What did President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland say at the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81)?

He addressed the general debate on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as the seventh speaker of the afternoon session.

The speech in brief

• Dialogue. Switzerland will keep offering a place, especially Geneva, where parties no longer on speaking terms can talk again.
• The Charter under attack. Its most basic principles, the ban on force, sovereignty and territorial integrity, are being openly violated, he said.
• Trade. Protectionism is rising and supply chains are breaking. He tied open trade to jobs, apprenticeships and steady incomes.
• AI. He warned of a new divide between countries with the technology and those without, and promoted the Geneva AI Summit on June 21 and 22, 2027.
• Reform. He backed the UN80 reform effort.

In his own words

Our experience has also taught us that dialogue is not a sign of weakness.

“A natural boundary is not necessarily a dividing line: it can also be a pathway that connects us.”

“Engaging in dialogue does not mean glossing over disagreements or abandoning one’s principles.”

• Switzerland will offer spaces “where those who are no longer on speaking terms can, when circumstances permit, resume dialogue.”

“We can keep the channels of communication open rather than resign ourselves to silence.”

Watch and read the full speech

The UN’s own video of the whole Day 1 session:

Watch Day 1 of the UNGA 81 general debate on the UN’s YouTube channel

The UN posts the statement on its general debate website.

Every Day 1 speaker, in order: What happened on Day 1 of UNGA 81.