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A YEAR AT THE HELM OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
A Year at the Helm of the United Nations General Assembly
A Vision for Our Century
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
Edited by Shara Kay
WITH A FOREWORD BY BAN KI-MOON
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
www.nyupress.org
2014 by New York University
All rights reserved
References to Internet websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor New York University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Al-Nasser, Nassir Abdulaziz.
A year at the helm of the United Nations General Assembly : a vision for our century / Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser ; with a foreword by Ban Ki-moon.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4798-6200-9 (cl : alk. paper)
1. United Nations. General Assembly (66th session : 20112012) 2. International relationsMoral and ethical aspects. 3. Conflict managementInternational cooperation. 4. Pacific settlement of international disputes. 5. Natural disastersPreventionInternational cooperation. 6. Sustainable developmentInternational cooperation. 7. Human securityInternational cooperation. 8. World politics20152015. I. Title.
JZ5006.2.A5 2014
341.23'22 dc23 2013049736
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability. We strive to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the greatest extent possible in publishing our books.
Manufactured in the United States of America
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Also available as an ebook
To my son, Aziz, and all the children of the world
CONTENTS
by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
by Dr. Farhan Nizami
FOREWORD
Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar presided over a dynamic year in the United Nations General Assembly. This volume offers a comprehensive account of his engagement, reflecting discussions on a range of global challenges.
The September 2011 high-level season was one of the busiest ever, with special meetings on nuclear safety and security, global health threats, counterterrorism and sustainable development, and talks on Libya and the Horn of Africa.
Following those discussions, President Al-Nasser and I traveled to Libya, Somalia, and Kenya to show solidarity with the people. In Libya, we met senior officials and leaders of civil society groups. We paid our respects at the site of mass graves. In Somalia and Kenya, we held talks with transitional leaders, African Union commanders and troops, relief workers, and refugees.
Well before Ambassador Al-Nassers election as president of the General Assembly, he appreciated the special role of the General Assembly. He once declared, An enduring characteristic of this Organization is thatirrespective of the political and practical changesthe General Assembly remains its most inclusive body. I share this esteem and have always endeavored to work closely with the Assembly president to address global challenges.
I am pleased that Mr. Al-Nasser remains in the United Nations family as high representative of the Alliance of Civilizations. As he brings his expertise and leadership to this new role, I am confident readers will find in these pages worthwhile information on his recent experience presiding over the worlds parliament the General Assembly of the United Nations.
BAN KI-MOON
Secretary-General of the United Nations
March 31, 2013
PREFACE
After two decades of experience in the diplomatic corps at the United Nations, I had the honor and privilege of serving as the president of the General Assembly (PGA) for the 66th session, which began September 13, 2011, and ended September 17, 2012.
My primary job as PGA was as a mediator and a facilitator. I worked closely with all member states to help find common understanding and to promote consensus in intergovernmental negotiations. The role of the president also involves many formal, ceremonial, and diplomatic functions. One such function is to lead discussions in General Assembly meetings. Another is to enhance the visibility of the Assembly worldwide.
The 66th session of the General Assembly took place at a critical juncture in the history of nations. People across the globe were questioning their systems of governanceno longer afraid to ask for what they deserveand actively seeking change. The environment was reacting to human mistreatment, striking back with seemingly endless natural disasters and ensuing humanitarian crises. The world economy was facing the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression, threatening to destabilize livelihoods and undermining global efforts for growth and prosperity.
Future generations would hold the UN accountable for how we responded to these critical issues. This decisive moment in history was our opportunity to prove that we, the international community, had the courage, wisdom, and tenacity to seek creative and visionary solutions;
* * *
How did I come to lead the General Assembly, the worlds most representative body, at this crucial moment in history? It was a long journey filled with challenges, hard work, and compromise.
I am the oldest child in my family. Even as a small boy, I had big dreams. At the age of fourteen, I tried to start a company. I asked my father to finance the enterprise, but he told me if I wanted to be a businessman, I should study hard and make money for myself. I was disappointed, but I kept dreaming.
My next plan was to attend military college, specifically the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in England. It was very prestigious and controlled by the British government. At that time, RMAS gave out two scholarships a year to Qatar. In 1972, when I graduated high school, the first scholarship went to the son of the foreign minister. The other one went to me: a dream come true.
A few days later, my father and I visited the foreign minister. The minister asked me to join the ministry of foreign affairs. Qatar had just become independent. We did not have many qualified diplomats. I was surprised because I had not yet finished university, but the minister suggested that I could get my degree while working as a junior diplomat.
I struggled to make up my mind. I was only seventeen years old. I asked my father for advice, but he told me I had to be responsible for my own decision. After sleeping on it, I decided to accept the ministers offer. In the morning, I went to the ministry of foreign affairs and told him I was ready. I would begin work the very next day. Would I receive a diplomatic passport? I asked. Of course, the minister answered, laughing. That is your only concern? I am trying to help you with your future!
