UNGA begins its 76th session under new Prez Abdulla Shahid; UN chief sends wishes

As Abdulla Shahid begins his term as President of United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General of UN António Guterres on Wednesday sent his best wishes to Maldivian Foreign Minister. Maldivian foreign minister Abdullah Shahid was elected President United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming majority in June 2021.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, António Guterres having congratulated Abdullah Shahid, wrote, "I look forward to working closely toger during this extraordinary moment in time, so we can live up to great promise and potential of United Nations."  Secretary-General of UN also shared a picture with President of UN  General Assembly. 

76th session of UN General Assembly 

United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 14 opened its 76th session under President Abdulla Shahid and in presence of UN  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Pointing out challenges faced in  year in form of  climate crisis, conflicts, and  COVID-19 pandemic,  Abdulla Shahid said, "It has been a tragic and challenging year, but this is a new session.”

"We can fall back on comfort and predictability of systems and procedures, of United Nations machinery that fills our days, or we can choose to push forward and turn p. We can choose to write a new chapter," said  President of General Assembly. He added, "Let us dare to dream and let us dare to hope, to embrace presidency of hope."

UNGA is key deliberative and policy-making body of UN and is entrusted with job of addressing complex world issues such as international peace and security. It debates on matters of human rights, international law, and cooperation in ecomic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields. Moreover, it also takes us for discussing issues pertaining to individual member states. It is only body of organization where all members have representation.

President of UNGA has claimed that like 75th session, COVID is going to be main focus even in this session. Abdulla Shahid stressed that vaccinating world against COVID-19 is topmost priority of 76th session.