They said it: Leaders at the UN, in their own words

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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 Tuesday, the first day of the 2026 General Debate.

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“The true test of this organization, therefore, is not only how well we respond when people have suffered. It is how well we can work together to prevent that suffering in the first place.”

— Sylvanie Burton, president of Dominica

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"The voices of Africans must be heard in all circumstances, at all times, in strategic decision-making processes on issues of peace, global security, financing for development as well as climate issues and global governance of artificial intelligence."

— João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, president of Angola

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"Mongols say, “If you do your best, fate will do the rest.'”

Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, president of Mongolia

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“In Peru, we will pursue crime, from the individual who carries out the act to the network that sustains it. We will not back down in the face of those who seek to impose terror over the rule of law.”

— Keiko Fujimori, president of Peru

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“From Lebanon to Yemen to Sudan, protracted conflict is deepening humanitarian suffering. And if anyone had any doubt that a crisis in our part of the world stays there, just look at the energy and grocery bills of ordinary families, from Mumbai to Madrid to Minnesota.”

— King Abdullah II of Jordan

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“Children in Gaza must be safe. When Palestinian children look up at the sky, they will see kites flying freely, not fighter jets, UAV or drones.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey

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“Chile is back. And that’s not just a slogan.”

— José Antonio Kast, president of Chile

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“Seychelles approaches the world guided by an enduring, foundational principle: we are a friend to all, and an enemy to none. Our commitment to non-alignment is not passive indifference; it is an active choice for peace. It is the conviction that principled diplomacy, mutual respect, and international law are the true foundations of global stability.

— Mathew Herminie, president of Seychelles

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”Is the United Nations today capable of saving humanity from war, poverty, and disaster? Is the United Nations living up to its promise of restoring peace and achieving sustainable development? … Today, I stand here to make clear the Republic of Korea’s bold resolve to lead the effort to restore the spirit of the United Nations and reconnect the world, as a nation that has risen through the solidarity of the international community."

— Lee Jae Myung, president of South Korea