General Assembly reschedules annual high-level debate to mid-November

The annual high-level debate in the United Nations General Assembly, which was postponed in the wake of the11 September terrorist attacks against the United States, will be held in mid-November, a spokesman for the body's President announced today.

Spokesman Jan Fischer told a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York that the debate, which traditionally attracts national leaders from across the world, would take place from 10 to 16 November.

"The general debate will be held for a seven-day period, going from Saturday to Friday, so there will be meetings on Saturday and Sunday," Mr. Fischer said. The morning sessions will start at 9 a.m. and run through 1 p.m., while the afternoon meetings will start at 3 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.

The general debate was initially scheduled to begin on 24 September, but the Assembly decided to put it off following the attack that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City. Addressing the 189-nation body on Monday, the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, thanked the Assembly for the consideration it had shown the City in postponing the debate.

"Our City is now open, and any time we can arrange it, we look forward to having your heads of state and your foreign ministers here for that session," he said.