The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly officially commenced today in New York, focusing on the theme: "Leaving no one behind: working together to advance peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations."

The session is set to continue until Saturday, September 28, and will conclude on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The opening day will feature the high-level General Debate, where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will deliver the inaugural address, followed by speeches from various world leaders.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan represents Türkiye and is expected to speak from the third row during the discussions. This session is particularly significant as it includes the Summit of the Future, which took place on September 22 and 23, where global leaders confronted critical challenges in governance. The summit reaffirmed commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Charter while aiming to foster cooperation and create a Pact for the Future to enhance global collaboration.

During the assembly, member states will likely focus on international peace and security issues, particularly the situation in Gaza. Discussions are expected to emphasize calls for a cease-fire, address Israel’s violations of international law and UN resolutions, and highlight the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid to the region.

This year’s summit marks Erdoğan’s 14th address to the General Assembly, where he is expected to spotlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, aligning with the session’s overarching goals of promoting peace and human dignity. (ILKHA)