Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will address the opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, as world leaders gather for the annual high-level debate.
His Highness is leading the State of Qatar's delegation to the UN meetings, where he is expected to discuss key regional and international issues and reaffirm Doha's positions on peace, security and international cooperation.
HH the Amir's regular participation reflects Qatar's leading engagement in multilateral diplomacy and its emphasis on working through international institutions to address global challenges, including conflict, climate change, poverty and sustainable development.
The speech is also expected to highlight Qatar's role in diplomatic mediation and its support for resolving disputes through peaceful means. Doha has increasingly positioned mediation as a central element of its foreign policy, including efforts involving regional and international conflicts.
During his visit, HH the Amir is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with heads of state, government leaders and senior international officials. The talks are intended to strengthen strategic partnerships and coordinate positions on issues on the General Assembly's agenda.
The Palestinian issue is expected to feature prominently in His Highness' discussions with world leaders and senior UN officials. Qatar has repeatedly called for the rights of Palestinians to be upheld, including their right to freedom, security and an independent state, while criticizing the international community's response to the continuing Israeli occupation and conflict.
The 81st General Assembly opens under the theme: "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all."
The General Debate is the UN's annual gathering of heads of state and government and traditionally provides one of the main opportunities for leaders to set out their priorities on international affairs at the start of a new General Assembly session.
After HE President of the General Assembly and Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Khalilur Rahman opens the general debate and delivers his opening speech, the floor is traditionally given first to Brazil as the opening speaker. The United States follows as the host country of the UN headquarters, while the speaking order for other member states is determined by the level of representation, precedence, and other criteria such as geographic distribution.
Most speeches are expected to focus on restoring the credibility of the multilateral system, ongoing conflicts, institutional reform, and climate issues. Heads of State, heads of government, and ministers participating in the new UN session will seek solutions to interconnected global challenges to foster peace, security, and sustainable development.
The 81st session of the General Assembly began on September 8, with approximately 130 heads of state and government expected to participate.
Observers note that the meetings of the 81st session are taking place in a particularly complex context. The international landscape is overshadowed by protracted wars and humanitarian crises, climate instability, fears of new pandemics, a technology race driven by artificial intelligence, and mounting political and financial pressures on the international system.
The session's proceedings extend beyond the leaders' speeches in the General Assembly Hall; the official agenda outlines a comprehensive program that begins prior to the general debate and encompasses a series of specialized meetings addressing development, climate, health, human rights, and disarmament. However, politics and security issues will inevitably take center stage once the General Debate begins-foremost among them the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, alongside concerns regarding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
The Middle East is expected to feature prominently in leaders' addresses to the UN General Assembly and in bilateral meetings, given the persistent regional tensions, ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the implications for the future of the Palestinian cause.
The Russia-Ukraine war will also remain a major focus, as the issues of halting hostilities and the terms of any potential political settlement continue to be subjects of widespread international disagreement.
The situation in Sudan will also be addressed at this major international forum.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is expected to emerge as a key new topic this year, amidst growing calls for stricter regulations on its development following a series of incidents and warnings issued by prominent figures in the sector.
This session holds added significance as the final General Assembly session to open during the tenure of Antonio Guterres whose second and final term concludes on December 31. The selection process for the next Secretary-General - who will assume office in early 2027 - is already underway.
Behind-the-scenes consultations are expected to take place to reach a consensus on a candidate for the role of the 10th UN Secretary-General.
In the lead-up to the High-Level Week and the General Debate, Guterres called on world leaders to honor their pledges, uphold the UN Charter, defend international law, protect human rights, invest in sustainable and inclusive development, and strive for peace.
He stated that the world is entering a phase of "profound uncertainty," characterized by shifts in the balance of power, rapid changes, and mounting threats that necessitate enhanced international cooperation. He described the United Nations as more than just a platform, calling it a "promise" that world leaders must fulfill.
