Ex-Foreign Minister: Baerbock starts job as President of the UN General Assembly

The former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock officially starts her new job as President of the UN General Assembly in New York. At the start of the 80th session of the general assembly, Baerbock is to take over the office of its predecessor Philemon Yang, the former Prime Minister of Cameroon.

At a meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CEST, Yang is to be officially adopted and Baerbock sworn in. Afterwards, Baerbock wants to ask questions from journalists. For 9:00 p.m. MESZ, the first meeting, chaired by Baerbock, is planned, in which she also wants to keep an opening speech.

With videos on Instagram, Baerbock had registered in advance to get in the mood from New York – and thus made many headlines. A video was kept in the “Sex and the City” style and showed the diplomat in high heels in a yellow taxi. In another she gets coffee and a bagel and makes you funny about her German accent in English.

Only fifth woman in the office

In June, Baerbock was chosen with an overwhelming majority and despite a Russian disruption. In her acceptance speech, Baerbock said at the time that she wanted to lead the committee as a “honest mediator” and with a few strength. The 44-year-old Green politician, who was Federal Foreign Minister until May, is only the fifth woman in this office. The term is one year.

The top position is primarily given to protocol importance-it should not be confused with the role of UN General Secretary António Guterres. As President, Baerbock will lead the meetings of the General Assembly, among other things, and determine the processes and agenda items – among other things at the UN General Assembly with state guests from all over the world at the end of September. However, the decisions of the General Assembly often have more symbolic value and are considered a worldwide mood.

Taking office in times of crisis

As a focus of her term, Baerbock had mentioned the achievement of the UN sustainability goals, the fight against the climate crisis and the gender equality. However, she begins her new office in great challenges and great political and financial pressure, including due to cuts by the US government under President Donald Trump. Baerbock announced that reforms are promoted and wanted to use the resources of the general assembly as efficiently as possible.