Venezuela welcomes Turkish diplomat's UNGA presidency

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuela has welcomed the election of former Turkish Ambassador Volkan Bozkir as the UN General Assembly president ahead of the historic 75th General Debate in September.

"We congratulate Ambassador Volkan Bozkir @volkan_bozkir of Turkey, elected to preside over the historic 75th Session of the UN General Assembly," Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeted late Wednesday.

"We are certain that it will keep the Assembly running smoothly and further strengthen collective decisions," Arreaza added.

He also congratulated the new Non-Permanent Member States of the Security Council, India, Mexico, Norway and Ireland, while retweeting a post saying that Canada lost the election bid to be a member of the UN Security Council.

Venezuela's Vice-Minister for North American Relations Carlos Ron said the addition of new members met the expectations of "an independent voice".

"Not surprised with UN Security Council election results today," Ron said on Twitter. "A subservient foreign policy may win you Trump’s favor, but the peoples of the world expect an independent voice that will stand for diplomacy, respect for self-determination, and peace."

In a secret ballot vote, Bozkir, who was unopposed for the post, received 178 ballots in support as 11 nations abstained on Wednesday.

"I am thankful to all UN member states, for electing me with an overwhelming majority, as the President of the 75th UN General Assembly," Bozkir said on Twitter. "As we mark the 75th anniversary of the UN, I will guide the efforts to contribute to international peace, in the challenging times we live in."

Bozkir is currently a Justice and Development (AK) Party lawmaker from Istanbul and head of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.

Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hailed his election with ample support of UN members, adding that it is "proof of Turkey’s respectable position" in the world.