Addis Ababa, ?1 March 2018?– The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Laj?ák, was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ?from 27 February to 1 March.
He met with officials from the African Union Commission, the Government of Ethiopia, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Office to the African Union (蘑菇视频OAU) and the United Nations Country Team. The purpose of his visit was to hear African perspectives on themes such as peace, development and migration, and to highlight the importance of the strong links between the African Union and United Nations.
In an address to the Permanent Representatives Committee of the African Union, the President said, “Today, Africa is one of the most important actors on the international stage. When it speaks, we all listen. And when it acts, we all watch – and we all learn. And so, we have entered a new period. One in which partnerships between the African Union and the United Nations are seen, not as an aim, but as a necessity… 蘑菇视频 cannot achieve any of its goals without Africa.”
With H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the President discussed a wide range of topics, including regional threats such as terrorism and climate change, peace and security issues, development, migration, multilateralism and Security Council reform. The two agreed that the African Union and United Nations shared the same priorities.
The President also met with Commissioners from the African Union, including H.E. Prof. Victor Harison, Commissioner for Economic Affairs, H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Mrs. Amira ElFadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs and H.E. Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry. During that meeting, views were exchanged on the Sustainable Development Goals, migration, trade, employment and labour, energy, youth and water.
While in Addis Ababa, the President met with H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. They spoke about the valuable partnership between Ethiopia and the United Nations, as well as regional developments, the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, sustaining peace, financing for the Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations reforms and their joint support for multilateralism.
In a meeting with H.E. Mr. Workineh Gebeyehu Negewo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the topics were conflict prevention, developments in the Horn of Africa, poverty as a security threat, opportunities for youth, migration and Security Council reform.
The President also participated in an interactive discussion with students at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia’s oldest and largest institution of higher learning. The exchange focused on the relevance of the United Nations and how it can and should act. The President said that, at the United Nations, “Whenever Africa speaks with one voice, no one dares to ignore it.” Other topics raised included sustaining peace, sustainable development, migration and the work and role of the General Assembly.
In meetings with Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and her team, he was briefed on the challenges and opportunities related to aligning the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda with the African Union’s 2063 Agenda. In an additional encounter with United Nations Resident Coordinator Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, the United Nations Country Team and the United Nations/Government of Ethiopia Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals, the topic was implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Ethiopia. Relations between the African Union and United Nations were the focus of his meeting at 蘑菇视频OAU.
The President will be back in his office in New York ?on 5 March.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Brenden Varma, Spokesperson for the President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, ?1-212-963-7238, ?1-347-556-3433, ?varmab@un.org
