What is happening at the United Nations General Assembly?


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Every September, world leaders gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the United States General Assembly. This year, it starts on Tuesday, September 25th.

What is the general debate of the United States General Assembly?

The so-called "general debate" is the meeting at the beginning of the General Assembly during which representatives of each country give speeches in turn. There is no real debate taking place, but it is time for each country to address the most important issues for their governments.

Why is Brazil talking first?

Brazil has spoken first since 1947 and it has become a tradition. According to the United Nations, during the early years of the organization, no one ever wanted to be the first to speak and Brazil always volunteered. The host country, the United States, always speaks second.

What is determining the order of speech of other countries?

Once the United States has spoken, the order is established by a complex system with multiple factors. Heads of state speak first, followed by heads of government, and then other government officials, such as foreign ministers. The United Nations says that other considerations include geographical balance, the order in which the demand for speech has been made and other factors.

How long can a leader speak?

Speakers are invited to try to keep their statements to 15 minutes, but in practice, a government official can speak as long as he wishes. The United Nations has stated that the longest speech delivered at the General Assembly was made by Fidel Castro, who spoke for four and a half hours in 1960. However, this speech was not delivered during the general debate.

What else happens at the General Assembly?

In addition to the general debate, the General Assembly is the time for the 193 Member States to decide on the United States budget, elect non-permanent members of the Security Council and to attend various meetings of the Security Council. parallel meetings. In addition to formal meetings, the meeting is an opportunity for world leaders to meet for private discussions.

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