News

On June 8 in New York, the United Nations General Assembly elected the opponent of Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis as President of the upcoming 67th session of the Assembly by a minimum plurality vote.

A total of 190 ballots were lodged, the Lithuanian candidate received 85 votes, and the Serbian candidate, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić obtained 99 votes. Of the total votes, 5 of them were invalid and there was one abstention.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis believes that, regardless of the outcome of the election of the President, Lithuania has received a lot of international support, which shows that Lithuania’s foreign policy is recognized worldwide.

“Both in bilateral relations and when presiding over international organizations, such as the OSCE and the Community of Democracies, we assume an ethical stance and search for consensus. I am certain that this is the only reliable way to enhance mutual understanding among peoples in the international community,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Ažubalis says.

Besides, this election campaign has helped Lithuania to establish its image as an active and responsible member of the international community.

The defeat of the Lithuanian representative, whom the United Nations assessed very positively, can be primarily attributed to the Serbian candidate’s campaign against the Lithuanian candidate, as well as to Russia’s full support for the Serbian representative and open enmity towards the Lithuanian one.

Čekuolis has extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy. He has excellent knowledge of the activities of the United Nations; he previously chaired another major UN body – the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The Ambassador speaks five foreign languages.