 In June 2006, Bahrain was elected head of the United Nations General Assembly, and used the honour to appoint Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa as the Assembly's president, making her the first Middle East woman and only the third woman in history to take over the post.Sheikha Haya is a leading Bahraini lawyer and women's rights advocate who will take over the post at a time of change for the world body.UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said of her, "I met her yesterday and I found her quite impressive.