Opening of the UN General Assembly

At 3pm on September 16th, 2008, the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly was opened.
The new President of the General Assembly is Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua, elected during the 62nd session. The current session will meet intensively until December, and then afterwards as needed, and involves representatives from all 192 Members of the United Nations.

The Assembly will debate issues such as development in Africa, human rights, humanitarian efforts, the promotion of international law and justice, combating terrorism, disarmament and the promotion of sustainable economic growth. Several high-level meetings will be held, for example on meeting the Millennium Development Goals, and other important business includes the election of five judges to the International Court of Justice.