General Assembly to open this year's high-level debate on 12 September

The United Nations General Assembly today decided to hold its "general debate" - which annually attracts national leaders from across the globe - from 12 to 20 September.

In another action today, the Assembly decided that when East Timor gains independence later this month it will be formally removed from the UN's list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The Assembly also appointed representatives from Cuba, China, the Russian Federation, the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania as members of the Joint Inspection Unit, a UN oversight body, for five-year terms beginning next January.