General debate of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly

The General Debate of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly was the first debate of the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly that ran from 23–29 September 2009. Leaders from a number of member states addressed the General Assembly.

General Debate of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly
23 – 29 September 2009
General Assembly hall at United Nations Headquarters, New York City
Host country United Nations
Venue(s)United Nations Headquarters
CitiesNew York City, United States
ParticipantsUnited Nations Member States
PresidentAli Abdussalam Treki
Websitewww.un.org/en/ga/64/

Organisation

The speaking order of the General Debate is different from the speaking order of other General Assembly debates. For the General Debate, the Secretary-General speaks first delivering their "Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization, " they are then followed by: the President of the General Assembly who opens the General Debate, the delegate from Brazil and the Delegate from the United States of America. After this, the order is first given to Member States, then Observer States and supranational bodies. For all other Member States, the speaking order is based on their level of representation at the General Debate, order preference and other criteria such as geographic balance.[1][2]

According to the rules in place for the General Debate, statements should be made in one of the United Nations' official languages of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish, and are translated by United Nations translators. Additionally, speakers are usually limited to a 15-minute time limit in order to comply with the schedule set up by the General Committee. Member States are also advised to provide 350 paper copies of their statements in order for them to be distributed to other Member States, as well as to translation services.[1]

The theme for the 64th Session was chosen by President Ali Abdussalam Treki as: "Effective responses to global crises: strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for international peace, security and development."[3]

Speaking schedule

23 September

Morning session [4][5]

Afternoon session [4][6]

24 September

Morning session [4][7]

Afternoon session [4][8]

25 September

Morning session [4][9]

Afternoon session [4][10]

26 September

Morning session [4][11]

Afternoon session [4][12]

Rights of Reply
Islamic Republic of Iran
The delegation of Iran used its right of reply to place on record their position on two issues. First, it responded to claims by various delegations, in particular the delegations of the Netherlands, Slovakia, Austria and Canada, in regards to its nuclear program. Iran stated that its nuclear activities have always been for peaceful purposes, and that they have always observed their legal obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It further stated that more attention should be paid to "un-safeguarded and secretive nuclear weapons installations of the Zionist regime."[12]

Secondly, it responded to the United Arab Emirates regarding its territorial integrity and the sovereignty of three islands in the Persian Gulf, namely Bu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb. These islands are claimed by the United Arab Emirates, and in their General Assembly speech called for their return. Iran, however, considers these islands to be an integral part of Iranian territory. It stated that all actions taken on these islands have been in exercise of its sovereign rights.[12][13]

Serbia
The delegation of Serbia used its right of reply to respond to statements made by the Prime Minister of the Albania, Sali Berisha. In his speech before the Assembly, the Prime Minister added his support to the independence of Kosovo from Serbia. He also urged Member States to recognize Kosovo and uphold General Assembly Resolution 49/204, which called for an end to human rights violations against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, as well as the establishment of democratic institutions in Kosovo.[14][15]

Serbia responded by denouncing Mr. Berisha's attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of other United Nations Member States. Serbia also stated that his remarks were deplorable, especially when the legality of Kosovo's secession was being considered by the International Court of Justice. Finally, Serbia stated that, contrary to Mr. Berisha's staements, inter-ethnic tensions in Kosovo have not been reduced, but rather "frozen in uneasy expectation."[12]

United Arab Emirates
The delegation of the United Arab Emirates used its right of reply to respond to statements made in the right of reply of the Islamic Republic of Iran. HH. Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan re-emphasized that the United Arab Emirates considers Bu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb as integral parts of Emirati territory and called upon Iran to engage in unconditional, serious and direct bilateral negotiations in order reach a final outcome of the dispute. He also suggested that, if no resolution could be found, the case be sent to the International Court of Justice for a legal opinion.[12]

Albania
The delegation of Albania used its right of reply to respond to statements made in the right of reply of Serbia. Albania stated that the Republic of Kosovo was an undeniable reality, and that it would one day finally achieve its independence. While agreeing that the issue was still divisive, the delegation pointed out that the number of countries recognizing Kosovo has only increased. Finally, the delegation stated that it reserves the right to advocate for the independence of Kosovo as a neighboring state that could be possibly affected by any conflicts over the region.[12]

28 September

Morning session [4][16]

Afternoon session [4][17]

29 September

Morning session [4][18]

References
  1. Aeschlimann, Johann; Regan, Mary, eds. (2017). The GA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly (PDF). New York: Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. pp. 86–88. ISBN 978-0-615-49660-3.
  2. Capel, Charles (22 September 2018). "How is the order of speakers at the UN General Assembly decided?". The National. The National. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  3. "64th session". General Assembly of the United Nations. United Nations. n.d. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  4. "General Debate 64th Session: 23 September 2009 to 29 September 2009". General Assembly of the United Nations. United Nations. n.d. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  5. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.3. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 3rd plenary meeting, Wednesday, 23 September 2009, 9 a.m. New York A/64/PV.3 23 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  6. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.4. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 4th plenary meeting, Wednesday, 23 September 2009, 3 p.m. New York A/64/PV.4 23 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  7. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.5. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 5th plenary meeting, Thursday, 24 September 2009, 9 a.m. New York A/64/PV.5 24 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  8. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.6. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 6th plenary meeting, Thursday, 24 September 2009, 3 p.m. New York A/64/PV.6 24 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  9. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.7. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 7th plenary meeting, Friday, 25 September 2009, 9 a.m. New York A/64/PV.7 25 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  10. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.8. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 8th plenary meeting, Friday, 25 September 2009, 3p.m. New York A/64/PV.8 25 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  11. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.9. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 9th plenary meeting, Saturday, 26 September 2009, 9 a.m. New York A/64/PV.9 26 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  12. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.10. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 10th plenary meeting, Saturday, 26 September 2009, 3 p.m. New York A/64/PV.10 26 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  13. Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abdullah (26 September 2009). Statement by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Head of Delegation, before the general debate of the 64 session of the United Nations General Assembly (PDF) (Speech). United Nations General Assembly (in Arabic). New York: United Nations. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  14. Berisha, Sali (26 September 2019). Statement by H.E. Mr. Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, 64 session of the United Nations General Assembly (PDF) (Speech). United Nations General Assembly. New York: United Nations. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  15. United Nations General Assembly Session 49 Resolution 204. Situation of human rights in Kosovo A/RES/49/204 13 March 1995. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  16. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.11. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 11th plenary meeting, Monday, 28 September 2009, 9 a.m. New York A/64/PV.11 28 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  17. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.12. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 12th plenary meeting, Monday, 28 September 2009, 3 p.m. New York A/64/PV.12 28 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  18. United Nations General Assembly Session 64 Official record PV.13. General Assembly Sixty-fourth session: 13th plenary meeting, Tuesday, 29 September 2009, 9 a.m. New York A/64/PV.13 29 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
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