The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has elected Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago Dennis Francis as its new president for the 78th session starting in September.

Francis was elected by acclamation during a ceremony in the iconic General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday evening.

The General Assembly consists of all 193 UN Member States, all of which have an equal vote. Its duties include appointing the Secretary-General, on the recommendation of the Security Council, and approving the Organization?’s annual budget.

Francis said he would prioritize encouraging and facilitating meaningful dialogue.

“It is my hope to bring forward, with your help and support, a renewed atmosphere of conciliation, cooperation and shared commitment in addressing the many challenges and seizing every opportunity, however nascent, before the General Assembly,” he said.

“I will seek to enhance current approaches and adopt new ones with probable solutions, as we endeavour to deliver or at least to strengthen the bases for delivering peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability,” he added.

Francis is currently the Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN and has had a diplomatic career that spans nearly four decades.

Source: Kuwait News Agency