by William M. Reilly
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A sampling of some of the approximately 200 speeches scheduled for the 81st UN General Assembly General Debate has showed that the topics are as wide-ranging as the countries represented.
From small island states to the five permanent members of the Security Council, member states take turns at the dark green marble podium in the General Assembly Hall to address issues of their choosing. A 15-minute speaking limit is suggested, with a small red light on the lectern flashing when time is up, but speakers are not cut off.
Many heads of state regularly exceed the suggested limit. Late Cuban leader Fidel Castro set the record in 1960, when he spoke for nearly four and a half hours. No one has come close since.
Heads of state -- presidents and kings -- lead the list of speakers, followed by heads of government and then ministers.
Touting a country's development or unique solutions to problems is a frequent topic. Others range from artificial intelligence and climate change to armed conflicts and their effect on neighboring countries, food insecurity and, of course, UN reform.
Here is a sampling of topics mentioned by representatives of countries that usually do not grab global headlines:
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said: "We shall not be passive observers to efforts aimed at dismantling or weakening the international system, that has served us over 80 years, albeit with some shortcomings."
She called for "peace over conflict, dialogue over confrontation, and peaceful coexistence over tensions."
Nandi-Ndaitwah also called for critical reform of the international financial architecture, welcoming the creation of the African Credit Rating Agency, which is scheduled to be launched in Mauritius in October, as "a building block of Africa taking ownership of her development and prosperity agenda."
Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta said countries amassing nuclear weapons "keep us all living near imminent catastrophe." Trillions of dollars are invested in "perfecting forms of death" instead of investing a fraction of that in clean water, food, schools and clinics.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie said: "The United Nations has achieved remarkable victories against extreme poverty. But it has never been enough," citing poverty and systemic inequality as drivers of the ecological and environmental crisis.
Nikos Christodoulides, president of Cyprus, said UN member states' genuine willingness to contribute to and protect the multilateral system will ensure that it can respond to contemporary issues.
"After all, states bring different capabilities, experiences and perspectives," Christodoulides said.
He said that Cyprus, located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, has helped address global and regional emergencies.
"Our size did not diminish the responsibility to lead," he said. "Nor did it diminish our ability to fulfill it." ■
