The UN General Assembly elected Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark by consensus Monday to serve as president of its 70th session, according to dpa. Lykketoft will take over the ceremonial position at the world body on September 15, just before world leaders are to gather for annual high-level meetings at the United Nations, which this year celebrates the 70th anniversary of its inception. Lykketoft, a Danish former foreign minister and speaker of the Danish Parliament who himself is turning 70 during the next session of the assembly, said the theme of his presidency will be "a new commitment to action." "I aim to organize our work in a way that allows us to reflect on the successes - but also the shortcomings - in these first 70 years, while also looking to the future," Lykketoft said during his acceptance speech to the assembly. During the 70th session, the assembly is slated to consider sustainable development goals, which are global development benchmarks to be met in the next 15 years. The goals are to include an agreement to mitigate the effects of climate change, which could be decided at the end of 2015 in Paris. This will be the first time that Denmark holds the presidency of the assembly, for which regional groups nominate one candidate during their turns. Lykketoft will succeeding Sam Kutesa of Uganda.
