Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) will represent Austria at the general UN debate in New York on Tuesday. In the afternoon (11 p.m. CEST), the two will meet with UN Secretary General António Guterres. In total, more than 150 heads of state and government are expected at the UN meeting.
Van der Bellen started the week on Monday with a speech at the UN Sustainable Development Goals summit. He then met the head of the UN Environment Programme, UNEP, Inger Andersen. He spoke to the Danish economist about, among other things, protecting biodiversity and ways to prevent plastic pollution. Van der Bellen reiterated Austria’s commitment to reach a binding agreement. “The dramatic increase we are experiencing in plastic pollution of the environment is one of our most pressing problems today,” the Federal President said.
Together with Foreign Minister Schallenberg, he will meet UN Secretary General António Guterres on Tuesday and will participate in the climate summit on Wednesday. Schallenberg will speak in the general UN debate on Thursday. In addition, numerous other conversation appointments are planned.
Speech planned by Zelensky
This time, the focus of the 78th United Nations General Assembly is on climate change and sustainability, as well as on the attitude of the international community towards the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to address the General Assembly in New York and meet Guterres. Many Global South leaders are concerned that Zelensky’s presence could attract too much attention.
In total, more than 140 heads of state and government will give speeches for about a week from Tuesday. Russia is represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In view of rising global tensions, Guterres has warned of divisions in the world. There are deep differences between the largest economic and military powers, between East and West and between wealthy states and developing countries, he said on Tuesday. “And it seems that we cannot come together to respond (…). Compromise has become a dirty word.”
US President Joe Biden also called for solidarity. “No country can meet today’s challenges alone. “Adversaries can become partners, overwhelming challenges can be solved, and deep wounds can heal,” Biden warned.
Source: Krone
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