The leaders of the world’s near-200 countries met at the United Nations to kick off the annual General Assembly session that runs for its main work through December. Delegations will continue debating the issues introduced and will draw up model laws and agreements for further elaboration both at UN Headquarters and at home in their own legislatures.
The future of a rules-based international world is at stake. Russia has continued to violate international law despite sanctions imposed in an effort to compel compliance with the law. Countries around the world have side-stepped the sanctions for a variety of reasons. Those actions weaken the sanctions regime intended to avoid the escalation of tensions into armed conflict.Since the current state of global news is disjointed and largely skewed to regional interests, we followed events from a general interest perspective.
These notes do not take into account the many important meetings that take place between world leaders at sideline events. Those range from tete-a-tetes to bilateral meeting, multilaterals, luncheons, dinners and receptions. In popular culture, these events tend to be parodied as pretentious. In a global digital world where all countries are connected by both real information and dozens of fake versions of actuality, this personal representation of a country can make all the difference in literally all the world.
While the meeting continue, the tenor of the first four days are enough to convey the cumulative effect of so many leaders gathered together. The build-up is palpable.
HI-LEVEL KICK OFF to the UN Assembly Session
- Friday, 22 September, 2023
- Heads of near-200 world countries meeting at the UN have an opportunity to seize the day. Ukraine has emerged as the global underdog hero by consistently exceeding Westerm expectations.
- Oh, Ukraine can’t stand up against Russia” they said at first.
I need ammo, not a ride,” Ukraine replied when offered safe harbor by the West to escape trounle at homr. - A year and a half later, brave Ukraine has lost thousands of beautiful lives while brutal outlaw Russia plays global politics to procure the arms it needs to keep up its illrgal assault. This gives emerging countries an unprecedented chance to do what the West cannot. accomplish.
- The Cold War went on for 50 years because the five greats monopolizing seats on the UN Security Council could not contain each other or bring those powers to heel. Of those five, only the US is present at the meet this year, It is still in the lead for allied support to Ukraine but facing hurdles at homr that have plagued emerging countries f since time immemorial.
- Conservatives holding the purse and power strings oppose more funding for Ukraine. They want “more bang for their buck” before releasing more funds.They complain that Ukraine is not quick enough to produce the results they expect That is about as undemocratic as you can get and global democracies can now come into their own.
- France and the mighty UK are back home on a royal visit esoterically discussing the all important climate affecting all countries, particularly those with still fragile infrastructure limiting the ability to receive and process international aid. Russia is absent as an internayional pariah with an arrest warrant outstanding for crimes against humanity in Ukraine. China is back home nursing an ailing economy and taking its anger out on endomestic enemies like the Ouigurs and activists.
- In simple words, four of the Big Five are too busy to bother with the world. That means the cat’s away and the mice can play. The game to play is teamwork.
- While US conservatives were demanded that Ukraine quickly show dramatic results forsupport to its effort to continue, Ukraine back home quietly shelled the Russian naval station responsible for blocking food shipments to starving Africans and in the Middle East. Those dynamics serve as grundrules for the new global game of follow the leader.
- With four of the Big Five gone, the remaining near-200 can make a big push for reform of the UN Security Council. US President Joe Biden already called for that step in his address on updating international institutions in line with the modern global reality. Plenty of countries have been pushing for such a reform fwithout success for decades, Now could be the time to strike pay dirt with the new rules of flollow the leader set by the US Ukraine model.
- The US has the bucks and means to make significant global change. Ukraine has the guts to achieve the change because it also has a passion for democratic ideals.God bless.
T hursday 21 September 2023
Direct contrast as UN General Assembly continues its hi-level meet. US Biden and Ukraine Zelensky move to US capitol Washington DC to meet members of Congress and hold state visit in White House, As prelude last night, RussianPutin ordered the shelling of Ukraine citizens and power stations, including in Kyiv where civiliabs were injured and killed.
