Organisation and subjects
The order of speakers is given first to member states, then observer states and supranational bodies. Any other observers entities will have a chance to speak at the end of the debate, if they so choose. Speakers will be put on the list in the order of their request, with special consideration for ministers and other government officials of similar or higher rank. According to the rules in place for the General Debate, the statements should be in one of the United Nations official languages of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish, and will be translated by the United Nations translators. Each speaker is requested to provide 20 advance copies of their statements to the conference officers to faciltate translation and to be presented at the podium. Though there is no time limit for speeches, a voluntary guideline of 15 minutes is requested.
In addition to commenting on issues of individual national and wider international relevance, the President of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremić chose the theme: "Adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also said: "This year's General Debate will be among[st] our busiest ever. This reflects the tumultuous time in which we live -- a time of turmoil and transition." The General Debate will commence with the opening of the session on 25 September and continue until 1 October.
Morning schedule United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon United Nations – 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly – President Vuk Jeremić Brazil - President Dilma Rousseff United States of America - President Barack Obama Serbia - President Tomislav Nikolić Benin - President Boni Yayi Finland - President Sauli Niinistö Cyprus - President Demetris Christofias Qatar - Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Bulgaria - President Rosen Plevneliev Indonesia - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Georgia - President Mikheil Saakashvili Dominican Republic - President Danilo Medina Sánchez France - President François Hollande Lithuania - President Dalia Grybauskaitė Honduras - President Porfirio Lobo Sosa Namibia - President Hifikepunye PohambaAfternoon schedule Rwanda - President Paul Kagame Switzerland - President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf Argentina - President Cristina Fernández Senegal - President Macky Sall South Africa - President Jacob Zuma Panama - President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal Jordan - King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein Hungary - President János Áder Pakistan - President Asif Ali Zardari El Salvador - President Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena Democratic Republic of the Congo - President Joseph Kabila Kabange Gabon - President Ali Bongo Ondimba Slovakia - President Ivan Gašparovič Nigeria - President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Marshall Islands - President Christopher Loeak Nauru - President Sprent Arumogo Dabwido Czech Republic - President Václav Klaus Afghanistan - President Hamid Karzai Uganda - Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi Spain - Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Timor-Leste - Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GusmãoMorning schedule Yemen - President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Zambia - President Michael Chilufya Sata Luxembourg - Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg Ukraine - President Viktor Yanukovych Ghana - President John Dramani Mahama Iran and the Non-Aligned Movement - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Kenya - President Mwai Kibaki Poland - President Bronisław Komorowski Egypt - President Mohamed Morsy Mexico - President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa United Kingdom - Prime Minister David Cameron Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda EU European Council - President Herman Van Rompuy Kuwait - Prime Minister Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah Italy - Prime Minister Mario Monti Australia - Prime Minister Julia GillardAfternoon session Colombia - President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón Swaziland - King Mswati III Guatemala - President Otto Fernando Pérez Molina Madagascar - President Andry Nirina Rajoelina Moldova - President Nicolae Timofti Estonia - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves Malawi - President Joyce Hilda Mtila BandaEvening session Kiribati - President Anote Tong Zimbabwe - President Robert Mugabe Haiti - President Michel Joseph Martelly Latvia - President Andris Bērziņš Togo - President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé (scheduled) Bolivia - President Evo Morales Ayma Gambia - Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy Belgium - Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo Mali - Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra Niger - Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Bazoum Romania - Foreign Minister Titus Corlățean Ivory Coast - Foreign Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan Cameroon - Foreign Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo Central African Republic - Foreign Minister Antoine GambiMember states have the option to reply to comments on the day (or even to the days prior), but are limited to 10 minutes for the first response and five minutes for the second response. All speeches are made from the floor, as opposed to the podium for the General Debate.
Iran responded to Kuwait's assertion of UAE sovereignty over the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa. The delegate added that Iran was willing to talk over the issue to avoid misunderstanding, but added that sovereignty was non-negotiatable. He further added that the international name of the body of water for the Persian Gulf was misrepresented as the Arabian Gulf.
