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Pacific Islands Forum congratulates Fiji's presidency of UN General Assembly's 71st session

Xinhua, June 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Dame Meg Taylor, secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, has congratulated Fiji's successful candidature for the presidency of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the forum's Suva-based secretariat announced Thursday.

"I am delighted to offer my warmest congratulations to the new president-elect of the General Assembly, H.E. Ambassador Peter Thomson," Taylor said in a statement.

"Your appointment is a great honor for Fiji and by extension, the region. It recognizes your accomplishments in the diplomatic arena in the service of Fiji, including most recently facilitating Fiji's chairing of the G77 in 2013 and as president of the Council of the International Seabed Authority 2015-2016," said Taylor.

In an election held by the General Assembly in New York earlier this week, Thomson, Fiji's permanent representative to the UN, beat his sole contender, Cyprus Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, in a close 94 to 90 vote with seven invalid ballots and one abstention, winning the presidency with a simple majority.

Thomson will replace current General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft and begin his tenure in September at the commencement of the 71st General Assembly session. Endit