New UN President

[Elta]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1659243.htm

Print-friendy versionPrint Email this storyEmail
Last Update: Friday, June 9, 2006. 11:11am (AEST)
Bahraini woman becomes newest UN president

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has elected Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain as its 61st president, marking the first time in 37 years that a woman has been selected for the post.

Ms Khalifa, who is the legal adviser to the Royal Court in the Kingdom of Bahrain and one of the first two women to practice law in her country, has also served as ambassador to France, non-resident ambassador to Belgium and permanent delegate to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

"I'm particularly pleased that we do have a woman president for the first time (since) 1969," UN secretary-general Kofi Annan said.

"And I think she's going to bring a new dimension to the work here. And we should all be happy that she has been elected."

In her address she spoke of her goal to try to achieve a "comprehensive and practical strategy" to combat terrorism, which she regards as "one of the greatest evils of our time".

"The United Nations today faces challenges in many parts of the world which threaten global security and which require collective effort to confront and resolve them," she said.

"What inspires me is a deep feeling of pain caused by the tragedies all over the world, on both the human and environmental level."

The first woman elected as president of the General Assembly in 1953 was Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India, and the second woman, who served as the 24th president in 1969, was Liberian Angie E Brooks.

 

[CaptainF]

A woman!

Yes, finally we can have less masculine phallus waving.

 

[Elrohir]

Why is the President of the UN always from some minor nation? Why isn't he or she ever a person from the US, UK, Russia, or even China or India for that matter. But Bahrain?

 

[skadistic]

A woman from Bahrain this should be good. <-- not ment as sarcastic

 

[allhailIndia]

Shouldn't look as if the US is going for a Diplo victory now should it

 

[The Yankee]

Is she a part of that powerful al-Khalifa family? If so, what does it mean for the UN?

 

[The Yankee]

Why is the President of the UN always from some minor nation? Why isn't he or she ever a person from the US, UK, Russia, or even China or India for that matter. But Bahrain?

Consensus candidates, perhaps?

 

[malclave]

Why is the President of the UN always from some minor nation? Why isn't he or she ever a person from the US, UK, Russia, or even China or India for that matter. But Bahrain?

I glanced at the UN Charter, but didn't see anything specific. If I were to guess, I'd say that the U.N. delegates probably wouldn't want to make a permanent member of the Security Council the President of the General Assembly.

I seem to recall something about the Secretary-General not being from a permanent member of the UNSC, as well, but didn't notice that in the Charter either. It might be tradition, or in a by-law, though.

 

[Elrohir]

Consensus candidates are all well and good. But shouldn't those with influence be given a turn? The US is the world's most powerful nation, both economically and militarily. When was the last time a UN President was an American? (That's not rhetorical; I don't know, perhaps someone could tell me) Or when was the last time it was Russian, or Chinese, or Indian, or from any country that has an important impact on the world stage? With all due honor to Bahrain, it doesn't have nearly the impact on international relations and politics that the US has.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

When was the last time a UN President was an American? (That's not rhetorical; I don't know, perhaps someone could tell me) Or when was the last time it was Russian, or Chinese, or Indian, or from any country that has an important impact on the world stage?

Never been an American, but there was an Indian in 1953, and Germany had one in 1980, according to Wikipedia.

 

[CaptainF]

Consensus candidates are all well and good. But shouldn't those with influence be given a turn? The US is the world's most powerful nation, both economically and militarily. When was the last time a UN President was an American? (That's not rhetorical; I don't know, perhaps someone could tell me) Or when was the last time it was Russian, or Chinese, or Indian, or from any country that has an important impact on the world stage? With all due honor to Bahrain, it doesn't have nearly the impact on international relations and politics that the US has.

Dude, not to be a douche or anything, but it seems to me from your posting that you don't really give a crap about the UN anyway. You always seem to berate the UN as an ineffecient bureaucratic cesspool of corruption.

If thats how you feel about the UN, why would you care if an American holds a top post?

 

[The Yankee]

An American would maybe sway the UN towards a friendlier position?

Though, he does note that people from the more influential countries do not seem to get the post period, be they Russian, Chinese, or American.

 

[MobBoss]

A woman!

Yes, finally we can have less masculine phallus waving.

I reserve judgement on this line of thought until I see a picture of her.

If she has a moustache....

 

[MobBoss]

Why is the President of the UN always from some minor nation? Why isn't he or she ever a person from the US, UK, Russia, or even China or India for that matter. But Bahrain?

Dont you remember the movies? The UN president cant be from the US or UK until we can ensure that our rep is the Anti-Christ.

 

[malclave]

I reserve judgement on this line of thought until I see a picture of her.

I believe that can be found here.

 

[amadeus]

"I'm particularly pleased that we do have a woman president for the first time (since) 1969," UN secretary-general Kofi Annan said.

I think he's more pleased that there's a UN president that isn't interested in investigating the Annan's oil-for-food corruption scandals.

 

[MobBoss]

I believe that can be found here.

I dunno....she looks a tad mannish for my tastes...and with that dark hair...el mustachio has got to be imminent.

 

[Sahkuhnder]

I believe that can be found here.

I've seen drag queens that looked much more feminine than that.

I suppose they wanted a woman that looked 'serious'. Is Angelina Jolie eligible for nomination? She does fit the role of 'international' citizen. Now her being President would get the UN lots of good(?) press coverage.

 

[CurtSibling]

Why is the President of the UN always from some minor nation? Why isn't he or she ever a person from the US, UK, Russia, or even China or India for that matter. But Bahrain?

Think about it.

The major nations already have perma-seat on the security council.

Giving one of the uber-countries the presidency would look like an open road to power-abuse.

.

 

[Truronian]

Consensus candidates are all well and good. But shouldn't those with influence be given a turn? The US is the world's most powerful nation, both economically and militarily. When was the last time a UN President was an American? (That's not rhetorical; I don't know, perhaps someone could tell me) Or when was the last time it was Russian, or Chinese, or Indian, or from any country that has an important impact on the world stage? With all due honor to Bahrain, it doesn't have nearly the impact on international relations and politics that the US has.

What Curt said. This new president has less opurtunity to be biased towards her home nation, because Bahrain is less likely to be a major figure in her work. Even if she is, it matters less because Bahrain is not a major world player.