For world leaders continuing to meet in New York, fence-sitters unsure of supporting Ukraine because of historical resenments about “the West,” please note the contrasts between the widely different parts of “the West.” The US was the only one of the “big five” Security Council members to show for this year’s hi-level at the highest level. The US Congress has ultra-conservative members who oppose more aid to Ukraine fighting for the democratic values those conservative members cherish.
In a big crowd of “real” people, most will be rational, honest and well meaning. Some will be super-courageous like Ukraine. Others will be cruel, spiteful and punitive like Russia. Now is the time to state your stand.
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Heads of near-200 countries of the world continue to meet in hi-level kick-off to annual General Assembly session running through December. Side events as important as the formal sessions, an important note for our social media age. Face-to-face matters. Formal documents and proceeding give weight to statements. On a global level they carry huge weight and betrayal of signed agreements call for serious repercussions incumbent on all honest states to confront.
All near-200 countries have signed covenants agreeing to democratic principles. Those global agreements take time to work into national legislations. Once there, unscrupulous rogue leaders can undermine the laws painstakingly worked into the national law. Correcting such weaknesses in institutions powered by humans will take time. Right now, leaders either boost or hinder the process in numerous ways. Integrity is the big reveal.
By invading Ukraine Russia has made itself a rogue state. Its leader could not attend hi-level due to arrest warrant issued by international court. Left out of the world community of nations, Russia stirs trouble in Eurasion countries and meddles in Mideast geopolitical shift trying to promote good will and stability. Meanwhile, good guys stay steady.
US Biden hounded at home by oppo through his all-too-human son, covers for AWOL French & Ukraine Allies. Ukraine Zelensky makes impassioned plea for rationality among peers with eye on promoting important interests for own countries. The measure of all can be gauged by matching words and actions Face to face is the most foolproof. Short of that, gauge yor leader in company of peer leaders.
Tuesday, 19 September 2023
UN annual General Assembly session kicks off with a surprise The heads of states are no shows for four of five permenent Security Council members. Russian Putin can’t come because of arrest warrant for war crimes in Ukraine. China’s Xi didn’t come and instead sent his Foreign Minister to visit Putin in Russia. UK’s Sunak preparing for his King Charles to visit France tomorrow, the reason France’s Macron passed on the UN General Assembly pow-wow.
US ]Responsible US Biden called for reform of the international institutions that have not kept up with a changing world. Among the chanes he called for was to increase Council membership and reform financial institutions like the World Bank to better serve low and middle income countries among the world’s near-200. Above all, he called for reaffirming and strengthening the UN democratic values by supporting Ukraine.
“Respect for the sovereignty, integrity and freedom of countries is paramount,” he said. If Russia is allowed to get away with grabbing parts of Ukraine, he added, “then who’s next?”
News commentary noted that the message was a direct contrast to the Putin message courting troubled countries in Africa, South America and southeast Asia.
Ukraine President Zelensky will address those countries, the Assembly at large, the gathered dignitaries and the world audience overall this afternoon. That’s a large target audience the intrepid world leader is expected to handle as effectively as he has throughout Ukraine’s courageous stand against a rogue invader who has betrayed the UN democratic values.
Monday, 18 September 2023
Heads up
Tomorrow, Tuesday is hi-level kick-off to this year’s United Nations General Assembly session. Heads of 146 countries out of world total near-200 will gather in august UN Assembly chamber for an impressive impact of global power force.
First country to speak is UN founding member Brazil. Next comes host country USA. Ukraine President speaks Thursday on behalf of his country international law against continued violations by Russia, whose President will not attend because of an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court for war crimes already committed in Ukraine.
Other priorities for world leaders to address over the week long hi-evel session are climate and the food crisis caused by Russia’s against Ukraine grain export hubs in the Black Sea.
Proceedings are televised by the United Nations channel available worldwide. Worth catching a glimpse from time to time. Some small countries have refreshing new angles on already hackneyed while still modern global challenges.
Join in. Be happy among global friends. Cheers.