They said it: Leaders at the UN, in their own words
Sep 28, 2026, 9:44 AM
El Salvador's Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Hill Tinoco addresses the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Many leaders saying many things about many topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world: That’s what the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year.
And each year, certain voices dominate. Here, The Associated Press takes the opposite approach and spotlights some thoughts from leaders who might have not captured the headlines and airtime on Monday, the fifth and final day of the 2026 General Debate.
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“Enough with the bureaucracy!”
— Alexandra Hill Tinoco, foreign minister of El Salvador
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“A hurricane does not check GDP before destroying a school.”
— Walton Webson, head of the delegation from Antigua and Barbuda
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“Let us make restoring trust a process rather than a slogan.”
— Ahmed Attaf, foreign minister of Algeria
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“Managing transformation cannot mean managing change for some, while asking others merely to adapt to its consequences.”
— Vijitha Herath, foreign minister of Sri Lanka
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“Africa is not on the periphery.”
— Constant Serge Bounda, foreign minister of the Republic of Congo
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“Crises should be addressed at the roots, not simply managed.”
— Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates
