Nearly 160 world leaders plan to attend UN September meeting

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A really excessive variety of heads of state and authorities — 157 — say they plan to attend September’s first completely in-person gathering of world leaders on the U.N. Basic Meeting for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020.

The 104 heads of state on the provisional record of audio system embrace U.S. President Joe Biden, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the presidents of Iran, France, Brazil, Colombia, South Korea, South Africa, Egypt and Venezuela.

The 53 heads of presidency on the record embrace the still-to-be-chosen new prime minister of the UK, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime ministers of Japan, Israel, Iraq and Pakistan. China is sending its deputy prime minister and Russia is sending a minister, possible Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov who has represented the nation lately.

The Palestinians are a non-member state of the United Nations and their president, Mahmoud Abbas, can be on the audio system record as is the top of presidency of the Holy See, a everlasting U.N. observer.

In September 2020, the pandemic saved world leaders from coming to New York for his or her annual assembly for the primary time within the 75-year historical past of the United Nations. As an alternative, pre-recorded speeches from leaders have been proven within the Basic Meeting Corridor, launched by a single diplomat from every nation.

Final September, the U.N. selected a hybrid format — permitting world leaders to attend the annual gathering in particular person — or ship pre-recorded speeches if COVID-19 restrictions stop them from touring, an choice 72 leaders selected.

Basic Meeting spokeswoman Paulina Kubiak stated Tuesday there might be no pre-recorded speeches allowed this yr.

Regardless of the persevering with pandemic, it’s clear from the provisional audio system record launched Monday evening that over 80% of leaders of the U.N.’s 193 member nations need to deal with the annual gathering in particular person and have interaction in lots of the off-the-record conferences and conversations the place a number of worldwide enterprise is carried out.

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This yr, the leaders and ministers may have worrying new points to deal with — Europe’s first main struggle in a long time in Ukraine, a worldwide meals disaster that has left tens of millions of individuals severely hungry and sparked fears of famine, excessive inflation and rising meals and power prices plus file warmth in lots of components of the worls signaling that rather more should be finished to deal with world warming.

There was rising stress from leaders for an an in-person assembly, however presidents, prime ministers and monarchs journey with massive delegations which grew to become a problem final yr when it comes to the variety of individuals allowed into U.N. headquarters.

Throughout high-level weeks, there are often 1000’s of individuals within the U.N. advanced, and a whole lot of aspect occasions, many happening within the U.N.’s confines. There isn’t any phrase but on whether or not there might be restrictions on the variety of individuals allowed within the U.N. headquarters advanced, or necessities for many who do enter.