Israel was elected one of 21 vice-presidents of the next General Assembly session on Monday, in what the Jewish state called a historic move toward its full representation on key U.N. bodies.
The 191-member assembly approved the uncontested slate of vice-presidents after electing veteran Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson president of the 60th General Assembly session which will start in September with a summit addressing U.N. reform and poverty.
Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman called it "a historic moment for Israel" and Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the General Assembly's decision.
The election marks the first time an Israeli will serve as a General Assembly vice-president since the late Abba Eban 53 years ago.
