United Nations, June 07: The UN General Assembly has unanimously elected external affairs minister of Saint Lucia, one among the smallest countries, as the president for its 58th session beginning in September next. Thanking members for electing him yesterday, Julian R Hunte said that it was notable that presidency of the "singularly important world body" would pass to the smallest country ever to hold the office. Through this, the UN has reaffirmed its faith in the equal right of nations large and small, as enunciated in the UN charter, he said. States of Cape Verde, China, Equatorial Guinea, France, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, UK, US, and Yemen were elected vice presidents for the next session.
In other business yesterday, the assembly appointed Christopher Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago as a member of the joint inspection unit for a five-year term beginning on Jan.1 2004 and extended the term of Rubens Ricupero as Secretary-General of the UN conference on trade and development for one year beginning Sept 15 next.
Bureau Report