World Leaders Flock to NYU During UN's 65th General Assembly

NYU took the global stage last week as it welcomed various world leaders to Washington Square. The dignitaries—in town for the 65th session of the U.N. General Assembly—led discussions and answered questions on current world issues during events across campus and beyond.

The events included:

Demetris Christofias, president of the Republic of Cyprus, who spoke at the annual Ranieri
Colloquium on Ancient Studies, “Archaeologies of Yeronisos off Cyprus: The Island Beyond the Island,” on Sept. 24. The conference took place at the Silver Center and was co-sponsored by NYU's Department of Classics and Department of Art History, the Cyprus Embassy Trade Center, New York, the Panpaphian Association of America, the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, and the Friends of Yeronisos.

Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader in the United Kingdom, who conducted a lively town hall meeting on Sept. 22. The event, sponsored by NYU Wagner and the University, drew over 350 people to the Eisner & Lubin Auditorium in the Kimmel Center for University Life.

Bernard Kouchner, France’s minister of foreign and European affairs, and Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain’s minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, who discussed “The European Union and the Middle East Peace Process” on Sept. 22. NYU’s Center for French Civilization and Culture and the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center co-sponsored the talk, which took place in Kimmel's Rosenthal Pavilion. 

His Excellency Gervais Rufyikiri, second vice president, Republic of Burundi, who was among a group of African tourism leaders gathered at NYU on Sept. 24 to discuss the need to raise the profile of tourism on Africa’s economic agenda. The event was organized by the Africa Travel Association and hosted by NYU's Africa House.

Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia, who conversed with Dr. Alon Ben-Meir during the School of Continuing and Professional Studies "Global Leaders" event on Sept. 21 at the SUNY College of Optometry’s Schwartz Theater on 42nd Street.