UN Assembly elects Serbian Foreign Minister to serve as President of 67th session

The United Nations General Assembly today elected Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Vuk Jeremic, as the President of the upcoming 67th session of the Assembly.

In the meeting to vote on the President-elect this morning, a total of 190 ballots were lodged, with Mr. Jeremic obtaining 99 votes, compared to the other candidate, Ambassador Dalius Cekuolis of Lithuania, who received 85 votes. Of the total votes, 185 were valid, with five invalid votes and one abstention.

“We are a small developing country that belongs to no military alliance or political union,” Mr. Jeremic said at the Assembly podium upon his election. “It is therefore truly honouring to have received the confidence of so many nations from all over the world to preside over the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations.”

The President-elect also proposed that the theme of the high-level debate at the start of the 67th session of the General Assembly, in mid-September, be about the “adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means.”

Made up of all the 193 Member States of the United Nations, the General Assembly provides a forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the UN Charter. It meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as required.