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming majority of votes on Monday in New York.
Through a secret ballot, held in this institution - the largest of the United Nations - Baerbock, 44, secured 167 votes, 14 members abstained, while seven others voted for the other candidate.
Her election in the plenary session before the 193 UN member states was considered a formality, but the secret vote was held, reportedly, at the request of Russia.
In her speech, Baerbock said she wants to lead this institution as a "sincere and unifying mediator."
"My door will always be open to everyone," she said.
also
The evaluation of the four candidates for UN Secretary-General begins this week
Referring to the many crises in the world, she said that "we are living in challenging times, and we are walking a tightrope of uncertainty."
"But we have lived through such difficult times before. It is up to us to deal with these challenges."
Baerbock is expected to be inaugurated on September 9, shortly before the start of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.
This one-year position is largely ceremonial, and should not be confused with the role of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
also A politician, an (experienced) diplomat, and a job in New YorkGuterres has expressed full support for Baerbock, citing her experience as Germany's foreign minister.
"Let us not forget the historical significance that she is only the fifth woman to be elected president of the General Assembly," Guterres said, among other things./REL
