United Nations, SEP 27 (AP/UNB) — Lots of leaders saying lots of things about lots of topics — topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world.
That’s what the speechmaking at the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year. And each year, certain enormous topics and certain louder voices dominate.Here, The Associated Press takes the opposite approach and spotlights some thoughts you might not have heard — the voices of leaders speaking at the United Nations who might not have captured the headlines and the airtime on Thursday, the third day of 2019 debate.
“We are losing our loved ones and their expertise. We are losing our history as well.”
— Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, president of Nauru, speaking of the high noncommunicable disease rates in his country
“Those of us from low-lying atolls and coastal areas across the Pacific are living the reality of climate change. This reality has become our nightmare.”
— David Panuelo, president of Micronesia
“Solidarity with refugees and displaced persons must not be a matter of political decision or political choice. That is above all a matter of humanity.”
— Milo Dukanovic, president of Montenegro
“History knows us. We have built empires and cities of the West with our blood, sweat and minerals. Africa has given more resources to the developed world, far more than we ever received in aid or any rhetoric of philanthropy.”
— Peter Mutharika, president of Malawi.
“The future is female, for we need to understand that we cannot succeed when approximately half of our global population is being held back.”
— Joseph Muscat, prime minister of Malta
