General Assembly's high-level debate not likely before late October - UN officials

Senior New York City officials have told the United Nations that its annual high-level General Assembly debate - which normally attracts the participation of national leaders from around the world but was postponed following the terrorist attacks against the United States - should not be held before October or early November.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani last week when the New York security team could handle an influx of heads of State and Government for the high-level debate, according to a UN spokesman. "The Mayor said it should not be before late October or early November at the earliest," spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York, adding that Mr. Guiliani had suggested that the issue be revisited in a few weeks.

The Secretary-General then conveyed this information to the President of the General Assembly, who continues to consult with regional groups on possible dates for the two-week debate, Mr. Eckhard said.

According to a spokesman for the President of the General Assembly, the regional groups are not considering other venues for the gathering, but have instead said they wanted the meetings to be held in New York.