UN General Assembly set to be led by ex-German Foreign Minister Baerbock
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock Sworn In as President of the UN General Assembly
Annalena Baerbock, the former German Foreign Minister, has been sworn in as the President of the United Nations General Assembly. The ceremony took place in New York, marking a significant milestone in Baerbock's career.
Baerbock's term as President will last one year, during which she will oversee the sessions of the General Assembly. She will manage proceedings and set agenda items, with the main topic of the assembly likely to be the Middle East conflict.
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly will be held under Baerbock's presidency in 2025. All 193 current member states of the United Nations are expected to participate, as they typically do in such events. However, there is no direct information about which countries will specifically participate in the 80th session.
Several Western states, including France, have announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state during the debate. However, the German government currently does not consider the prerequisites for recognizing a Palestinian state to be met, and Germany does not intend to join them in recognizing a Palestinian state during the debate.
Baerbock's election to the post was met with delight from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Despite a Russian disruption attempt, Baerbock was elected with a large majority.
Baerbock is the fifth woman to hold this position, following in the footsteps of Philemon Yang, the former Prime Minister of Cameroon, who previously held the position and was bid farewell.
As the President of the UN General Assembly, Baerbock can only take steps regarding a two-state solution for the Middle East conflict upon its conclusion. The upcoming General Debate of the UN General Assembly, which will take place at the end of September with heads of state from around the world, is one of the agenda items Baerbock will oversee. The debate is scheduled to begin on September 22 in New York.
