GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HEADS TO FRANCE, BAHRAIN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

United Nations Headquarters, New York, 30 October 2017 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajèák, will arrive in Paris, France, on 31 October. While there, he will address the Leaders’ Forum of the 39th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference. The theme of the Leaders’ Forum is “SDGs and the role of UNESCO in the multilateral system”. The President will hold bilateral meetings with fellow attendees as well as the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition of France.

The President will then travel to Manama, Bahrain, to address the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum on 2 November. The theme of the event, which is being organized by the Government of Bahrain, is “Achieving the SDGs through Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. The President will also hold bilateral meetings with Bahraini officials.

The President’s last stop will be the United Arab Emirates. There he will hold bilateral meetings with Emirati officials and attend the Bani Yas Forum from 3 to 5 November. The forum brings together international officials for discussions on global and regional affairs.

The President will travel to France with his Special Assistant and Political Coordinator, Lenka Miháliková; his Spokesperson, Brenden Varma; and his Adviser, Isis Gonsalves. In Bahrain, he will be accompanied by Ms. Miháliková, Mr. Varma and Senior Adviser Abdelghani Merabet. In the United Arab Emirates, he will be accompanied by Mr. Merabet.

Travel costs will be covered from the United Nations regular budget, with the exception of the travel of the President and Mr. Merabet from Bahrain to the United Arab Emirates and from the United Arab Emirates to New York. Those two legs will be funded by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. Support on the ground in Bahrain was provided by the Government of Bahrain.

The President will return to New York on 6 November.
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For media inquiries, please contact Brenden Varma, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, 1-212-963-7238, 1-347-556-3433, varmab@un.org.