76th session of UN General Assembly opening in New York

The 76th session of the UN General Assembly is starting its work on September 14, culminating in a high-level week from September 21 to 27, Report informs referring to TASS.

Last year due to restrictions related to the spread of the coronavirus, the opening of the anniversary session was held online. A large number of distinguished guests are expected to arrive this year.

The powers of the chairman of the General Assembly begin to be fulfilled by the representative of the Maldives, who held the post of foreign minister of this country, Abdulla Shahid. The UN Security Council is chaired by Ireland in September.

The situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized power and have already announced the formation of a cabinet, remains the paramount topic. A difficult humanitarian situation is developing in the country. On September 16, a vote on the extension of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) may be held.

With the change of power in Afghanistan, the question arose about the powers of the country’s current representative to the UN, Ghulam Isaczai. As the chairman of the 75th session of the General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir said earlier, a decision on the Afghan ambassador might be made by the accreditation committee in October-November.

The accreditation committee of the 76th session is planned to be formed at its first meeting on September 14. Traditionally, it includes Russia, the US, China, as well as six states elected from different parts of the world. The committee decides on the candidacy of the country’s permanent representative to the UN, as well as on the accreditation of its delegation for the high-level week. A source in the global organization told TASS that Isaczai will represent Afghanistan at high-level events on September 21-27.

The question of the powers of the ambassador of Myanmar, where the leadership was also changed earlier, may be resolved in October-November. Zhuo Mo Tong, appointed by the government, which ousted by the military who came to power in February this year, remains the country’s permanent representative. Earlier, they sent a letter to the UN proposing their candidacy for this post.

The leaders of 83 states, 43 heads of government, and foreign ministers of 23 countries are expected to arrive in New York for the high-level week.