In wake of terror attacks, General Assembly postpones annual high-level debate

One week after the devastating terrorist attacks against the United States, the United Nations General Assembly decided to postpone its annual high-level debate, a spokesman for the body's President said today.

The decision came after General Assembly President Han Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea consulted today with the chairmen of regional groups, spokesman Jan Fischer told the press at UN Headquarters in New York. "It was understood that the general debate, which is scheduled to take place from Monday, 24 September to Friday, 5 October 2001, will be rescheduled to future dates," he said.

"The new dates for the general debate will be announced as soon as possible" following consultations with the United States and other UN members, the spokesman said.

In view of the postponement, the President plans to propose that on 24 September, the Assembly should begin considering the Secretary-General's annual report on the work of the Organization, according to Mr. Fischer. That proposal will be formally presented to the Assembly tomorrow.

This opening of year's session, slated for 11 September, was postponed to the following day as a result of the terror attacks. When the Assembly convened on 12 September, it moved immediately to condemn the attacks and called for international cooperation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

That same day, the Assembly also decided to postpone its special session on children, which was to have convened from 19 to 21 September with the expected participation of more than 70 heads of State or government.