Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
King Felipe VI of Spain addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Estonia President Alar Karis addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Croatia President Zoran Milanovic addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
They said it: Leaders at the UN, in their own words
UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥 Many leaders saying many things about many topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world: That鈥檚 what the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year.
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥 Many leaders saying many things about many topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world: That鈥檚 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 Wednesday, the second day of the 2025 General Debate.
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鈥淪mall states are not inherently small. Our sovereignty is equal, and our responsibilities are the same. Leadership is not the loudest voice in the room. It is the clearest voice for justice.鈥 —
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥 Julius Maada Bio, president of Sierra Leone
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鈥淩ules shape behaviors to which the vast majority of international actors adhere. Even when they are breached, they provide a basis for accountability and enforcement. Rules are the voice of reason used in international relations. They are the best defense against the rule of the strongest. A world without rules is uncharted territory. A time without rules is returning to the Middle Ages.鈥
鈥 Don Felipe VI, king of Spain
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鈥淚nstitutions rarely fail because they lack vision or ideals. More often, they drift into irrelevance when they do not adapt, when they hesitate to act and when they lose legitimacy. To remain relevant, institutions must be re-imagined, reformed, renewed, and aligned with emerging realities.鈥
鈥 William Ruto, president of Kenya
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“Brutality prevails. We simply cannot let this go on.”
鈥 Alar Karis, president of Estonia
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“Peace is more than silencing the guns. It requires preventing new wars and breaking the cycles of violence from the past.”
