NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS
U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HEADS TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, KUWAIT, QATAR, ITALY AND SWITZERLAND
United Nations, New York, 12 January 2018 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, will travel to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 13 to 15 January.
In Abu Dhabi, the President will address the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly. The Assembly will discuss concrete steps to accelerate the global transition to renewable energy.
President Lajčák will also participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the largest sustainability gathering in the Middle East, under the theme “Driving the Global Energy Transformation”, and address the closing of the Abu Dhabi Global Action Day.
While in the UAE, the President will address students at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy on “The role of multilateral diplomacy today” and hold meetings with: H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE; H.E. Ms. Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs of the UAE; H.E. Mr. Taro KONO, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; Mr. Adnan Amin, Executive Director of IRENA; and the United Nations Country Team.
On 15 January, the President will travel to the State of Kuwait to meet with H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State Kuwait; H.E. Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait; and officials and the United Nations Country Team. In Kuwait, he will also hold a lecture at the Diplomatic Institute.
On 16 January, Mr. Lajčák will continue his trip to Doha, Qatar, to address a regional dialogue on sustaining peace and give a lecture at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies. He will also hold meetings with: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate H.H. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser; H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prime Minister of the State of Qatar; and other Government officials of the State of Qatar.
On 19 January, he will travel to Rome, Italy, to meet with his Team of External Advisers on the priorities for the 72nd session of the General Assembly.
From Italy, the President will travel to Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the 2018 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
In Davos, he will participate in a number of events on partnerships for and financing of the SDGs, migration, Libya and Syria.
The President will travel to the UAE and Kuwait with his Senior Advisers, Abdelghani Merabet and Michal Komada, and Adviser Katharina Kandt. In Qatar, he will be accompanied by Mr. Merabet, Ms. Kandt, Senior Adviser Amena Yassine and Adviser Sharifa Al Nesf. In Italy, he will be accompanied by Chef de Cabinet František Ružička, Deputy Chef de Cabinet Sofia Borges, Advisers Nikola Ivezaj and Katharina Kandt, and Speechwriter Cianna O’Connell. In Switzerland, he will travel with Mr. Merabet.
Travel costs will be covered by the Trust Fund of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, supported by the Governments of the UAE, the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar.
The President will return to New York on 25 January.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Katharina Kandt, Adviser to the President of the General Assembly, +1 917 244 3890; kandt@un.org