DUSHANBE, September 16, 2008, Asia-Plus -- The 63rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations opened today and the general debate will take place from September 23 to October 1 2008.   

According to the UN News Center, more than 120 heads of state and government as well as foreign ministers and heads of delegations will make speeches at the session.  

According to the Tajik MFA, President Emomali Rahmon will visit New York to attend the session on September 23-27.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Davlat Nazriyev, head of the MFA information department, said, “The visit is not connected with bilateral relations between Tajikistan and United States and during his stay in the United States, President Rahmon will not visit Washington.”  

On September 25, The UN Secretary General and the President of the UN General Assembly will convene a high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  At the halfway point towards the target date, significant progress has been made, but urgent and increased efforts are needed by all stakeholders in order to meet the Goals by 2015.  The high-level event will be a forum for world leaders to review progress, identify gaps, and commit to concrete efforts, resources and mechanisms to bridge the gaps.

Established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly occupies a central position as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 192 Members of the United Nations, it provides a forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter. It also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law. The Assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as required.