By a consensus, in the late hours of Monday, June 14, 2015 the United Nations General Assembly, sitting in New York, United Stated of America elected Mogens Lykketoft, a former Foreign Minister and Speaker of the Danish Parliament as the President of its 70th assembly.
Lykkestoft is to step into the ceremonial responsibilities of his presdecessor, Sam Kutesa of Uganda on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 just before world leaders gather to annual high-level meetings at the UN to celebrate its 70th anniversary.
In his acceptance speech, he stated that the theme of his Presidency would be “a new commitment to action”
He said, “I aim to organise our work in a way that allows us to reflect on the successes but also the shortcomings in these first 70 years, while also looking to the future.”
He further stated that his goals are to include an agreement to mitigate the effects of climate change, which should be decided at the end of 2015 in Paris.
According to Lykkesoft, the Assembly is also to put into consideration sustainable development goals, which are global development benchmarks to be me t in the next 15 years.
Lykkesoft would be the first Danish to hold the Presidency of the Assembly, for which regional groups nominate one candidate during their turn.
Coincidentally, he is to turn 70 during the next session.
