10 January 2012: Slovak Ambassador Miloš Koterec has been elected to serve as President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Addressing the Council in New York, US, after his election, Koterec called for a new approach to development, including changing old perceptions about development and finding new ways to optimize cooperation among donor and aid recipient countries.

Underlining that sustainable development is priority for ECOSOC, Koterec called on ECOSOC to “carve out its niche as the forum for frank, free-flowing discourse on development cooperation” in 2012. He added that ECOSOC is well placed and well equipped to become the central place for the follow-up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

Addressing the 2012 Organizational Session of the Council, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized ECOSOC’s role in addressing various challenges, including: achieving the internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); ensuring a successful outcome at Rio+20; reflecting and planning for the post-2015 development agenda; and addressing the continuing challenge of climate change.

On climate change, he stressed the need to “build on the Durban spirit of cooperation to advance on climate change financing,” noting in particular the initiative Sustainable Energy for All. He also underscored ECOSOC’s role in supporting the five global imperatives he has previously outlined, as follows: achieving sustainable development; enhancing disaster risk reduction (DRR) and preparedness; building a safer and more secure world; supporting countries in transition; and empowering women and young people. [UN Press Release] [UN Secretary-General’s Statement] [ECOSOC Press Release]