World leaders won't go to New York for UN General Assembly, citing COVID-19 concerns
(VOVWORLD) - For the first time in 75 years, world leaders will not converge in New York City for their annual UN General Assembly in September due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the UN General Assembly, said at a press conference on Monday.
 UN headquarters in New York, the US (Photo: UN) |
He said the UN's 75th anniversary, marking 75 years since the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco, is not a single moment of celebration, but will run throughout the year, beginning on June 26. A joint statement to mark the milestone is being hammered out.
Last month, UN chief Antonio Guterres recommended that the General Assembly session be significantly curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter to Muhammad-Bande, Guterres asked heads of state to deliver pre-recorded messages and limit physical attendance in the General Assembly Hall in New York to one delegate per delegation.