Morning schedule Slovenia - Prime Minister Janez Janša (scheduled) Bosnia and Herzegovina - Chairman of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegović Mongolia - President Elbegdorj Tsakhia Tunisia - President Moncef Marzouki Guyana - President Donald Rabindranauth Ramotar Myanmar - President Thein Sein Macedonia - President Gjorge Ivanov Cape Verde - President Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca (scheduled) Equatorial Guinea - President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Comoros - President Ikililou Dhoinine Brunei Darussalam - Crown Prince Haji Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Jamaica - Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller Cape Verde - President Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca Palestine - Acting President Mahmoud Abbas Slovenia - Prime Minister Janez Janša Israel - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Lesotho - Prime Minister Thomas Motsoahae Thabane Guyana - President Donald Rabindranauth Ramotar (scheduled) Tunisia - President Moncef Marzouki (scheduled) Bosnia and Herzegovina - Chairman of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegović (scheduled)Afternoon session Greece - (scheduled) China - (scheduled) Bahrain - (scheduled) Norway - (scheduled) Guinea - (scheduled) Peru - (scheduled) Micronesia - President Emanuel Mori Maldives - President Mohamed Waheed Paraguay - President Luis Federico Franco Gómez Albania - President Bujar Nishani Libya - President Mohamed Yousef El-Magariaf Burundi - Vice President Thérence Sinunguruza Seychelles - Vice President Danny Faure Iraq - Vice President Khudayr al-Khuzai South Sudan - Vice President Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon Antigua and Barbuda - Prime Minister Winston Baldwin Spencer Burundi - Vice President Thérence Sinunguruza (scheduled) Libya - President Mohamed Yousef El-Magariaf (scheduled)Evening session Lebanon - Prime Minister Najib Mikati Bangladesh - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thailand - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Solomon Islands - Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo Kyrgyzstan - Parliament Speaker Asylbek Jêênbekov Somalia - Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Turkmenistan - Deputy Prime Minister Raşit Meredow Somalia - Prime Minister Mohamed Ali (scheduled) Albania - President Bujar Nishani (scheduled) Kyrgyzstan - President Asylbek Jêênbekov (scheduled) Paraguay - President Luis Federico Franco Gómez (scheduled) Solomon Islands - Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo (scheduled) Thailand - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (scheduled) Maldives - President Mohamed Waheed (scheduled) Bangladesh - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (scheduled) Micronesia - President Emanuel Mori (scheduled) Lebanon - Prime Minister Najib Mikati (scheduled) Antigua and Barbuda - Prime Minister Winston Baldwin Spencer (scheduled) Iraq - Vice President Khudayr al-Khuzai (scheduled) Greece - Foreign Minister Dimitris L. Avramopoulos China - Foreign Minister Jiechi Yang Norway - Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide Bahrain - Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Norway - Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (scheduled) Guinea - Foreign Minister Edouard Niankoye Lama Peru -Foreign Minister Rafael Roncagliolo OrbegosoIran responded to Netanyahu. Japan responded to China, China reciprocated and both used their second right of reply as well.
Morning schedule St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves Saint Lucia - Prime Minister Kenny Davis Anthony Bhutan - Prime Minister Lyonchoen Jigmi Yoezer Thinley Tonga - Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano Germany - Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle Samoa - Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi San Marino - Prime Minister Antonella Mularoni (schedule) Samoa - Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (scheduled) Saint Kitts and Nevis - Prime Minister Denzil Douglas Vanuatu - Prime Minister Meltek Sato Kilman Livtunvanu San Marino - Prime Minister Antonella Mularoni Germany - Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (scheduled) Nepal - Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha Malta - Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg Netherlands - Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal Chile - Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno Charme Tanzania - Foreign Minister Bernard Kamillius Membe Burkina Faso - Foreign Minister Djibrill Ypènè Bassolé Turkey - Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoğluAfternoon session Croatia - Prime Minister Zoran Milanović Guinea-Bissau - Former Interim President Raimundo Pereira (scheduled) São Tomé and Príncipe - Prime Minister Patrice Emery Trovoada Ethiopia - Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Morocco - Prince Moulay Rachid Ireland - Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore Laos - Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (scheduled) Austria - Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger Nicaragua - Foreign Minister Samuel Santos López Russia - Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov Laos - Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith South Korea - Foreign and Trade Minister Kim Sung-hwan Saudi Arabia - Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal Sweden - Foreign Minister Carl Bildt United Arab Emirates - Prime Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan Monaco - Foreign Minister José Badia Uzbekistan - Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov Azerbaijan - Foreign Minister Elmar Maharram Mammadyarov Fiji - Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola Andorra - Foreign Minister Gilbert Saboya Sunyé Papua New Guinea - Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato (scheduled)Bolivia responded to Chile's comments about the maritime dispute, which Chile then countered. Then North Korea responded to the South Korean comments about its nuclear weapons programme. Iran then responded to claims of sovereignty over the islands by the UAE, and in Arab solidarity over the issue, as well as the Persian Gulf naming controversy. Bolivia took the stand again and was duly followed by Chile. UAE followed up its counter points to Iran's reply; it was then followed, in turn, by Iran's rebuttal and UAE closed out the session in its second reply.
