Volkan Bozkir: President of the 75th General Assembly…

Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir will preside over the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly when it opens later this month. More than an historical milestone, the upcoming gathering of world leaders will confront persistent and emerging issues. The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing both practical changes in how the Assembly functions as well as creative solutions to the intensifying need for international cooperation. As he prepares to lead commemorations of the UN at 75, the incoming General Assembly President calls for reinforcing the commitment to multilateralism, advancing the UN's humanitarian agenda, accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. "The source of my motivation for this challenging new role is my strong conviction in the effectiveness of multilateral diplomacy," he said. "I cannot think of a much better place than the United Nations to work for that."