World leaders gather for UN General Assembly meeting

ANKARA

World leaders will gather at the United Nation's headquarters in New York next week for high-level debates as part of the 74th session of the General Assembly.

"Galvanizing multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion," is the theme for 2019, decided by new UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, a Nigerian diplomat and academic.

The General Debate will start Sept. 24, a day after a Climate Action Summit and one-day meeting on universal health coverage.

Leaders or representatives of 193 UN member countries, each with one vote to pass resolutions on issues of importance to the world's population, will address the chamber during the week of Sept. 23-30.

Votes taken on important issues like peace, security, admission of new members and the UN’s budget, require a two-thirds majority, while others are decided with a simple majority.

The UNGA, however, has recently been attempting to reach a consensus instead of relying on a formal vote. The president can decide to adopt a motion without a vote after conferring with appropriate delegations.

The UNGA also has a power to make recommendations to member states on international issues and it can initiate actions on political, economic, humanitarian, social and legal issues.

The leaders of Turkey, along with the U.S., Brazil and France are scheduled Tuesday to address the UN Assembly. Iran’s president will make his remarks Wednesday.

India, China and Russia will speak to the chamber Friday, according to the UN calendar.