UN / PGA BAERBOCK PRESSER

President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said “We are at a more decisive crossroads than at the beginning of this 80th session. The multilateral system is not only under pressure; the multilateral system is under heavy attack.” UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:02:49
• Production Date: 14 January 2026
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANNALENA BAERBOCK
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: ACHIEVEMENT; ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM
• MAMS Id: 3524487
• Parent Id: 3524487
• Alternate Title: unifeed260114c

Description

STORY: UN / PGA BAERBOCK PRESSER
TRT: 02:49
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 JANUARY 2026, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“We are at a more decisive crossroads than at the beginning of this 80th session. The multilateral system is not only under pressure; the multilateral system is under heavy attack."
4. Wide shot, press briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“My main priority as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations for the next 237 days will be to defend this institution, its Charter, and the principles enshrined in it.”
6. Wide shot, press briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“I invited Member States to symbolically recommit to our shared principles and values by signing the 80th Anniversary Charter poster ahead of Charter Day. As some of you might remember, it was done in the 75th session as well. And we heard that many, many Member States in the room echoed this strong call to stand up in these times for the Charter, for the principles, not only in speeches on Sunday, but also in the daily work as representatives of their countries on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, when we discuss and vote on resolutions.”
8. Wide shot, press briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“The political and diplomatic ecosystem has undergone drastic changes, and we can't expect the old ways of working to suffice. The UN80 initiative, while not coming at the most desirable time or in the best condition, is overdue. And this is, I think, the very positive part of the last months, that Member States are embracing this reform way more strongly than one could have expected because of the global pressure we are facing all together.”
10. Wide shot, press briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“Third, the selection of the new Secretary-General will be the other main priority this year. And I announced this morning that interactive dialogs with the SG candidates have been scheduled for the week of April 20th. During these interactive dialogs, each candidate will have the opportunity to present her or his vision statement, answer Member States question, and engage with civil society organization. Our choice of who will lead this organization is a chance to send a clear message in this turbulent time about who we are and what the United Nation stands for.”
12. Wide shot, end of press briefing

Storyline

President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said “We are at a more decisive crossroads than at the beginning of this 80th session. The multilateral system is not only under pressure; the multilateral system is under heavy attack.”

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York today (14 Jan), Annalena Baerbock said her priorities for the remainder of the session focus on institutional defense and reform.

She said, “I invited Member States to symbolically recommit to our shared principles and values by signing the 80th Anniversary Charter poster ahead of Charter Day.” She added Member States echoed that call.

Baerbock said changes in global politics require new approaches. She said, “The political and diplomatic ecosystem has undergone drastic changes, and we can't expect the old ways of working to suffice.”

Baerbock said Member States are engaging with reform efforts, “The UN80 initiative, while not coming at the most desirable time or in the best condition, is overdue.”

Baerbock said the selection of the next Secretary-General is another priority this year, with interactive dialogues with candidates are scheduled for April.

She said the process will include Member States and civil society. PGA said, “Our choice of who will lead this organization is a chance to send a clear message in this turbulent time about who we are and what the United Nation stands for.”