Lula at UNGA condemns attacks, sanctions, unilateral interventions

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday said the world is witnessing the conservation of international order marked by “repeated concessions to power players, attacks on sovereignty, arbitrary sanctions, and unilateral interventions becoming the rule.” Brazil traditionally delivers the first address at the General Assembly debate.

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Opening the high-level debate, Lula began, “Madam President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General, dear heads of state and government and representatives of the member states gathered here. This should be a time to celebrate the United Nations. Created at the end of World War II, the UN symbolises the highest expression of peace. And today, however, the ideals that inspired its founders in San Francisco are under threat as never before.”