Morning schedule Montenegro - Foreign Minister Nebojša Kaludjerović Iceland - Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson Kazakhstan - Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov Cambodia - Foreign Minister Hor Namhong Tajikistan - Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zafiri Algeria - Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci Mozambique - Foreign Minister Oldemiro Marques Balói Malaysia - Foreign Minister Anifah Aman New Zealand - Foreign Minister Murray Mccully Bahamas - Foreign Minister Frederick A. Mitchell Liechtenstein - Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick Uruguay - Foreign Minister Luis Almagro Tuvalu - Foreign Minister Apisai Ielemia Singapore - Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam Chad - Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat Mauritania - Foreign Minister Hamady Ould Hamady Sudan - Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti Papua New Guinea - Foreign Minister Rimbink PatoMorning schedule Canada - Foreign Minister John Baird Armenia - Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan Oman - Foreign Minister Yousef bin Al-Alawi bin Abdulla Cuba - Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla India - Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna Djibouti - Deputy Prime Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Syria - Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem Barbados - Foreign Minister Maxine Pamela Ometa McClean Eritrea - Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh Sri Lanka - Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris Congo - Foreign Minister Basile Ikouébé Mauritius - Foreign Minister Arvin Boolell Costa Rica - Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo Togo - Foreign Minister Elliot Ohin Trinidad and Tobago - Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran Angola - Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ismael Abraao Gaspar MartinsAfternoon schedule Philippines - Foreign Minister Albert F. Del Rosario Belize - Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington Belarus - Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei Botswana - Foreign Minister Phandu T. C. Skelemani Suriname - Foreign Minister Winston G. Lackin Sierra Leone - Foreign Minister Joseph Bandabla Dauda Trinidad and Tobago - Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran (scheduled) Holy See - Secretary for Relations with States Dominique Mamberti North Korea - Vice Foreign Minister Kung Sok Ung Ecuador - Vice Foreign Minister Marco Albuja Vietnam - Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh Grenada - Permanent Representative to the U.N. Dessima Williams Palau - Permanent Representative to the U.N. Stuart Beck Denmark - Permanent Representative to the U.N. Carsten Staur Portugal - Permanent Representative to the U.N. José Filipe Moraes Cabral Venezuela - Permanent Representative to the U.N. Jorge Valero Briceño Dominica - Permanent Representative to the U.N. Vince Henderson United Nations – 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly – President Vuk Jeremić (closing remarks)Pakistan responded to India's claim to Kashmir. Iran then responded to a "Western delegation" statement on its nuclear issue and criticised Israel. Azerbaijan responded to Armenia's comments and was then, in turn, replied to by Armenia. Eritrea then responded to Djibouti before Pakistan replied to India's reply and was then followed by Azerbaijan. At second responses, India briefly rebutted Pakistan's comment, before Armenia responded to Azerbaijan. President of the session, Vuk Jeremić, then closed out the meeting.
During the events around the General Debate, the Contact Group for Syria was scheduled to meet, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, whose country recently invited Iran to join the group, who was speaking alongside Turkey's Ahmet Davutoğlu and Iran's Ali Akbar Salehi. Salehi added: "To expect a quick solution from one meeting is unrealistic. We must be patient. But I confirm to you that the things we agree on are greater than our differences. [We could table a proposal that] we hope, God willing, will produce a result that satisfies everyone...But this needs more talks." The UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said he would make his next report to the Security Council and Arab ministers who will be attending for the General Debate. The meeting on 26 September, unnamed Arab foreign ministers met Brahimi. Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki then suggested "a peacekeeping operation by Arab nations is something we could well imagine. We have really pushed for a peaceful solution, but if it is necessary, it must be an Arab peacekeeping force, yes." He also called Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "a bloodthirsty dictator." The previous day, though Qatar's Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani told the General Debate of an Arab intervention, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby said he did not interpret this as a "fighting force" and added that he told the UNSC it must support Brahimi by enforcing its resolutions on Syria as "binding on all parties."
