Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman won a hotly contested race Tuesday to be the next president of the 193-member United Nations General Assembly, defeating Cyprus’ Ambassador Andreas Kakouris.
In a secret-ballot vote, Rahman defeated Kakouris 99-91, with three countries not voting. He will succeed Germany’s former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose one-year term ends in September.
The presidency of the world body rotates by region and this year it was the Asia-Pacific region’s turn.
Following the vote, Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry thanked Kakouris “for his clear vision for a presidency committed to practical multilateralism that restores trust, strengthens delivery, and ensures that the United Nations works for all, a vision he consistently advanced over recent months.
“Cyprus will continue to work actively, consistently, and responsibly to strengthen multilateral cooperation and advance the principles and values of the United Nations, with a steadfast commitment to effective multilateralism with the United Nations at its core.”
