Press Release
18 September 2013
President Zuma to lead the South African delegation to the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
His Excellency President Jacob Zuma will lead the South African delegation to the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA68), scheduled to take place in New York, in the United States from 23-26 September 2013.
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations (UN). Comprising all 193 Members of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.
The theme for UNGA68 will be “The Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage.” UNGA68 is taking place against the rapidly approaching target date for achieving the MDGs by 2015 and the International deliberations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which has become a major focal point in the multilateral arena. As yet, there has not been an intergovernmental process focusing on the development agenda beyond 2015. UNGA68 therefore provides an opportunity for the international community to assess the various processes and for setting the stage towards the Post-2015 development agenda.
President Zuma will address the General Assembly at the opening session of the General Debate in the morning of 24 September 2013. The General Debate will provide a platform before the world’s pre-eminent multilateral institution to advance South Africa’s strategic approach towards achieving the MDGs and the Post-2015 development agenda.
In accordance with its strategic approach, South Africa’s participation will be informed by national interests and priorities, its regional and continental commitments, as well as its aspirations for a prosperous world at peace with itself.
In addition to the General Debate, it is expected that South Africa will also participate in the following High-Level United Nations Events at UNGA68:
- High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities, on Monday, 23 September 2013;
- Special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, on Wednesday, 25 September 2013;
- High-Level meeting of the UN General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament, on Thursday, 26 September 2013; and
- High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, on Thursday & Friday, 3 & 4 October 2013.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 082 884 5974.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
|
