President Kutesa holds bilateral meetings on the margins of the 24th African Summit in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa – 31 January 2015

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly

On 31^st January, H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa,  President of the General Assembly met with H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. President Kutesa briefed the Prime Minister on the priorities and activities of the 69^th session of the General Assembly, stressing the need to formulate a transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda, accompanied by adequate means for its implementation. He also noted the focus on 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.

The Prime Minister briefed the PGA on the organization of the upcoming Third Conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015. Both underscored the importance of reaching a successful outcome, ahead of the Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda in September.

President Kutesa expressed his gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia for hosting the Conference and for its support to the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organisations.

President Kutesa also met with H.E. Mr. Takashi Uto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. They exchanged views on the priorities of the 69^thsession of the General Assembly, including the post-2015 development agenda, climate change, gender equality and women empowerment, and the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. They further discussed the importance of UN reform, including the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council.