AJC Diplomatic Outreach to World Leaders at UN General Assembly Opening

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Sep 18, 2014, 03:28 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the 24th consecutive year, AJC is engaging in substantive private meetings with the leaders of more than 70 countries, from every continent, attending the opening of the UN General Assembly. The session officially begins on September 23.

"The annual UN General Assembly session is a unique opportunity to have, in a very concentrated period, timely conversations with presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers about pressing issues of mutual concern," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Our meetings build upon long-term relationships, an integral component of AJC's tradiitonal approach to international diplomacy."

On the AJC agenda for diplomatic meetings this year are: the ominous threat of Iran achieving nuclear-weapons capability; the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge and Israeli-Palestinian peace process, emphasizing that only a negotiated settlement will ensure a lasting peace; and the cotinuing rise in global anti-Semitism.

AJC, the premier global Jewish advocacy organization, with headquarters near the UN in New York City, maintains regional offices across the United States, including major cities with diplomatic corps, and nine offices overseas.

"These meetings constitute a highlight of our year-round diplomatic activity because so many leaders are in New York," added Harris, who returned to New York last week after a three-day visit to Kiev, followed by meetings in Jerusalem.

The annual AJC "diplomatic marathon" has been a hallmark of AJC's global advocacy since 1991, when AJC launched the program, a first in the Jewish community.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee