The Bulgarian delegation to the 81st annual session of the United Nations General Assembly is beginning its visit to New York with side events today, September 21, ahead of the general debate of the Assembly, which opens on September 22. The delegation is led by President Iliana Iotova and also includes Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, among others.
The general debate at the UN headquarters in New York will continue until September 28, with a day off on September 27. Representatives of the 193 member states of the world body will take part in the debate at a high level. According to updated UN figures, nearly 130 countries will be represented by their head of state or head of government.
The 81st session, presided over by Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister and newly elected Assembly President Khalilur Rahman, is themed: “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all”.
The session is once again bringing together world leaders to revitalize global cooperation, provide critical momentum for implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and drive collective action for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet, the UN said on its website. Two key platforms will focus attention on action and solutions: a dedicated SDG media zone, featuring dynamic interviews and panel discussions on solutions for the goals, from September 21 to 25; and an SDG lounge, running from September 14 to 25, featuring unscripted dialogues, in-depth analysis of vital issues and interactive experiences.
Ahead of the debate, a meeting devoted to the SDGs was held in the UN General Assembly Hall on September 18. The implementation of the agenda was reviewed. Adopted in September 2015 at a high-level meeting on sustainable development, it sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030, with 169 specific targets.
During the week of the general debate at UN headquarters, a high-level meeting will be held on September 23 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 4, 1986, in Resolution 41/128, the declaration proclaims the right to development as an inalienable human right, within which every person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development.
Also on September 23, a high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition will take place. It will focus specifically on how the transition to a low-carbon economy can be made fair and inclusive, so that vulnerable regions, communities and workers are not adversely affected.
On September 24, a summit on the existential threats posed by rising sea levels will be held. These threats are becoming increasingly visible as extreme natural events such as floods occur more frequently.
On September 25, a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will take place. This reflects the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out at the beginning of this decade.
On September 28, a meeting will be held to mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The declaration and accompanying programme of action were adopted by UN member states at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa in 2001. The two documents constitute the UN’s global framework for combating racism worldwide.
On September 29, a high-level plenary meeting will be held to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed on September 26. It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly to raise public awareness of the threats posed by nuclear arsenals and to mobilize renewed international efforts to achieve a world free of such weapons of mass destruction. The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 2013, following the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held in New York on September 26, 2013.
The opening of the General Assembly session coincides with the process of selecting the next UN secretary-general, who will succeed Antonio Guterres. The Portuguese politician’s second five-year term expires at the end of this year. By an informal convention, the next UN secretary-general is expected to be a representative of Latin America, although this is not guaranteed. In addition, the post has never been held by a woman, raising the question of whether this too will be a factor in the race.
Bulgarian Delegation to New York Participates in Side Events ahead of UN Session General Debate 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-21 05:13:00
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