New York, 19 March 2015
Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly
The President of the General Assembly (PGA), H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa left Cairo today at the end of an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt. President Kutesa concluded his visit yesterday, 18 March, with an interactive meeting with the Egyptian Council on Foreign Relations on the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. The event took place at the Diplomatic Club in Cairo. The PGA briefed the Council on the priorities of the 69th session. With participants, he discussed the need to achieve a transformative post-2015 development agenda that will bring about tangible benefits and improved livelihoods for all and the need for a positive outcome from the Third Conference on Financing for Development (FFD) to be held in July in Addis Ababa. They also discussed addressing climate change as a defining issue of the times, the importance of galvanizing action for women empowerment and gender equality, and the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. Furthermore, they exchanged views on peaceful resolution of conflicts and peacebuilding, revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council.
Addressing the wave of terrorist attacks across the world which attests to the need for continued engagement by Member States to find a solution to extremism and reinforcing the need to combat intolerance, President Kutesa condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack against Christian churches in Lahore, Pakistan on 15 March, as well as the terrorist attack that targeted tourists in a museum on 18 March in Tunis.
The President of the General Assembly sends his condolences to the respective governments and peoples of Pakistan, Tunisia and other Member States whose citizens were killed or injured in the unjustifiable attacks. President Kutesa sends his condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families.
Two days earlier, on 17 March in Cairo, the President of the General Assembly met with H.E. Mr. Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi, President of Egypt. On the same day, he also had a working lunch and held a joint press conference with H.E. Mr. Sameh Shoukry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the same visit in Egypt, the PGA also met with the United Nations Country Team.
