Turkish diplomat, Volkan Bozkir has been elected President of the forthcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA.
In a one of a kind election amid Covid-19, Ambassadors from the 192 UN member-states filled into the iconic but empty General Assembly Hall wearing face masks and practising social distancing to cast their ballots.
Bozkir, who was the sole candidate for the position, secured 178 out of the 189 valid votes cast. There were also 11 abstentions. The historic event marks the first time a Turkish diplomat is elected to the post. In reaction to his election, Ambassador Bozkir thanked UN member-states for unanimously electing him as the President of the 75th Assembly.
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By 15th of September 2020, he will take over from Nigeria’s Tijjani Muhammad-Bande who is the current UNGA President.
According to his profile on the UN’s website, Bozkir studied law at Ankara University in Turkey. Following his graduation, he joined the Foreign Service in 1972.
He has held several positions during his 39-years professional career, including Vice Consul of the Consulate General in Stuttgart, First Secretary of the Embassy in Baghdad, Counsellor of the Permanent Representation to the OECD, Consul General in New York, Ambassador in Bucharest, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the EU. Others include Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Turgut Özal, Chief of Cabinet and Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to President Turgut Özal and President Süleyman Demirel, Deputy Secretary-General for EU Affairs, Deputy Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for EU Affairs, and Secretary-General for EU Affairs.
He was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania and the Order of the Merit of the Italian Republic at the “Knight” rank, and the 100th Anniversary Medal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He is married, with 2 children and 3 granddaughters.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
