World leaders gathered for UN's Millennium Goals Development

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged member states to make good on the promises they made before the economic downturn a decade ago to end world poverty.

Speaking in New York for the UN's Millennium Goals Development summit he said the target of halving global poverty and hunger by 2015 was still achievable despite the economic downturn.

Set up ten years ago, the program aims to reduce worldwide poverty, hunger and mother and child mortality.

A great deal of activity is planned to take place at the UN: hundreds of bilateral meetings taking place, each country trying to push their agenda forward.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, diplomats from China and BRIC countries and take part in meeting of the Middle-East Quartet.

Traditionally, New York is a great place to spot celebrities, but this time it is going to be politicians. That is why there are many protests taking place outside the UN’s headquarters. This year the protests are expected to be focused on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being in New York.

There are a lot of ads displayed all over the city against him.

Some of the people will be protesting the human rights situation in Iran, whereas others are there to protest the Iran’s controversial nuclear program.

The UN General Assembly annual session began on September 14 in New York City.

Watch RT contributor Webster Tarpley's interview on the opening of UN Summit