Note attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly
United Nations, New York, 14 November 2014
President Kutesa and Mr. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. UN Photo/Evan Schneider
H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the General Assembly (PGA), held several bilateral meetings during a busy week (10 to 14 November) in New York. On 14 November, he met with Mr. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. The President and the Executive Director discussed the continuing global efforts against HIV/AIDS worldwide as well as the impact of the epidemic on the post-2015 development agenda. Mr. Sidibé expressed his appreciation to President Kutesa’s efforts in the General Assembly to mobilize support in addressing the Ebola outbreak.
On the same day, the PGA also met with met with members of the Steering Group for “Powering the Future We Want”, an initiative dedicated to recognizing leadership and promoting innovative practices in energy for sustainable development. Leading the Steering Group, Mr. Wu Hungbo, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Financing for Development, and Dr. Patrick Ho, Secretary-General for the China Energy Fund Committee, an NGO with a Special Consultative Status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) briefed President Kutesa on the activities of the initiative. H.E. Mr. Andreas Riecken, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, representing the ECOSOC President also participated in the meeting.
Anthony Banbury (right), Special Representative of the SG and Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), President Kutesa and David Nabarro, Special Envoy of the SG on Ebola. UN Photo/Yubi Hoffmann
Earlier at the General Assembly, President Kutesa chaired a Joint Debate on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations Conferences and Summits in the economic, social and related fields; and follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit. The General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the Samoa Pathway, the Outcome of the Third Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
On 13 November 2014, the President of the General Assembly convened an informal briefing for Member States on the Ebola response. Ms. Susana Malcorra, Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Anthony Banbury, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission for Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER), Dr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Ebola, and representatives of the countries most affected briefed the Assembly. From Monrovia, Mr. Tolbert Nyensuah, Assistant Health Minister for Preventive Services of Liberia and Chairman of the Ebola Incident Management System spoke through video teleconference. President Kutesa extended the General Assembly’s solidarity to the governments and people in the affected countries and commended them for their gallant efforts and measures taken towards combating the disease. On behalf of the Assembly, he also expressed his deep appreciation to the African Union and the international community, which have risen to the occasion by pledging critical resources to support the Ebola response. However, he underlined the fact that the epidemic is far from contained. He called for increased support to the affected countries and urged the international community to stay vigilant and redouble efforts to bring this sad chapter in human history to a close.
General Assembly President meets with Carlos Raúl Morales (left), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala; and José Miguel Insulza, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS). UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
On 12 November 2014, the PGA held a joint meeting with H.E. Mr. Carlos Raúl Morales, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, and H.E. Mr. José Miguel Insulza, Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS). They discussed the ongoing efforts by the international community to reinforce comprehensive policies and a coordinated global approach against the world drug problem. The Permanent Representatives of Guatemala, Mexico and Colombia also participated in the meeting.
Throughout the week, in a broad range of consultations regarding the priorities of the sixty-ninth session, the President of the General Assembly met with several Permanent Representatives, chairpersons of regional groups and the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement. He also met with H.E. Mr. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations, who was appointed as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform by the PGA on 11 November 2014.
