Ban congratulates General Assembly President-elect

Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, President - elect of the 63rd session of the General Assembly

5 June 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua on his election as President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly.

The 75-year-old former Nicaraguan foreign minister was elected by acclamation by United Nations Member States in the 192-member Assembly yesterday.

Mr. Ban “looks forward to working closely with Mr. d’Escoto throughout the next session of the General Assembly in bringing UN Member States together to respond effectively to the global challenges on its agenda, which are critically important to the lives of people around the world,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

Mr. d’Escoto will take up his post on 16 September, when the Assembly begins its 63rd session. He will succeed Srgjan Kerim.

Yesterday, after being elected, he told the Assembly that it was vital for Member States to work together on goals ranging from the maintenance of peace and security to the battle to eradicate poverty and hunger to ensure that the UN lives up to its name.

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Nicaraguan elected to head next session of General Assembly