After getting a green light from New York's mayor, the U.N. General Assembly will hold its annual gathering of world leaders next month, the assembly president announced Wednesday.
The General Assembly postponed the high-level round of speechmaking for the first time in the 56-year history of the United Nations following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The 189 U.N. member nations had been scheduled to meet between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5, but they unanimously agreed to a delay because of the difficulties New York City would face in providing security for visiting heads of state and government.
When New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani addressed the General Assembly on Monday, he thanked U.N. members for their consideration.
"We are now open and ready," he declared, "and any time we can arrange it, we look forward to having heads of state and foreign ministers here."
General Assembly President Han Seung-soo of South Korea announced Wednesday that the general debate will last only seven days, from Nov. 10-16. He urged member states to limit their statements to 15 minutes so all countries can be heard.
About 50 world leaders had been expected to attend the General Assembly session in September, including President Bush. There was no immediate indication of how many leaders would attend the rescheduled meeting in November.
Security has been stepped up at the United Nations since the Sept. 11 attacks. Streets around U.N. headquarters, which is just two miles from the ruins of the World Trade Center, are closed off by garbage trucks filled with sand to block possible truck bombs.
The Sept. 11 attacks delayed the opening of the new General Assembly session, scheduled for that day. But the General Assembly and the Security Council met on Sept. 12 to adopt strong resolutions condemning the attacks - and have continued meeting, with countries represented mainly by their ambassadors.
Han, South Korea's foreign minister, made his announcement during a weeklong General Assembly debate on international terrorism.
(China Daily 10/04/2001)
