The Diplomat in Spain

Pedro Sánchez in Moncloa.

Antonio Rodríguez. 09/07/2018

The president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has taken the first steps to try to take part in the UN General Assembly the first day it starts, a day in which the heads of State that decide to go to New York and only a few heads of Government play an important role, according to information provided to The Diplomat by diplomatic sources. 

The most important week of the United Nations starts on September 24, but the most awaited speeches do not take place until September 25 and 26. Traditionally, the words of the presidents of Brazil and the United States are the first ones to be pronounced in the plenary. Donald Trump already gave a speech in 2017 before the UN, in which he harshly criticized North Korea, and everything seems to indicate that he will do so in September.

He will be followed by the rest of heads of State that ask to take part and at the end of the day there will only be time for a few heads of Government. Moncloa has already transmitted to the office of Antonio Guterres the intention of Sánchez to participate on the first day, although everything depends on whether more requests have been made before his by other heads of Government.

The UN will publish, in one or two weeks, the final order of participation and, therefore, the possibility of the speech of the president of the Government being finally pronounced on September 26 has not been ruled out yet. In any case, the Spanish Executive has reserved several airport slots with the North American airport authority to decide when to travel to New York in the last moment.

Sánchez grants much importance to his first official visit to the UN, since he wants that Guterres creates the figure of the high commissioner for the Agenda 2030 to coordinate the actions related to the Objectives of Sustainable Development (OSD), like what he has set in motion in Moncloa with Cristina Gallach at the head.