Former cabinet minister Joseph Deiss has completed his year as president of the 65th United Nations General Assembly.
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swissinfo.ch and agencies
Deiss, from the centre-right Christian Democratic Party, said on Monday that the General Assembly had perceived its role as a moral force for strengthening the UN.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked Deiss for doing a “super job in a very demanding year”.
Ban added that Deiss had always been punctual – “a real inspiration for the diplomats”.
The presidency of the UN General Assembly rotates annually between five geographic groups: African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American and Caribbean, and Western European and other states. Deiss hands over to Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser from Qatar.
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Deiss legacy divides press
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But most editorialists agreed that his departure could give his centre-right Christian Democratic Party a boost and open the door to its president, Doris Leuthard. Usually when a government minister chooses to step down, the Swiss media are not very critical. The French-speaking press was no exception. For the Tribune de Genève, the centre-right Christian…
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Deiss, an economist by trade, was not a man of flamboyant gestures, which some took as a lack of assertiveness. “Nice Deiss” was not only a catchy title for the 60-year-old politician. Dealing with the media, Deiss lived up to this good guy reputation, which he earned shortly after joining the cabinet as foreign minister…
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Deiss told swissinfo.ch that the UN has made progress in reducing poverty as well as promoting development, sustainable economy and global governance. The former foreign minister says Switzerland serves as a role model for other countries and membership of the UN has not compromised its neutrality. Deiss’ 12-month mandate at the UN in New York…
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The group photo of the Swiss Federal Council is an annual ritual. It is not just a souvenir but also captures the ambitions through symbolism.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.