Past Presidents
56th Session: Dr. Han Seung-soo

Portrait of Mr. Dr. Han Seung-soo, President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 56th session. UN Photo
Dr. Han Seung-soo was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 56th session on 12 September 2001. At the time of his election, he was serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea.
Dr. Han Seung-soo presided the General Assembly’s 56th session from 12 September 2001 to 9 September 2002.
On 13 September 2001, the General Assembly elected 21 Vice-Presidents for the 56th session:
- from the African States: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and South Africa;
- from the Asian-Pacific States: Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal and Saudi Arabia;
- from the Eastern European States: Republic of Moldova;
- from the Latin American and Caribbean States: Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Paraguay;
- from the Western European and Other States: Greece and Malta;
- the five permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States.
Priorities
At the opening of the 56th session of the General Assembly, President Han Seung-soo said mere words could not express the outrage and disgust all felt at the heinous acts of terrorism perpetrated the day before (Septemer 11) against the Organization’s host country. He went on to say that this year’s presidency would continue ongoing initiatives to improve the Assembly’s working methods. It would also move forward the discussions on Security Council reform. In addition, the Assembly would emphasize the strengthening of the Organization’s capacity to maintain peace and security.
Dealing with terrorism was a priority, he said, as were promotion of democracy and strengthening the rule of law, protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that the benefits of globalization devolved to all, especially through steps to bridge the digital divide with information technologies. Finally, his presidency would emphasize the consideration of ways to bring Africa into the mainstream, through poverty eradication and the generation of sustainable development.