They said it: Leaders at the virtual UN, in their own words
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lots of leaders saying lots of things about lots of topics — topics that matter to them, to their regions to the world.
That’s what the speechmaking at the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year. And each year, certain enormous topics and certain louder voices dominate.
Here, The Associated Press takes the opposite approach and spotlights some thoughts you might not have heard — the voices of leaders speaking at the first all-virtual U.N. General Assembly leaders meeting who might not have captured the headlines and the airtime on Saturday, the fifth day of the 2020 debate.
___
“Let us all spread kindness faster than the virus and not hate, fear and misinformation.”
— TUILAEPA SAILELE MALIELEGAOI, prime minister of Samoa
___
“Something, something is awry with planet Earth.”
— TIMOTHY HARRIS, prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis
___
“A population of 24 million is too big to be left off the table.”
— ALLEN MICHAEL CHASTANET, prime minister of Saint Lucia, on Taiwan
___
“Nobody wins with Africa more impoverished.”
— JOSÉ ULISSES CORREIA E SILVA, prime minister of Cape Verde
___
“The old order is passing away before our very eyes as a consequence of the pandemic. ... We are still quarrelling away about inconsequential matters. ... Metaphorically, all hell has broken loose.”
— RALPH GONSALVES, prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines