81st UN General Assembly kicks off today

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (YPA) –The high-level meetings of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly begins today, Tuesday, with the participation of around 130 heads of state and government at the UN headquarters in New York.

The general debate, high-level meetings, events, and bilateral meetings related to the work of the General Assembly will continue through September 28, as world leaders and representatives of states deliver speeches on current international issues.

The high-level week’s agenda includes a number of international issues and files, including peace and security, climate change, health, digital governance and artificial intelligence, as well as development and human rights.

The 81st session is chaired by General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, under the theme: “Restoring Trust and Managing Transformation: A United Nations at the Service of All.”

European Council President António Costa is scheduled to address the General Assembly next Thursday on behalf of the European Union.

The current session comes after the US State Department extended restrictions on issuing visas to officials of the Palestinian National Authority and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

It is worth noting that the 81st session is the final one during the tenure of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second and final term ends on December 31, after a decade in office.

@E.Y.M