The United Nations General Assembly opens its 65th ordinary session today (14 Sep) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The theme of the general debate will be "Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance", as proposed by the President-elect, Joseph Deiss of Switzerland.

The three-day summit of world leaders on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be from September 20 to 22.

The annual general debate which traditionally features statements by Heads of State and Government as well as Ministers, will begin on September 23 and will continue till end of the month.

Climate change, food security, reconstruction and strengthening of fragile and post-conflict states, disarmament, United Nations reform including Security Council reform and the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, review of the peace-building commission and the Human Rights Council are among the key issues to be addressed by the Assembly.

A high-level meting in support of the International Year of Biodiversity will be held on September 22. From September 24 to 25, the assembly will hold a high-level review to assess progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing states through the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy, which deals with unique development problems of this vulnerable group of countries, in such areas as environmental management, transport, trade and sustainable development.