NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HEADS TO REPUBLIC OF KOREA AHEAD OF WINTER OLYMPICS

United Nations Headquarters, 2 February 2018 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, will leave New York on 6 February for Seoul, Republic of Korea. While in Seoul, on 8 February, he is expected to hold meetings with H.E. Mr. Lee Nak-yon, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, and H.E. Mr. Chung Sye-kyun, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. He will also deliver remarks at the opening keynote session of the Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development, which will be co-hosted by the Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment (IGEE) and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizenship.

On 9 February, the President will be in Pyeongchang for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. He will participate in the Olympic Torch Relay as a torchbearer, attend the Opening Ceremony and receive an award from the Truce Foundation of the United States.

The President will travel with his Chief of Staff, František Ružička; his Spokesperson, Brenden Varma; and his Adviser on Outreach, Nikola Ivezaj.

Travel costs will be covered from the United Nations regular budget with support on the ground provided by the Government of the Republic of Korea, the International Olympic Committee and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizenship.

The President will return to New York on 11 February.

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For media inquiries, please contact

Brenden Varma, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, 1-212-963-7238, 1-347-556-3433, varmab@un.org