New York – 30 January 2015
Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly
President Kutesa was on an official visit to Uganda from 27 to 28 January
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon greets President Kutesa at the opening of the 24th Summit of the African Union. Also pictured: Mahmoud Abbas (second from right), President of the State of Palestine. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
On 30 January, H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the General Assembly (PGA) addressed the 24th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa. The Summit was also addressed by H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Chairman of the African Union, Heads of State and Government, H.E Ban Ki-Moon Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and H.E. Mohamood Abbas, President of the State of Palestine.
President Kutesa briefed the summit on the work of the UN General Assembly, the priorities of the 69th session and the upcoming events and activities. He underscored the need to formulate a transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda, accompanied by adequate means for its implementation. He welcomed the theme of the African Union session, “Women Empowerment and Africa’s Development for the Concretization of Agenda 2063”, which is in line with the priority the General Assembly is according to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. He also highlighted the attention being given to climate change, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and peacebuilding, the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council.
President Kutesa and Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, UNECA. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
The President of the General Assembly expressed his gratitude for the support he has received since assuming the presidency of the 69th session. He saluted the steadfast efforts of the Governments and people of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in responding to the Ebola outbreak and commended the support provided by regional and international partners, including ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations. He called on the international community to continue supporting these countries, especially in their long-term recovery, and building stronger and resilient health systems.
On the occasion of the African Union summit, President Kutesa met with several African leaders and senior officials including H.E Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Professor Aboudlaye Bathily, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for the Central African Region (UNOCA), and Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director, Liaison with Governments and Institutions, for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
Official Visit of the PGA to Uganda
From 27 to 28 January, the President of the General Assembly paid an official visit to Uganda. During his visit, the PGA held a meeting with H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. At their meeting, he briefed President Museveni on upcoming high-level events at the General Assembly and the priorities of the 69th session. The Head of State and the PGA discussed peace and security issues as well as the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the empowerment of women. They also underlined the need to combat climate change including, the protection of wetlands and mountains. He also met with the Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees, senior government officials, representatives of civil society and private sector. His engagements further included a briefing to the diplomatic corps, UN Agencies in Uganda, a tree planting ceremony and a press conference. He delivered a public lecture on the theme “The United Nations at 70: Towards a transformative socio-economic development agenda” at the Serena International Conference Centre.
In these engagements, President Kutesa called Member States including Uganda as well as stakeholders to actively engage in the formulation of the new agenda and integrate it into national planning processes once adopted.
