Diplomacy

Morocco to preside over the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly

The Kingdom of Morocco has been selected through a random draw to occupy the first seat at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, set to commence in September in New York.

During a plenary meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres conducted the draw that determined the country to lead the opening session. Following established protocol, the selection fell upon Morocco.

The announcement was made by Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during a press briefing, who highlighted the significance of this moment. “The Secretary-General has just announced the country that will hold the first seat in the General Assembly Hall for the upcoming session. That country is Morocco,” he stated.

In the same session, delegates elected Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, as President of the 81st General Assembly. Additionally, member states selected nations to serve as vice-presidents, including the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Gabon.

The role of the UN General Assembly

As the UN’s primary multilateral forum, the General Assembly brings together all 193 member states. Each nation holds equal voting rights, enabling decisions on critical matters such as the approval of the organization’s budget, the election of non-permanent members to the Security Council, and the nomination of the Secretary-General.

The General Assembly operates on the principle of equal representation, ensuring that every member state has a voice in shaping global policies and priorities.