UN Affairs

Sebastian Kurz, Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventieth session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Globalization is a ‘fact of life’ says Austrian Minister in UN General Assembly speech

22 September 2016
Europe

Globalization has brought enormous benefits to humankind, such as reduced international poverty, new technologies and reduced distances between countries, the Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria told the United Nations this evenings, stressing that there needs to be a realization that the phenomenon also brings challenges.

21 March 1958 – Margaret Anstee, shown here during her tenure as Officer-in- Charge of the Technical Assistance Board Field Office in Montevideo, Uruguay.
UN Photo/MB

INTERVIEW: Margaret Anstee – first woman to become UN Under-Secretary-General

19 September 2016
Global

“A woman of firsts” is perhaps only a summary description of Dame Margaret Anstee, the first woman to serve as a United Nations Under-Secretary-General.

Peter Thomson (foreground), President-elect of the seventy-first session the General Assembly, takes the oath of office during the concluding meeting of the preceding session, becoming the first Assembly President to do so.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

FEATURE: Curtain rises on world's busiest diplomatic arena at UN Headquarters

16 September 2016
Global

As world leaders gather in New York in the coming days, the curtain will soon rise on the busiest diplomatic season of the year at the United Nations Headquarters.

Mogens Lykketoft, President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, gives an interview for the UN News on the Assembly’s work during its current session.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

INTERVIEW: Selection of next UN Secretary-General has been game-changing process, says outgoing General Assembly President

8 September 2016
Global

On 15 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly elected Mogens Lykketoft – a Danish national – to serve as the President of its seventieth session. At the time of his election, Mr. Lykketoft was the Speaker (President) of the Danish Parliament, a position he had held since 2011. Born on 9 January 1946, it was a fitting coincidence that he would turn 70 during his term as President of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly– a personal fact he highlighted during his acceptance speech to the world body upon his election.