They said it: Leaders at the hybrid UN, in their own words
By The Associated Press
They said it: Leaders at the hybrid UN, in their own words
JUSTIN LANE
Moldova's President Maia Sandu addresses the General Debate during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at UN headquarters.
JUSTIN LANE
Moldova's President Maia Sandu addresses the General Debate during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at UN headquarters.
They said it: Leaders at the hybrid UN, in their own words
United Nations
In this photo taken from video shown at United Nations headquarters, Malawi's President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera remotely addresses the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly in a pre-recorded message, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021.
United Nations
In this photo taken from video shown at United Nations headquarters, Malawi's President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera remotely addresses the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly in a pre-recorded message, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021.
They said it: Leaders at the hybrid UN, in their own words
Eduardo Munoz
Mongolia's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh addresses the General Debate during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at UN headquarters.
Eduardo Munoz
Mongolia's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh addresses the General Debate during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at UN headquarters.
They said it: Leaders at the hybrid UN, in their own words
John Minchillo
Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, president of Mongolia, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
John Minchillo
Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, president of Mongolia, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
They said it: Leaders at the hybrid UN, in their own words
HONS
In this photo taken from video provided by UN Web TV,, Marshall Islands' President David Kabua remotely addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a pre-recorded message, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at UN headquarters.
HONS
In this photo taken from video provided by UN Web TV,, Marshall Islands' President David Kabua remotely addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a pre-recorded message, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at UN headquarters.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Many leaders saying many things about many topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world: That’s what the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year.
And each year, certain voices dominate. Here, The Associated Press takes the opposite approach and spotlights some thoughts — delivered in pre-recorded speeches or from the rostrum at the United Nations after a yearlong pandemic break — from leaders who might have not captured the headlines and airtime on Wednesday, the second day of the 2021 debate.
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“We see more and more security crises arising in different parts of our planet. In an interdependent world, their aftershocks can be felt across the globe.”
— Maia Sandu, president of Moldova
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“If you pollute the planet that we all call home, it is only right that you should pay to clean it up.”
— Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, president of and minister of defense for Malawi
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“With the ongoing crisis caused by the pandemic of COVID-19, we have often reflected and pointed out that it is also a crisis of opportunity, challenging both the present and future generations with responsibility, young people first and foremost.”
— Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, president of Cabo Verde
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“We, Mongolians, view the United Nations, as an organization for peace and security, human rights and development of nations in five continents, and as a faithful companion of the past 60 years and a reliable partner of many more 60 years ahead of us. Mongolians say that ‘a person with friends lives in a wide space like a steppe and a person without friends lives in a tight space like a palm.’”
— Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, president of Mongolia
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“Leadership must come from all who are committed to act — small and large nations alike. We cannot abide by attempts to rewrite the script on universal human rights. And my own Pacific islands region faces an emerging security threat in the form of geopolitical competition by the world’s largest powers. Are we again to be caught in the middle of a tug-of-war?”