In regards to the Senkaku Islands dispute and the recent purchase by Japan of three uninhabited islands from a private Japanese citizen which also led to anti-Japanese protests in China, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told his Japanese counterpart Kōichirō Genba on 25 September that Japan had "severe[ly] infringement" its sovereignty. He added that China–Japan relations would remain strained until the purchase was reversed. A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry later read: "The Chinese side will by no means tolerate any unilateral action by the Japanese side on the Diaoyu Islands [sic]." The same day, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said after the UNGA meeting: "So far as the Senkaku islands are concerned, they are an integral part of our territory in the light of history and of international law. It is very clear and there are no territorial issues as such. Therefore there cannot be any compromise that could mean any setback from this basic position. I have to make that very clear. The resolution of this issue should not be by force, but calmly, through reason and with respect for international law." The dispute re-arose after Yang spoke about the issue at the General Debate and Japan then responded during the Right of Reply and was countered by China, leading to rebuttal by Japan and another statement by China.
At the same time, on the first day of the General Debate, discussion involved the recently passed controversy over Innocence of Muslims and the violent protests that followed. Discussions included how to regulate freedom of speech in regards to religious sensitivities and where to make some speech illegal. Opponents suggested such proposals for regulation could be misused in order to silence dissent. Similarly, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan added during his speech that religious denigration and incitement should not occur. U.S. President Barack Obama also condemned the video, but added such violent protests that led to deaths should also be condemned. Yemen's Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi also condemned the film and the violent protsts, while also criticising the facade of freedom of expression that is cited to produce such films. Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also criticised the incitement to Muslims, as did Egypt's Mohamed Morsi in criticising Islamophobia and calling the release of the video as an "organised campaign against Islamic sanctities" which requires a "firm stand." At the same time, he called for rejecting violent protests. They were joined by Kuwait's Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah who criticised the violent protests and the incitement, while mentioning Kuwaiti's Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's call for keeping all religious symbols above the purview of freedom of express. Australia's Julia Gillard added: "Denigration of religious beliefs is never acceptable...However, our tolerance must never extend to tolerating religious hatred and incitement to violence. The sentiment was echoed by Guatemala's Otto Pérez Molina, Latvia's Andris Bērziņš, Belgium's Elio Di Rupo, Niger's Mohamed Bazoum, Romania's Titus Corlățean, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Bakir Izetbegović, Comoros' Ikililou Dhoinine, Brunei Darussalam's Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Maldives' Mohammed Waheed Hassan, Albania's Bujar Nishani, Antigua and Barbuda's Winston Baldwin Spencer, Lebanon's Najib Mikati, Greece's Dimitris Avramopoulos, Bahrain's Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Saint Lucia's Kenny Davis Anthony, Turkey's Ahmet Davutoğlu São Tomé and Príncipe's Patrice Emery Trovoada, Morocco's Moulay Rachid, Saudi Arabia's Saud Al-Faisal, UAE's Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Azerbaijan's Elmar Mammadyarov, Oman's Yousef Bin Al-Alawi Bin Abdulla, India's S. M. Krishna, Djibouti's Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Costa Rica's Enrique Castillo, Botswana's Phandu T. C. Skelemani and Sierra Leone's J. B. Dauda. While some said violence is never recourse to the right to free speech; and other said religious should not be abused; yet others called for the inviobility of diplomatic missions to be respected in line with the Vienna Convention.
Myanmar's Thein Sein met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the summit. She announced the lifting of some sanctions against his country, namely the allowing of imports from the former to the latter after support for the move from the government and the opposition in Myanmar. In turn Sein thanked her and the U.S. saying the gesture was approved by his people.
Under the behest of Saudi Arabia, a "Friends of Yemen" summit was held to support new Yememi President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's call for a national dialogue in his country amidst the 2011–2012 Yemeni uprising.
A high-level discussion was also held amongst member states, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and NGO's on the topic of "Women, disarmament, non-prolifertation and arms control" during the first week of the General Debate. A joint statement was signed by all members for promoting the equitable representation of women in decision-making; and a General Assembly resolution is expected during this session.