National leaders gather at UN for annual high-level debate

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is slated to open his first annual debate of the General Assembly this morning with an address leaders from across the world who have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Some 193 speakers are expected to participate in this year's general debate, including more than 70 heads of State and nearly 30 heads of government. The debate is scheduled to continue until 3 October.
Today's opening of the Assembly general debate takes place amid an intense period of diplomacy at UN Headquarters. High-level meetings on climate change, the Darfur conflict, Iraq, Afghanistan and the situation in the Middle East have been held over the past four days, and further meetings on critical issues, such as the permanent future status of Kosovo, are scheduled to be held this week.
The Secretary-General is also expected to conduct bilateral meetings with over 100 heads of State or government or ministers during the next two weeks.
Last week Mr. Ban told reporters that “as we move well into the 21st century, the United Nations is, once again, the global forum where issues are discussed and solutions are hammered out.”