2020 has been a year of unprecedented crises. A rampaging coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly one million people worldwide, the global economy is struggling from the impact of lockdowns, forest fires and floods are raging, conflict has displaced millions exacerbating hunger and inequality.

Against this backdrop, this year’s United Nations General Assembly kicks off in an unprecedented virtual format. As part of our programming celebrating the U-N’s 75 years, we’re interviewing high-ranking diplomats on some of the biggest issues we face.

I spoke with Jean-Pierre Lacroix , Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations about the impediments the U-N faces to reducing global conflict. But first, my interview with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abdallah Al Mouallimi. We talked about some of the most intractable challenges such as the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, Saudi Arabia’s role in the Yemen war and its fractured ties with regional rival, Iran.

For more:

After UAE and Bahrain deals, is Saudi Arabia softening its stance on Israel? https://t.co/dWWElgxPSB pic.twitter.com/3Y8qsE5y9P

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 15, 2020

The @UN Security Council voted today to extend mandates of @UNAMANews and @UNSMILibya for 1 year. See our interactive dashboard to explore the mandates and locations of special political missions and @UNpeacekeeping missions around the world: https://t.co/xV6Qxq6chE #UNSCAD pic.twitter.com/JYuVstLuEy

— UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (@UNDPPA) September 15, 2020