UN General Assembly 2019: Speaker schedule and what to expect
As Biafra agitators expect a voice on their behalf, other countries are also waiting for the voice of their leaders to be heard.
Will your country’s leader take the podium on Saturday? What should you watch for at the 74th UNGA session?
World leaders are gathering at the United Nations headquarters in New York City this week for the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
All eyes will be on the general debate podium from September 24 to 30 when dozens of leaders will use what has been called the world’s largest diplomatic platform to highlight the issues that matter most to their countries.
This year’s UNGA comes as tensions flare in the Middle East, the United Kingdom prime minister pushes to secure a Brexit deal by the end of October, and as demands grow for governments to take greater action to combat climate change.
Here’s a look at the general debate schedule and some key things to watch for.
Saturday’s speakers
During the general debate, leaders or country representatives are allotted 15 minutes to address the Assembly, but they are notorious for going overtime.READ MORE
UN General Assembly 2019: All the latest updates
Here’s a look at the tentative speaker schedule for day 5. The schedule is subject to change.
Morning session
The morning session begins at 9am local time (13:00 GMT).
- Bhutan
- Uganda
- Madagascar
- Vatican
- Vietnam
- Syria
- Tuvalu
- Kyrgyzstan
- Cuba
- San Marino
- Sweden
- Mexico
- Botswana
- South Africa
- Grenada
- Marshall Islands
- Guinea-Bissau
- Bahrain
Afternoon session
The afternoon session begins at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT).
- UAE
- Oman
- Turkmenistan
- Laos
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Philippines
- Azerbaijan
- Myanmar
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Guyana
- Nicaragua
- Yemen
- Congo
- Haiti
Don’t see your country listed? Check back over the week as the schedules are finalised, or see who spoke earlier in the week here.
Key things to watch for
US-Iran showdown
The stage is set for a US-Iran showdown this week as the leaders of both countries address the UNGA and put forward their competing visions of security in the Middle East.
The United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UK and France blame Iran for this month’s attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Iran has denied responsibility for the attacks, which were claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
In his address on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said: “No responsible government should subsidise Iran’s bloodlust.”
“As long as Iran’s menacing behaviour continues, sanctions will not be lifted. They will be tightened,” he said. But he also told UNGA that the US “is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned on Wednesday that the Gulf region is “on the edge of collapse”.
He also called US officials criminals for imposing “merciless economic terrorism” on Iran, and said: “A single blunder can fuel a big fire.” READ MORE
Germany, UK, France blame Iran for Saudi oil attacks
Although it’s unlikely the pair will meet on the sidelines, Trump has not ruled out a meeting.
“Nothing is ever off the table, completely, but I have no intention of meeting with Iran and that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Trump said earlier this week. “I’m a very flexible person, but we have no intention. It’s not set up.”
Iranian officials have said a meeting is only possible if Trump is “ready to do what is necessary” by exchanging sanctions relief for “permanent monitoring of Iranian nuclear facilities”.
Earlier this week, European countries met with the US and Iranian leaders separately on the sidelines of UNGA, hoping to help defuse the heightened tensions.
More climate actions
A major theme over the past week has been climate action – or inaction, according to many climate advocates. Days after millions of young people marched worldwide demanding a greater response to climate change, more than 60 leaders met on Monday for the Climate Action Summit.
Advocates will continue their protests and actions throughout the week.
The first world leader to address the UNGA was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been heavily criticised for his economic and environmental policies as fires continue to burn in the Amazon. It was his first UNGA appearance and he stressed the need for global powers to respect Brazil’s sovereignty.
Possible sideshows
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday made his UNGA debut but had to cut his visit short after Britain’s highest court ruled his decision to prorogue parliament for five weeks in the run-up to the October 31 Brexit deadline was unlawful.
The UK is racing towards its departure from the bloc without an exit agreement and the prospect of economic disruption. On Monday, Johnson met European Council President Donald Tusk and no breakthrough appeared to be on the horizon.
Meetings were also scheduled on Venezuela. On Monday, the US and more than a dozen Latin American countries agreed to investigate and arrest associates and senior officials of the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro who are suspected of crimes including drug trafficking.
The diplomats, however, stopped short of approving military action. Expect sideline discussions to continue as countries who recognise opposition figure Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader attempt to put more pressure on Maduro, who maintains control of the country’s main state institutions.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been speaking to Trump on plans to restart US-North Korea talks. The pair met on Monday at the UN. Moon said he hopes working-level negotiations between US and North Korean officials will be held soon to prepare for a third summit between the countries’ leaders. Trump said, however, he would want to know the probable result from a third summit with Kim Jong Un before agreeing to hold it.
Who won’t be at UNGA?
Among the world leaders not attending this year’s UNGA are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Venezuela’s Maduro, who is seen as illegitimate by more than 50 countries.
Countries whose leaders will not be in attendance will send official delegations instead.
ICYMI: Tuesday’s speakers
The UNGA kicked off on Tuesday. Here’s a look at who spoke.
Morning session
The assembly began with statements by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UNGA President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, followed by:
- Brazil
- United States
- Egypt
- Turkey
- Nigeria
- Maldives
- Qatar
- Switzerland
- Croatia
- Bolivia
- Jordan
- South Korea
- Burkina Faso
- France
- Chile
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
Afternoon session
- Angola
- Portugal
- Rwanda
- Finland
- Monaco
- Niger
- Netherlands
- Argentina
- Latvia
- Slovakia
- Kazakhstan
- Poland
- Marshall Islands
- Lichtenstein
- Peru
- Senegal
- Italy
- Spain
- New Zealand
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- Morocco
Wednesday’s speakers
READ MORE
UN General Assembly 2019: All the latest updates
Morning session
- Ukraine
- Romania
- Iraq
- eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland
- Liberia
- Iran
- Lebanon
- Republic of Palau
- Georgia
- Central African Republic
- Colombia
- Seychelles
- Mauritania
- Estonia
- Guinea
- Zambia
- Chad
- Honduras
- Australia
- Fiji
Afternoon session
- Ecuador
- Guatemala
- Kenya
- Namibia
- Panama
- Togo
- Costa Rica
- Libya
- Ghana
- Lithuania
- Ireland
- Mali
- Kiribati
- Zimbabwe
- Kuwait
- Armenia
- Czech Republic
- Andorra
Thursday’s speakers
Morning session
- Tonga
- East Timor
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- Bulgaria
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Serbia
- El Salvador
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Moldova
- Palestine
- European Union
- Suriname
- Ivory Coast
- The Gambia
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
Afternoon session
- Montenegro
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Comoros
- Nauru
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Malawi
- Dominica
- Djibouti
- South Sudan
- Malta
- North Macedonia
- Israel
- Austria
- Hungary
- Saudi Arabia
- Belarus
- Denmark
- Tunisia
- Cameroon
- Dominican Republic
Friday’s speakers
Morning session
- Mauritius
- Indonesia
- Lesotho
- India
- Norway
- Singapore
- Pakistan
- Jamaica
- Slovenia
- Barbados
- Tajikistan
- Albania
- Greece
- Bahamas
- China
- Russia
- Algeria
- Solomon Islands
Afternoon session
- Venezuela
- Cape Verde
- Malaysia
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- Vanuatu
- Bangladesh
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Paraguay
- Iceland
- Nepal
- Tanzania
- Papua New Guinea
- Equatorial Guinea
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
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