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Putin not to attend UN General Assembly session in September — Kremlin

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to address the General Assembly on September 23

© Alexandr Sherbak/TASS

MOSCOW, August 29./TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t attend the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in September. "The president does not plan participation in the General Assembly this year," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

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Earlier reports said the UN Secretariat expected Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to take part in the general political debate at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, due in New York from September 20 to 26.

According to a preliminary program of speeches circulated in the UN headquarters, the Russian diplomat will address the General Assembly on September 23.

Debates will start with a speech by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the 71st session, Peter Thomson. The US and French presidents, Barack Obama and Francois Hollande, will also speak on the first day, as well as UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

Brazil’s acting president, Michel Temer, is also expected to make a speech. Last year, President Putin addressed the general political debate at the jubilee session of the UN General Assembly.

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