GA / 70 ANNIVERSARY

Marking the 70th anniversary of the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said the body has truly become the “Parliament for all people.” UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:31
• Production Date: 11 January 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: MOGENS LYKKETOFT; BAN KI-MOON
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• MAMS Id: 1545182
• Parent Id: 1545182
• Alternate Title: unifeed160111a

Description

STORY: GA / 70 ANNIVERSARY
TRT: 02:31
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 JANUARY 2016, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

11 JANUARY 2016, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, General Assembly chamber
3. Wide shot, dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
“Presidents, prime ministers, ministers have always held this podium. More and more, they are joined by individual activists, business executives, superstar entertainers and major religious leaders. This General Assembly has truly become the Parliament for all people.”
5. Close up, Sir Brian Urquhart, former British Government official who served the UN
6. Wide shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
“In September, you adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 21st century Declaration of Interdependence is our collective promise to deliver a life of dignity for all. On April 22nd, leaders will return here to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change. Once again, our journey to a healthier, more sustainable and more peaceful planet begins here.”
8. Wide shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mogens Lykketoft, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“The first meeting of the General Assembly was without any doubt the beginning of something special. It was a major step forward by what is now commonly referred to as the international community. Following a horrific period of war, destruction, genocide and nuclear bombings, nations of the world deliberately decided to come together.”
10. Wide shot, dais
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Mogens Lykketoft, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“In this anniversary session, we too can be proud of the results we have achieved so far, building on the excellent work of previous sessions.”
12. Wide shot, delegates
13. Med shot, Secretary-General and GA President standing next to the cake
14. Close up, cake’s UN 70 logo
15. Various shots, Secretary-General and GA President cutting the cake

Storyline

Marking the 70th anniversary of the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said the body has truly become the “Parliament for all people.”

Seventy years ago on 10 January 1946, 51 nations came together at Westminster Central Hall in London, England, and called to order the first meeting of the UN General Assembly.

Speaking to the 193 Member States today (11 Jan), the Secretary-General noted that although the resolutions adopted by the Assembly may not all be acted on right away, they stand as our common position on the most pressing issues of our times.

Among the many people who participated in that meeting was Sir Brian Urquhart, a British Government official who went on to serve the United Nations over four decades. He was among the participants into today’s events.

Sir Brian did more than live history, the UN chief stressed, adding that he shaped history. And he recorded that history as a brilliant writer and journalist.

Emphasizing that the General Assembly is more important than ever, the Secretary-General called on the international community to “follow the example of giants like Sir Brian Urquhart – by saving more lives, advancing more progress and promoting ever greater respect for human rights in our world.”

Ban also told member States, “In September, you adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 21st century Declaration of Interdependence is our collective promise to deliver a life of dignity for all. On April 22nd, leaders will return here to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change. Once again, our journey to a healthier, more sustainable and more peaceful planet begins here.”

The President of the 193-Member body’s current session, who himself turned 70 on Saturday, began his address by highlighting several features from the first ever meeting, such as it lasting just over one hour with only one decision taken – whom to elect as its first President.

Mogens Lykketoft also said, “The first meeting of the General Assembly was without any doubt the beginning of something special. It was a major step forward by what is now commonly referred to as the international community.”

He underlined that following a “horrific period” of war, destruction, genocide and nuclear bombings, nations of the world deliberately decided to come together.

Lykketoft also said, “In this anniversary session, we too can be proud of the results we have achieved so far, building on the excellent work of previous sessions.”

The Ga President recalled that today, with 193 members representing 99.5 per cent of the world’s population, the General Assembly has become the “single most representative, deliberative body in the world.”

Other speakers at today’s commemoration included representatives from Sudan (on behalf of African States), Fiji (on behalf of Asia-Pacific States), Albania (on behalf of Eastern European States), Trinidad and Tobago (on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States), Italy (on behalf of Western European and other States) and the United States (on behalf of the host country).

After the General Assembly meeting, UN officials and member States representatives gathered at the Headquarters delegates' lounge to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the GA’s first session.