The plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly opens at 0900 this morning with an address by U.S. President Barack Obama. Obama is expected to take stock of how the U.S. has re-engaged with the world post-George W. Bush. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is the 12th speaker on the docket today. That speech is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. although if leaders run on too long, that could get pushed back. Last year, Libya's Muammar Gaddafi really ragged the puck, rambling on for 90 minutes and crowding out the guy who was to follow him, French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
Harper will be preceded by a global heavy-hitter: Wen Jiabao of China. No word yet on what Harper plans to talk about.
Looking at the lineup ahead of Harper, I don't see a lot of attention-seeking despots likely to ramble on like Gaddafi did last year.
- 0900 – President Barack Obama, United States
- President Doris Leuthard, Switzerland
- President Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi
- President, Laura Chinchilla Miranda, Costa Rica
- President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka
- President Abdullah Gül, Turkey
- Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar
- President Mwai Kibaki, Kenya
- President Emomalii Rahmon, Tajikistan
- President Alan García Perez, Peru
- President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine
- Premier Wen Jiabao, China
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada
Before and after that speech, Harper has a dance card full of bilateral meetings including:
- 1030: Harper meets His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority
- 1435: Harper meets His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- 1610: Harper meets the Honourable Edward Nipake Natapei, Prime Minister of Vanuatu
- 1645: Harper meets His Excellency Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine
- 1820: Harper meets former U.S. President Bill Clinton
- 1900: Harper attends reception hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama
Do you know how the order of speakers is determined?
Not alphabetically.
Not by global weight/importance.
Not by country size/population size.
I guess it's totally random.
What a snail's pace! It's now 1:57 pm & the Ukrainian President is at the podium.
I suppose speaking after the Chinese Premier is a good spot, as more seats should be filled for that speech. On the other hand, it is lunchtime — and those UN delegates' stomachs must not be allowed to suffer hunger pangs.
The PM's patience must be wearing thin.
Weird!
I entered my moniker, but showed up as “Anonymous” in the previous comment.
— Gabby in QC