Europe

Mariano Rajoy Brey, President of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain.
UN Photo/Sarah Fretwell

Spain’s leader lauds General Assembly as ‘hub’ of international system

25 September 2013
The President of Spain today hailed the General Assembly as the centre of multilateralism, highlighting its universal nature and the equal status enjoyed within it by all 193 Member States of the United Nations.
President Rossen Plevneliev of Bulgaria.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Bulgaria’s President urges intensified efforts to safeguard human dignity

24 September 2013
The President of Bulgaria appealed for substantial progress in fighting poverty, ending conflicts and preserving the environment under the overall objective of safeguarding human dignity as he took the podium at the high-level debate at the opening of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly today.
President Francois Hollande of France.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

France calls for strong UN resolution to enforce Syria’s surrender of chemical weapons

24 September 2013
French President François Hollande today called for a United Nations Security resolution that would authorize the potential use of force if Syria fails to comply with its agreement to hand over its chemical weapons following the last month’s sarin gas attack on a Damascus suburb.
President Ivan Gašparovič of the Slovak Republic.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Slovakian President calls for reforms to international security sector to ensure peace

24 September 2013
The international system must implement security sector reforms to adequately address conflicts and terrorism, as well consolidate peace and the rule of law in post-conflict regions, the Slovakian President told the United Nations General Assembly today.
Prince Albert II of the Principality of Monaco.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Prince of Monaco calls for reinforcing UN’s emergency relief office

24 September 2013
Citing a host of crises, from conflicts to natural disasters, Prince Albert II of Monaco today called for increased resources for the United Nations office that coordinates international relief for humanitarian emergencies.
President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Ukrainian President focuses on sustainable energy in General Assembly address

24 September 2013
A new, inclusive approach to the sustainable development of energy is needed to ensure the efficiency and safety of all energy sources, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych told world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly today.
President Andris Bērziņš of the Republic of Latvia.
UN Photo/Sarah Fretwell

In UN address, Latvian leader advocates placing peacebuilding high on post-2015 agenda

24 September 2013
Peacebuilding should feature high on the global development agenda that countries are crafting for the period following 2015, the deadline for achieving the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the President of Latvia said today in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Heinz Fischer, Federal President of the Republic of Austria.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Austrian President urges nuclear disarmament in General Assembly speech

24 September 2013
Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation can only be achieved together, the President of Austria told the United Nations General Assembly, calling also for the Arms Trade Treaty to enter into force as early as possible.
Zeljko Komšić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Regional integration key to national, global progress, leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina says

24 September 2013
The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina told the high-level debate of the United Nations General Assembly today that regional cooperation remains the focus of his country as it looks toward furthering its relationship with the European Union and addressing global economic, security and environmental challenges.
President of Switzerland Ueli Maurer.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

President of Switzerland decries return to ‘power politics,’ urges negotiation to solve differences

24 September 2013
Switzerland today expressed concern that in a return to “power politics”, larger States are once again choosing to exercise their power and strength, and reaffirmed that sovereignty and equal rights are the convictions upon which the UN Charter is based.