During a plenary session of the General Assembly held on Tuesday in New York, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conducted the draw that determined which nation would occupy the inaugural seat for the forthcoming session. In line with the established procedures of the international body, Morocco was the country chosen.

“The Secretary-General has just selected the name of the country that will occupy the first seat in the General Assembly hall during its next session. It is Morocco,” stated spokesman Stéphane Dujarric during a press briefing, commending the selection.

The same plenary session also saw the election of Khalilur Rahman, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, as the President of the 81st General Assembly. Furthermore, member states proceeded to elect the countries designated to serve as Vice-Presidents for this session, a list that includes the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Gabon.

As the universal deliberative body comprising all 193 United Nations member states, the General Assembly stands as the organization’s primary multilateral forum, where each state holds an equal vote. Its key responsibilities encompass approving the UN budget, electing non-permanent members to the Security Council, and appointing the Secretary-General.