UNGA 79 kicks off with worldwide conflict raging

NEW YORK (Gray Media) - The United Nations General Assembly kicks off this week with heightened focus on international conflict. The 79th General Assembly at the United Nations is welcoming top leaders from around the world including President Joe Biden. With wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, Ambassador Robert Wood, an alternate United States representative to the United Nations says the stakes at this year’s summit are the highest he has seen in decades.

“It’s a very, very sensitive and also a very dangerous time,” said Wood.

Wood says there are three main priorities for the U.S. during this year’s event: revitalizing humanitarian systems around the world, reforming international systems including the UN Security Council, and dealing with conflicts around the world.

“Our first priority is trying to reinvigorate these peace processes where they exist and try to see if we can double down on our efforts in the in the Security Council and more broadly across the UN system to try to deal with these conflicts because of all the suffering they’re creating,” said Wood.

The suffering is evident in places like Ukraine and Gaza as Russia and Israel continue to wage war. Peace remains elusive despite efforts from the UN and U.S. The conflicts are expected to be prominent in President Biden’s meetings with other world leaders throughout the week and during his keynote address Tuesday.

“Countries pay very close attention to the president’s every word. And I think what the president’s going to say is that when you look at where we were in the United States four years ago and where we are today with regard to our alliances, with regard to our support for the multilateral system, for his proposal to reform the Security Council, I think he leaves a great legacy here,” said Wood.

While President Biden’s address is Tuesday, the general assembly will last through Sep. 30.

Copyright 2024 Gray DC. All rights reserved.