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PM Modi not to address UNGA session, Jaishankar to deliver speech on September 28
The Hindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the UNGA session, but will speak at a community event in New York.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the annual debate at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in United Nations later this month, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN.
Mr. Modi is scheduled to travel to New York later this month and address a mega community event on September 22 at the 16,000-seater Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island. He will also address the UN’s landmark 'Summit of the Future' that is being convened at the world body’s headquarters on September 22 and 23.
A provisional list of speakers for the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) issued by the U.N. in July had said that Mr. Modi would address the high-level debate on September 26. However, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the U.N. on Friday (September 6, 2024), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is now expected to address the General Debate on September 28.
A note signed by Under Secretary General for General Assembly and Conference Management Movses Abelian accompanying the list said that the revised list of speakers "has been prepared by taking into account the changes in the level of representation (upgrades and downgrades) and reflects exchanges among Member States".
This year, the General Debate of the 79th UNGA session will take place from September 24 to 30.
Brazil, traditionally the first speaker at the debate, will open the high-level session on September 24, followed by the US, with President Joe Biden delivering his current term’s final address to global leaders from the iconic UN podium before his country heads to presidential elections in November.
Modi took the oath of office for a historic third term as India’s prime minister in June and had last addressed the annual UNGA session in September 2021. He had visited the UN headquarters on June 21 last year, leading the historic Yoga Day commemoration at the North Lawn at the world body’s headquarters before heading to Washington DC for a State Visit hosted by Biden.