UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations General Assembly opened its 68th session at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

The session came as some 1.4 billion people worldwide lack electricity, more than 900 million access to clean water and 2.6 billion adequate sanitation.

 Many other vitally important issues will be on the agenda of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.

“In the past two decades, dramatic global change and national and regional transformations have led to unprecedented and increasingly complex socio-economic and environmental threats, challenges and concerns,” 68th General Assembly President John W. Ashe said in his opening address to the body composed of 193 member states. 

More than 130 heads of state and at least 60 foreign ministers will attend the general debate during the 68th session.

- Global partnership needed

 Speaking about the new threats and existing challenges in the world, Ashe said, “It will require new forms of collaboration, innovation and partnership” to reach their goals.

In an interview with AA, Ashe also said that the upcoming year would be pivotal for the Assembly as they seek to identify the parameters of the post-2015 development agenda.

Ashe declared “The Post 2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage” would be the 68th General Assembly's theme.

There will also be three high-level events in which the role of women, youth and civil society, the contributions of human rights and the rule of law in the post-2015 development agenda will be discussed.

- Water and energy debate

 Technology and knowledge transfers as well as financing and innovative means of implementation will also be critical parts of the upcoming debate.

Another thematic debate will examine how to work towards and ensure stable and peaceful societies within the post-2015 development framework.

Ensuring accessible institutions of justice, reducing violence, and enhancing the capacity and accountability of good governance mechanisms and practices which benefit peace and sustainable development will be discussed on several occasions within planned debates.

 The issues of water, sanitation and sustainable energy in the post-2015 development Agenda will also be addressed. 

- UN Security Council reforms

 The 68th session will also include a range of other critical issues such as migration, nuclear disarmament, the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) and its obstacles.

The UNGA will also hold a high-level thematic debate focused on investment in Africa.

- Political and regional agenda

 Without doubt Syria will dominate the upcoming debate starting on September 24. 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, "UNGA needs to look at a broader picture — global development as well as regional conflict.” 

Regarding the Middle East and the Quartet, consisting of the UN, European Union, United States and Russia, Ban said, "They will also meet for the first time in more than a year “to support the direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that have recently reconvened.”

According to UN Secretary General Ban, the agenda will also include Yemen, Myanmar and Mali.

by Erol Avdovic

englishnews@aa.com.tr