PREVIEW - UN General Assembly Starting 73rd Session on Tuesday to Address Global Concerns
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th September, 2018) The UN General Assembly will convene on Tuesday for its 73rd session and will address matters concerning security around the world with a focus on Iran.
The opening date of the general debate is September 25 to last until October 1 and will include promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the fight against tuberculosis and the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
TRUMP TO CHAIR UN MEETING ON IRAN
The US mission to the United Nations said in a news release on September 7 the country's president, Donald Trump, will chair a UN Security Council meeting on Iran on September 26.
"During the Security Council meeting, the President will address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles," the release said.
Trump will address Iran's aggression, destabilizing actions and sponsorship of terrorism, the release said.
In May, Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the 1995 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear agreement, and re-impose sanctions against Iran as well as third states that do business with that country.
The first round of sanctions, which include a ban on purchasing US Currency, trading in gold and other precious metals, buying aluminum and steel for industrial purposes, and performing activities related to Iran's sovereign debt, took effect on August 7.
The second round, including sanctions on Iran's port operations, energy sector and foreign transactions, will take effect in November.
NUMEROUS BILATERAL TALKS TO TAKE PLACE ON SIDELINES
White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement earlier this month that Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May plan to meet during the UN General Assembly.
Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke by phone earlier this month to discuss efforts to denuclezarize North Korea and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the White House said on September 4.
On September 5, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US State Secretary Mike Pompeo will discuss the situation in Syria during bilateral talks at the UN General Assembly.
Ryabkov added that the signatory states of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - more commonly known as Iran nuclear agreement - would also meet on thesidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif last month ruled out the possibility of a meeting between Iranian and US officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will also attend the UN General Assembly gathering.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin is not scheduled to attend.