President Karis to focus on the upholding of UN principles and the responsible use of AI at General Assembly

Starting today and continuing through to Thursday, President Alar Karis is attending the high-level opening week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. At the heart of his meetings and speeches will be defence of the fundamental principles of the UN at a time when they are increasingly being disregarded and their survival depends on all Member States honouring their commitments.

The head of state will also focus on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, reforms to the UN and the Security Council, and international cooperation on the development and use of AI.

On Wednesday, President Karis will deliver Estonia’s annual address to the General Assembly, in which he will touch on Russia’s war against Ukraine, support for the Ukrainians, the reform of the UN, the upholding of its principles and the use of AI for the benefit of humanity.

“Safeguarding and championing the principles of the UN Charter is the shared responsibility of all Member States,” the head of state remarked. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine constitutes a grave breach of the Charter and is a test of the international order as a whole. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, unwavering in our defence of the principles on which international peace and security are based.”

President Karis will also be discussing these issues at meetings taking place during the week.
On Tuesday, the head of state will be attending the opening of the debates at the UN General Assembly. The following day, he will be speaking at the Crimea Platform summit.z

Alongside his counterparts from Latvia and Lithuania, President Karis will also be meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine, the global security situation and the reforming of the United Nations.

The three presidents will then be joined by the Polish head of state to discuss regional security, support for Ukraine and the future of the UN.

Artificial intelligence is another key topic on which President Karis will be focusing during his visit.

“The development of AI creates new and far-reaching opportunities, but also requires us to take shared responsibility,” he cautioned. “By cooperating across borders, we must ensure that the use of AI is safe, responsible and people-centred, and that everyone benefits from its potential.”

It is on this topic that the head of state will be delivering the opening address at the Digital Cooperation Day event and taking part in a discussion on children’s rights and AI. He will also be attending a meeting of heads of state and technology experts and opening a discussion, co-organised by Estonia, on the safe, responsible and people-centred use of AI.

Together with his wife Sirje, President Karis will be attending a reception hosted by his US counterpart Donald Trump. While in New York, he also plans to hold bilateral meetings with fellow heads of state and leaders of international organisations.

As part of Climate Week, President Karis will be opening a forum at which Estonian companies are set to showcase innovative solutions and seek opportunities for cooperation in the United States.
At the start of his visit, the head of state will be meeting with the local Estonian community at New York Estonian House.

Sirje Karis will be taking part in the programme for the spouses of the heads of state attending UN General Assembly week. Together with her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska, she will once again be organising a discussion focusing on social resilience and the experiences of different countries in coping with war and other crises.

Sirje Karis will also be taking part in events being organised as part of ‘Fostering the Future Together’ – an initiative launched by US First Lady Melania Trump – looking at children’s well-being in the digital age, and giving the opening address in a panel on fashion diplomacy.

Gallery (Raigo Pajula): Office of the President /Presidendi kantselei’s albums | Flickr