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by William M. Reilly
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 200 VIPs and diplomats descended on New York for a Climate Summit and the annual General Debate in the UN General Assembly on Sunday in the echo of heated accusations between Russia and the United States over Syria and a mysterious explosion only a few kilometers away in a crowded neighborhood of New York City.
The Saturday night blast in the popular Chelsea neighborhood, injuring 29 people, one seriously, was not believed a terrorist attack, officials said.
Some of the leading topics expected to be discussed in the 71st General Assembly session this week include Syria, its refugees and migration, as well as other Middle East hot spots, conflicts in Africa and Asia, the missile launches and nuclear tests of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, UN reform, selection of the next secretary-general and terrorism.
Scores more of topics will be discussed in the 1,100 bi-lateral private meetings between nations requested, said conference officials.
"Eighty-six heads of state signed up for the General Debate, 1 crown prince, 5 vice presidents, 48 heads of government, 51 ministers and three observers, for a total of 195, which is two more than last year," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told reporters last week. He said 545 meetings have been requested, including side events and regular meetings
Ban, who retires on Dec. 31 after serving two five-year-terms, has more than 120 bi-lateral meetings scheduled and will participate in 62 events, said Dujarric.
In a light-hearted moment during a usually all-too-serious briefing, considering global conflicts and tragedies, the spokesman said diplomatic "rock stars" were joining the usual host of ambassadors on hand in a sort of a UN "fashion week," an apparent reference to the VIPs -- some in national dress -- arriving on the heels of New York's recent Fashion Week.
This high-profile week -- complete with high security tying up foot, road and maritime traffic on Manhattan's East Side -- follows the "intentional" Chelsea explosion just over three kilometers away in a busy West Side neighborhood. There were no claims of responsibility.
The blast occurred about an hour after a 7:30 pm EDT (0030 GMT Sunday) emergency Security Council session on Syria called for by Russia following reports U.S. aircraft attacked Syrian government forces, killing more than 60 people.
Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the world body, said it was an accident and apologized, adding that Russia calling for the meeting was a "stunt" since it hadn't called for any emergency meetings for attacks by the Damascus government on civilians in the 5-year old conflict.
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia called her remarks "demagoguery."
The heated exchange came during a troubled 7-day humanitarian "cessation of hostilities" in Syria worked out between Russia and the United States. It was hoped that accord could lead to further cooperation, possibly worked out while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry were in New York for the UN meetings.
Humanity deliveries had been delayed by lack of sufficient security assurances, UN officials said.
The week of meetings at UN headquarters on the banks of Manhattan's East River get into full swing Monday morning with a first-ever General Assembly summit on refugees and migrants.
UN officials say there are 65 million refugees -- those fleeing to safe ground from strife in there home countries -- and economic migrants, the most since World War II, officials said. Most refugees are from Syria, flowing into neighboring lands and many attempting to flee to countries they attempt to settle in, in Europe.
This massive flow has triggered xenophobia in several nations where refugees and migrants land.
Now the assembly is taking up the topic at the highest level for a better international response.
President Barack Obama of the United States was scheduled to arrive from Washington for the summit. As with the secretary-general, it will be Obama's last General Debate while in office. Obama's second four-year term ends Jan. 20, 2017.
A Security Council diplomat said the 15-country peace and security body is trying to find a way of helping neighboring countries aid refugees from next-door conflict states so that they can return home more easily when peace resumes.
A declaration is expected to come out of the one-day session as well as the formal "marrying" into the UN family by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. The IOM is an intergovernmental agency that arose from the ashes of WWII and is now headed up by former U.S. Ambassador William Swing.
Tuesday will be the official opening of the General Debate whose official theme is "The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform our World," referring to the 2030 global goals adopted last year.
After Ban's welcoming remarks, Brazil, by tradition, is the first country allowed to take the green marble podium in the cavernous hall. Next on the list, by wit of being the host country for UN headquarters, is the United States, represented by Obama.
Wednesday will see a high-level conclave on the margins of the General Debate on anti-microbial resistance (AMR). Officials say the problem is one of the biggest threats to global health and endangers other major priorities, such as human development. The health problem stems from increasing resistance by micro-organisms to antibiotics because of over use of anti-microbial drugs.
The same day, Ban will also push for countries to deposit their instruments of accession to the climate agreement reached last year in Paris. Notably, the two greatest emitters of pollutants in the world, China and the United States have already done so.
After taking his oath of office last week the new president of the 71st session of the General Assembly (PGA), Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji, called two grand-daughters, five and seven years old, to his side and expressed the hope because of action in the assembly the world will be a safer place for them when they become young adults.
The General Debate is expected to last, with next Sunday off, until Monday morning Sept. 26.
