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Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa of
Bahrain takes Presidency
of United
Nations General Assembly.
Bahrain Tribune - 12 September, 2006
Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa yesterday took over the
presidency of the UN General Assembly from the outgoing president of the
192-member body, Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson.
Later, Shaikha Haya addressed the UN Assembly.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been quoted as saying it was a step “that will portray a positive picture of Arab women. There are many challenges that we need to face and with Shaikha Haya’s wisdom and cooperation I am sure many issues will be solved.”
The director of the UN information centre for Gulf countries, Nejib Friji, told the Tribune: “It is matter of great pride that the first Arab woman for the position has been elected from Bahrain. It will be a major turning point for all Bahraini women and those in the Middle- East.
Shaikha Haya is the third woman and the first from the Middle East who has been elected president of the UN General Assembly in 60 years. Vijay Lakshmi Pandit of India was the first woman president in 1953 while Liberia’s Angie Brooks presided in 1969.
Shaikha Haya has served as Bahrain’s ambassador in France during 2000-04 and was one of the first two women to practise law in the Kingdom since 1975..
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