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Empty UN Headquarters, Pre-Recorded Video Addresses: How 75th UN General Assembly is Held Amid COVID

13:36 GMT, 23 September 2020
Sputnik

The halls of UN headquarters in New York have been remarkably empty in 2020 despite hosting one of the biggest political events of the year - the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The current coronavirus pandemic has transformed the UNGA, as most of the world leaders had to pre-record their statements since they could not travel to New York due to the coronavirus-related restrictions. And yet, despite being physically absent from the event, the world's top leaders still managed to share their vision on addressing today's most pressing issues.

Sputnik invites you to take a tour of the UN headquarters in our latest photogallery.

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A remarkably empty hallway leading to the General Assembly Hall at the UN headquarters.
© REUTERS / Mike Segar
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among very few top officials to actually deliver a speech at the UN headquarters rather than distantly.
© REUTERS / United Nations
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Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the General Assembly in a video.
© REUTERS / UNITED NATIONS
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A TV crew outside the UN headquarters.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
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President Donald Trump speaking at the 75th UN General Assembly in a pre-recorded video.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
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Delegations arriving at the 75th UN General Assembly.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
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French President Emmanuel Macron holding the "virtual floor" at the 75th UN General Assembly.
© AFP 2023 / RICK BAJORNAS
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A video address by Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda.
© REUTERS / EVAN SCHNEIDER
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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering a pre-recorded address.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
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Iran's President Hassan Rouhani speaking at the 75th session in a virtual format.
© REUTERS / United Nations
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A video address by Columbian President Ivan Duque Marquez.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
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A banner warning of COVID-19-related guidelines at the UN headquarters.
© AFP 2023 / Timothy A. Clary
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A banner warning of COVID-19-related guidelines at the UN headquarters.
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Inside the UN headquarters.
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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro delivering remarks at the UN General Assembly.
© AFP 2023 / RICK BAJORNAS
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A view from inside the UN headquarters.
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A banner calling for maintaining social distancing at the UN headquarters.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech.
© Sputnik / Брайан Смит
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Paper towels at the UN headquarters.
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A video-operator working at the UN General Assembly.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
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