Past Presidents

65th Session: Joseph Deiss

Portrait of Mr. Joseph Deiss, President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 65th session. UN Photo/Mark Garten

Joseph Deiss was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 65th session on 11 June 2010. An economist and politician with extensive experience in multilateral affairs, Mr. Deiss served in the Federal Council of Switzerland (Swiss cabinet) from 1999 to 2006.

Joseph Deiss presided the General Assembly’s 65th session from 14 September 2010 to 12 September 2011.

Also on 11 June 2010, the General Assembly elected 21 Vice-Presidents for the 65th session:

Priorities

Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

The sixty-fifth session opened with a debate on a fundamental issue, namely, making progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Those goals remind us that poverty is multifaceted and requires wide-ranging action.

"The commitment of the international community is particularly important today," said president H.E. Mr. Joseph Deiss in his acceptance speech. "How can the progress made just prior to the economic and financial crisis be consolidated? How can implementation be accelerated in areas such as maternal health and infant mortality, which have been lagging behind? In addition, how can we prevent new economic and financial crises and ensure lasting economic growth whereby the most vulnerable enjoy decent living conditions and natural resources are utilized in a prudent way? Climate change, food security and the reconstruction and strengthening of fragile post-conflict States are other major issues confronting us. However, finding lasting solutions to those challenges requires governance that better reflects new global balances. It also requires a United Nations that functions more effectively and serves the interests of every individual."

"Lastly," he continued, "human rights, the ideals underlying the Red Cross, humanitarian assistance and disarmament are all values close to my country’s heart that are highlighted in Geneva, and that we will address during the sixty-fifth session."

Main issues and processes

Statements and Messages

September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
June 2010

Letters

September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010

Team

  • H.E. Joseph Deiss, President PDF
  • H.E. Mr. Armin Ritz, Chef de Cabinet
  • H.E. Mr. Benno Laggner, Deputy Chef de Cabinet
  • H.E. Ms. Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Head of Policy Issues
  • Ms. Danielle Meuwly, Personal Advisor to the President
  • Mr. Jean Victor Nkolo, Spokesperson
  • Ms. Nicole Ruder, Senior Advisor Development (Second Committee)
  • Ms. Natalie Kohli, Senior Advisor (Human Rights Council Review, Third Committee)
  • Mr. Wasim Mir, Senior Advisor (Humanitarian and Health Issues)
  • Mr. Giuseppe Nesi, Legal Advisor (Sixth Committee)
  • Ms. Hafida Lahiouel, Senior Advisor (Fifth Committee, GA Affairs, Protocol, Civil Society)
  • Ms. Valerie Kyrle, Advisor (Regional Political Issues, Thematic Political Issues)
  • Mr. Moses Rugema, Advisor (Humanitarian and Health Issues)
  • Mr. Arrmanatha Nasir, Advisor (Economic Issues, Least Developed Countries)
  • Mr. Gustavo Senechal, Advisor (Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding, First Committee)
  • Ms. Rachel Stein-Holmes, Advisor (Migration, Thrid Committee)
  • Ms. Hyun S. Sung, Advisor (Environmental Issues)
  • Mr. Jonas von Freiesleben, Advisor (Security Council Reform, Fourth Committee, Middle East)
  • Ms. Laura Schweizer, Advisor (June-December 2010) (Third Committee, Health Issues)
  • Mr. Jose Rene Tanoy, Administrative Assistant
  • Ms. Alice Farhat, Administrative Assistant to the President
  • Mr. Mahmoud Ablan, Webmaster (April-September 2011)
  • Mr. Yeasin Arafat, Webmaster (September 2010-February 2011)

Multimedia

14 September 2010 - 1st plenary meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly

Quick Links

Key Documents

Resources