Holkeri: President of the UN General Assembly is a mediator

Harri Holkeri, former Finnish Prime Minister, will be the first Finn to be elected the President of the UN General Assembly, opening on 5 September in New York. More than anything, it is a role of a mediator, said Holkeri in a press conference on Wednesday in Helsinki.

Holkeri anticipated no greater difficulties in presiding over the sessions of the General Assembly but expected the real challenge to lie in the consolidation of the interests of the soon-to-be a 189-member organisation where there are as many interest groups as there are member countries.

A review of the UN, restructuring of the Security Council, financing, peace-keeping operations and development issues are among the greatest challenges facing the UN, said Holkeri.

Holkeri is the nominee of the Finnish government as well as the Western European countries. As a president, he said, he would promote the aspirations of the Finnish government which will feature prominently on another UN platform on 6-9 September when Finnish President Tarja Halonen will co-chair the Millennium Summit with Namibian President Sam Nujoma.

Holkeri´s term will last until September 2001.