Rhodes, Greece, 22 June 2018 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, participated in the Third Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability from 20 to 22 June 2018.

The conference, entitled “The spirit of Rhodes: shaping a positive agenda for stability and prosperity,” aimed to promote dialogue, cooperation, stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, the President called for stronger support for the multilateral system, real and genuine dialogue and much more mediation and conflict prevention.

During a panel discussion on the digital economy, Mr. Lajčák addressed latest trends, opportunities and challenges in the field of modern technology.

While in Rhodes, President Lajčák also met with Ministers attending the conference.

In his meeting with H.E. Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Lajčák commended Greece’s strong commitment to multilateralism. They also talked about the topic of this year’s conference, namely geopolitical challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean, a new security structure, and the digital economy.

With H.E. Mr. Riad al-Malki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, he spoke about the previous week’s resumption of the General Assembly’s tenth emergency special session, as well as the State of Palestine’s priorities for its upcoming chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China.

President Lajčák discussed regional developments and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, with H.E. Mr. Ditmir Bushati, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania.

He also updated H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, about the status of negotiations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and engaged in discussions on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and the situation in the region.

The President will be back in his office in New York on 25 June 2018.

***

For media inquiries, please contact:

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