The nomination of Lana Nusseibeh by the United Arab Emirates for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations offers a fresh beginning that the UN community cannot afford to miss, and Albania is honoured to give her candidacy its wholehearted support. I came to know Lana personally and see her in action during Albania’s term as an elected member of the UN Security Council, when I had the opportunity to appreciate her immense knowledge of international politics, her distinctive intellectual humility and her natural gift for bridging differences between cultures and perspectives. Amid the gloom surrounding the United Nations today, Lana’s candidacy is a light of hope and a source of positive energy, because, at a time when the organisation’s capacity to fulfil its mission is being questioned so deeply, she brings experience, intelligence and an unwavering commitment to serving humanity with no prejudice. And last but not least, after so many men at the helm, I can think of no better hope for the United Nations than a woman of such stature.