Foreign Minister of Maldives – Abdulla Shahid has been elected as the new President of the United Nations General Assembly. 

Abdulla Shahid was elected as the President of UN General Assembly after securing 143 votes out of 191 ballots that were cast. 

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Foreign Minister of Maldives – Abdulla Shahid will preside over the 76th session of the UNGA, which will commence in September this year. 

Alongside Abdulla Shahid, former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Dr Zalmai Rassoul was also in fray for the topmost UNGA post for the 2021-22 session.  

Dr Zalmai Rassoul from Afghanistan could manage to secure only 48 ballots. 

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Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar congratulated Shahid on his election as the President of the UNGA. 

S Jaishankar tweeted: “Heartiest felicitations to Foreign Minister of Maldives @abdulla_shahid on his election as President for 76th UN General Assembly. This is a testimony as much to his own stature as to the standing of Maldives. We look forward to working with him to strengthen multilateralism and its much-needed reforms.” 

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India’s Permanent Mission to the UN tweeted: “Hearty congratulations to Maldives Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid for the robust victory and for being elected as the 76th President of the @UN General Assembly.” 

As per laid down rules, the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly was to be elected from the Group of Asia-Pacific countries. 

Shahid will succeed Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir, who was UNGA President for the 75th session.