UN General Assembly exclusively allows Ukrainian president to speak remotely at General Debate

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The General Assembly on Friday adopted a decision to exclusively allow the Ukrainian head of state to submit a pre-recorded speech to the General Debate next week, instead of physical presence.

Representatives of all other member states and observers will have to be physically present at the General Assembly Hall if they wish to make a statement at this year's General Debate.

The decision says that Ukraine may submit a pre-recorded statement of its head of state, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall at the General Debate. The president of the General Assembly will circulate the pre-recorded statement as a document of the assembly.

The decision says it will not set a precedent for future General Debates and mandated high-level meetings planned for future high-level weeks of the General Assembly.

The draft resolution, tabled by Ukraine and some 50 other states, was adopted with 101 votes in favor, 7 against and 19 abstentions.

Belarus tabled an amendment to the draft decision, which would have allowed leaders of other member states who cannot participate in person for reasons beyond their control to speak by pre-recorded statements. The amendment was rejected by the General Assembly in a vote.

Before and after the vote on the draft decision tabled by Ukraine, several member states voiced concern that such a decision would jeopardize sovereign equality among member states and politicize a procedural issue of the General Assembly.