NEW YORK – The President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, has appointed H.E. Mrs. Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform.
Ambassador Nusseibeh is the first Emirati diplomat appointed to the position, and will Co-Chair the process alongside H.E. Mr. Kaha Imnadze, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN. The Co-Chairs will attempt to identify solutions to advance the current Intergovernmental Negotiations process, in which all 193 Member States are actively involved.
“I am honored and humbled to accept the President of the General Assembly’s invitation to Co-Chair this process alongside Ambassador Imnadze,” expressed Ambassador Nusseibeh. “We will seek the support and advice of all Member States to advance this process in the interests of building a stronger and effective UN.” Currently, Ambassador Nusseibeh serves as Vice-President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, and President of the UN-Women Executive Board for 2017.
Since the Intergovernmental Negotiation process was established in 2007, the five key issues under consideration in the negotiations are categories of membership, question of the veto, regional representation, the size of an enlarged Council and the working methods, and the relationship between the Council and the General Assembly.
The Intergovernmental Negotiations will begin at the start of the new year.