UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Ambassadors from 32 nations began a round of crucial negotations yesterday on a hotly debated document that world leaders are expected to adopt at a UN summit next month to tackle reform of the world body and global poverty.

With less than three weeks left before the summit, General Assembly President Jean Ping reached agreement with the 191 UN member states on Friday to set up a “core group” representing all regions and groups to finalize a document by Sept. 2 if possible.

Under his timetable, the text would then be submitted to member states on Sept 6 for approval, and sent for translation into the UN’s six official languages.

The stakes are very high because the Sept. 14-16 summit, marking the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, is expected to be the largest-ever gathering of world leaders in history.Ping said the negotiators will focus on seven key issues where there are still serious differences:

.Defining and tackling terrorism;

.Disarmament and nonproliferation;

.A new Human Rights Council to replace the discredited Human Rights Commission;

.A new Peacebuilding Commission to help countries emerging from conflict;

.Overhauling U.N. management;

.Taking collective action to protect people against genocide;

.Actions to fight poverty and promote development.