Adapted from Williams/Stein: Uniting the Nations through Model United Nations
© David L Williams
2
UtN Booklet 6 Opening Speeches
In most conferences, each delegation has the opportunity to address
the General Assembly during its opening session, which means that the
Ambassadors of Member States and the Heads of Delegation of Non-Member
Delegations have to prepare an Opening Speech.
Additionally, each individual delegate will often be asked to make an opening
statement during the rst formal session of his or her respective forum.
In preparing your Opening Speech, you must be aware that delivering an
Opening Speech is a serious occasion. Whether you are the Ambassador, Head
of Delegation or a delegate in a particular forum, your speech must be truly
representative of your nation or your organization.
The concerns of your nation or organization can be of either a general or a
specic nature.
Speaking time is usually very short, typically one minute. Your opening speech
will contain, therefore, only a selection of issues or aspects of an issue together
with your country’s position with regard to them. Focus on the issue or issues
which are of major concern to your delegation.Present a clear message and
highlight what actions you will be supporting.
You might have come to a conclusion that there is a single important theme in
current international relations and that you need to address the Assembly on this
theme. This could be a currently high prole issue in the eld of international
security, or human rights, or the environment, or economic development or
disarmament.
Alternatively, you might want to emphasize the interrelatedness of the areas of
concern, such as the effects of development on the environment.
Structure your speech. Your speech must have a clear beginning, a middle and
an end.
Remember that the other delegates do not have a written copy of the speech so
they need to be able to follow your train of thought simply from listening.
Your speech should be substantial. Try to avoid platitudes and broad
meaningless generalizations.