Trusteeship Council Elects President, Vice-President of Sixty-Eighth Session, Adopts Provisional Agenda

Opening its sixty-eighth session today, the United Nations Trusteeship Council elected Philip John Parham of the United Kingdom as its President, and Martin Briens of France as its Vice-President.

Both were elected by acclamation after being nominated on the basis of consultations among Council members.  After the election, incoming President Parham thanked members for their confidence in him.  The Council also adopted its provisional agenda at the brief organizational meeting.

The Trusteeship Council is a principal organ of the United Nations, created to administer 11 Trust Territories placed under the Organization’s care at its founding in 1945.  The Council suspended operations when the last United Nations Trust Territory, Palau, attained independence in 1994.

Membership of the Council now comprises the five permanent members of the Security Council — China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States.  The Council’s future role is under consideration as part of the broader reform of the United Nations and the Security Council.

The Trusteeship Council will meet again at a date and time to be announced.