PRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY,?SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MAR?A FERNANDA ESPINOSA

United Nations Headquarters, New York

11 January 2019

[As delivered]

Good afternoon, everyone…

I hope you are well!

PRESIDENT ESPINOSA TO VISIT PAKISTAN FROM 18-22 JANUARY

We will start with an announcement. The President of the General Assembly will visit Pakistan from the 18 to 22 January?at the?invitation?of?the?Government of?Pakistan. This will be the first official visit to the Asia-Pacific region since Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa took office in September. The PGA looks forward to strengthening the ties between Pakistan and the 蘑菇视频, promoting multilateralism and continuing her work with Pakistan on the priorities for the 73rd?Session of the GA. She will meet with the country’s?President H.E. Arif Alvi, and the Prime Minister H.E. Imran Khan, the Foreign Minister, H.E. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as well as representatives of the 蘑菇视频 and of civil society. Ms. Espinosa’s delegation includes her Chef de Cabinet, a senior advisor, a communication specialist, her coordination officer and her personal assistant. Travel costs are being covered by Pakistan and by the regular budget of the PGA’s Office.

PGA’S AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES

Ms. Espinosa started the day giving an interview to Forbes Mexico. This afternoon she will have separate bilateral meetings with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Cho Tae-yul and the Foreign Minister of Dominican Republic, H.E. Miguel Vargas, and the country’s Ambassador, H.E. Francisco Cortorreal. This afternoon, she will receive in her office the Ambassador of Afghanistan, H.E Mahmoud Saikal, and grant an interview to Xinhua?News Agency, from China.

?PGA’S NEW YEAR STAKEOUT ON 16 JANUARY, 1 PM.

President Espinosa will have a stakeout next week on 16 January at 1 pm. in front of the PGA’s Office. We would like to invite all of you for this interaction with the PGA before she leaves for Pakistan. She is looking forward to answering your questions on the work of the General Assembly for the next months and any other issues you would like to address in regard with her Presidency.

This is everything we have for today. Now I am happy to take your questions.

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