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.
Statements and Messages
September 2002
- Remarks at the 55th Annual DPI/NGO Conference "Rebuilding Societies Emerging from Conflict: A Shared Responsibility"
(9 September 2002) - Statement on the occasion of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2 September 2002)
August 2002
- Statement at the meeting of the UN Association "The United Nations: What does the world body hold for our future?" (30 August 2002)
July 2002
- Speech at the Asia Society Sydney, Australia (23 July 2002)
- Speech at the National Press Club of Australia (22 July 2002)
- Message on World Population Day (11 July 2002)
- Statement after the Adoption of the Resolution on Amendments to Rules 30, 31 and 99 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly (8 July 2002)
June 2002
- Message on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking (26 June 2002)
- Statement at a Dinner hosted by the OSCE (24 June 2002)
- The United Nations: Agenda for the New Era UNOV Speech (24 June 2002)
- Statement at a Reception for United Nations officials (21 June 2002)
- Statement before the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of the Convention against Corruption (21 June 2002)
- Statement on the occasion of the World Refugee Day (20 June 2002)
- Statement at the luncheon hosted by the government of Switzerland (18 June 2002)
- Statement at the Meeting of the General Assembly devoted to Information and Communication Technologies for Development (17-18 June 2002)
- Statement at the Meeting of the General Assembly devoted to Information and Communication Technologies for Development (17 June 2002)
- Statement at the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (17 June 2002)
- Statement at a Dinner in Honor of H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal (17 June 2002)
- Statement at the organizational session of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole for UN-NADAF (14 June 2002)
- Statement on World Environment Day (5 June 2002)
May 2002
- Statement at the United Nations University "The Role of the United Nations in a Globalizing World" (29 May 2002)
- Statement on the Independence of East Timor (19 May 2002)
- Statement on International Day of Families (15 May 2002)
- Statement at the closing of the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children (10 May 2002)
- Statement on the occasion of the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children (8 May 2002)
- Statement at the Reception hosted by the NGO Committee on UNICEF (7 May 2002)
- Statement at the Acceptance of the Declaration of Religious Leaders (7 May 2002)
- Statement at the Multi-religious service (7 May 2002)
- Statement on World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2002)
April 2002
- Statement on the occasion of the African Summit Conference on Partnership with the Private Sector for Financing Africa's growth through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) (16 April 2002)
- Statement on the International Criminal Court (11 April 2002)
- Statement on the occasion of the World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid (8 April 2002)
- Statement on World Health Day (7 April 2002)
March 2002
- Statementon on the earthquakes in Afghanistan (26 March 2002)
- Statementon on World Meteorological Day (23 March 2002)
- Statementon on the occasion of World Day for Water (22 March 2002)
- Statementon on the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March 2002)
- Statementon on the Occasion of the International Conference on Financing for Development Monterrey, Mexico (21 March 2002)
- Statementon on the Occasion of the International Women's Day (8 March 2002)
- Statementon on the outcome of the Switzerland refrendom on United Nations Membership (3 March 2002)
December 2001
- Statement at the Close of the Main Part of the 56th Session of the General Assembly (21 December 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of the 10th Emergency Special Session (20 December 2001)
- Statement at a Luncheon with the Vice-Presidents (19 December 2001)
- Statement before the General Assembly on Receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize (14 December 2001)
- Statement on the occasion of the first formal meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and/or to its 1967 Protocol (12 December 2001)
- Statement on the International Day for Tolerance (11 December 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of the Launching Ceremony of the United Nations International Year of Mountains 2002 (11 December 2001)
- Statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day (10 December 2001)
- Statement at the Nobel Banquet (10 December 2001)
- Statement for the joint press conference (9 December 2001)
- Statement on the occasion of the Closing of the International Year of Volunteers 2001 (5 December 2001)
- Statement on the occasion of International Day of Disabled Persons (3 December 2001)
- Statement at the Debate on “Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa” (3 December 2001)
November 2001
- Statement on the Occasion of the World AIDS Day Theme “I Care…Do You?” (30 November 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November 2001)
- Statement on the Observance of the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (25 November 2001)
- Statement at the ICT Task Force launching ceremony (20 November 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of Universal Children’s Day (20 November 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of Africa Industrialization Day (20 November 2001)
- Statement at the Debate on “Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit” (19 November 2001)
- Statement at the Luncheon in honour of the ICT Task Force members (19 November 2001)
- Statement at the Close of the General Debate at the 56th Session of the General Assembly (16 November 2001)
- Statement at the NGO Committee for the Status of Women (12 November 2001)
- Statement at the Opening of the General Debate (10 November 2001)
- Statement at the Dialogue among Civilizations (9 November 2001)
- Statement on the occasion of presentation of certificates funded by Dag Hammarskjold Memorial Scholarship Fund (8 November 2001)
October 2001
- Statement on the Occasion of United Nations Day (24 October 2001)
- Statement at the World Food Day Ceremony (18 October 2001)
- Statement on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of the Winning of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize by the United Nations and its Secretary-General (12 October 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction 2001 (10 October 2001)
- Statement on the Situation in Afghanistan (8 October 2001)
- Statement at the Conclusion of the Plenary Meetings on “Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism” (5 October 2001)
- Statement at the Opening of the Plenary Meetings on “Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism” (1 October 2001)
- Statement on the International Day for Older Persons (1 October 2001)
- Statement on the occasion of the World Habitat Day 2001 (1 October 2001)
September 2001
- Statement at the Closing of the High-level Dialogue on Strengthening International Economic Cooperation for Development through Partnership (21 September 2001)
- Statement at the Opening of the High-level Dialogue on Strengthening International Economic Cooperation for Development through Partnership (20 September 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of the Service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (16 September)
- Statement at the Peace Bell Ceremony (14 September 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of Interfaith Services (13 September 2001)
- Statement at the Press Conference (12 September 2001)
- Statement on the Occasion of International Day of Peace (12 September 2001)
- Acceptance Speech (12 September 2001)
Team
- H.E. Dr. Han Seung-soo, President
- H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Chef de Cabinet
- Mr. Oh Joon, Minister-Counsellor
- Mr. Moon Hayong, Minister-Counsellor
- Mr. Kim Bong Hyun, Counsellor
- Mr. Yoon Yeocheol, First Secretary
- Mr. Jan Fischer, Spokesperson
- Mr. William Overmoe, Speech writer
- Ms. Yonsoo Kim, Assistant to the Spokesperson
- Ms. Yoon-kyoung Choi, Personal Secretary to the President
- Ms. Eun Ha Kim, Administrative Assistant
- Ms. Antoinette Schemeelk, Secretary
- Mr. Marvin Rey Cardenas, Secretary
- Ms. Jae-Young Kim, Research Assistant
- Mr. Eugene Young Yoon, Research Assistant
