109 world leaders to address UNGA in person next week

On Sep 15, 2021

UN: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden will be among 109 Heads of State and Government that will arrive in New York to address the UN General Debate in person, which had gone virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, for the first time in 75 years, world leaders had submitted pre-recorded video statements for the UNGA session as they could not physically attend the gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Modi will address the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UNGA on September 25. “The theme for this year’s General Debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations’.

As per the second provisional list of speakers for the General Assembly, about 109 Heads of State and Government will address the General Debate in person and nearly 60 will deliver speeches through pre-recorded video statements.

Biden will travel to New York to deliver his first address to the 193-member General Assembly as American President. The U.S. is traditionally the second speaker after Brazil at the General Debate, which this year will run from September 21 to 27.

Afghanistan’s diplomat is listed as the last speaker on the last day of the General Debate. Currently the Afghan envoy at the UN is Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai, who was appointed by former President Ashraf Ghani as Kabul’s envoy to the UN in June 2021. The interim Taliban government in power has not yet made any submission challenging Isaczai’s credentials.

The diplomats of Myanmar and Guinea are also listed to speak on behalf of their countries on the last day of the debate. However, following the coup in Myanmar, its military rulers have said the country’s Ambassador at UN Kyaw Moe Tun has been dismissed and they want Aung Thurein to replace him.

In response to a question on who should represent Myanmar at the UNGA, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had said that “it is a matter that is strictly in the hands of the Credentials Committee and, of course, we will abide by what member states decide in the Credentials Committee or eventually, if necessary in the General Assembly. This is an area where the Secretariat has no power whatsoever.” – THE HINDU