NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS U.N. CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN GERMANY

United Nations, 10 November 2017 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, will travel to Bonn, Germany, to participate in the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

On 15 November, he will address the opening of the Conference’s high-level segment, alongside the Prime Minister of Fiji and Conference President, H.E. Mr. Frank Bainimarama; the President of Germany, H.E. Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier; the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres; and the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Ms. Patricia Espinosa.

Ahead of his trip, the President said, “The Paris Agreement is a milestone for multilateralism. But it’s not an end in itself. While we discuss how to implement it, people are suffering from the unprecedented and brutal effects of climate change. This common threat binds us together, and only together can we solve it.”

While in Bonn, the President is expected to hold bilateral meetings with fellow participants, including Prime Minister Bainimarama. He will also hold a dialogue with young attendees on how he can best involve youth in his work and address their concerns during the 72nd session.

The President will travel to Bonn with his Special Assistant and Political Coordinator, Lenka Miháliková; his Senior Advisers, Abdelghani Merabet and Margo Deiye; and his Communications Adviser, Katharina Kandt.

Travel costs will be covered from the United Nations regular budget.

The President will return to New York on 16 November.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Katharina Kandt, Adviser to the President of the General Assembly, +1 917 244 3890, +49 160 9460 2005; kandt@un.org