Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeopleNOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS
ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT TO VISIT FRANCE
Strengthening multilateralism,
extending international co-operation and pressing for peaceful solutions, to be at the centre of assembly president’s agenda IN PARIS
United Nations, New York, 8 November 2018 – The President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, will travel to France from November 8th – 13th to attend the Centenary of the 1918 Armistice and the Ceremony for the Commemoration of the Armistice.
She will join the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, other global leaders and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, at a major event in Paris to mark the ending of the First World War. She will also speak at the Paris Peace Forum, an event dedicated to advancing collective action and multilateralism in dealing with maintaining peace and countering common challenges.
H.E. Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa said:
‘The First World War was supposed to be the ‘war that ended all wars’. But, tragically, it was to prove to be a prelude to another war, the Second World War. From the ashes of that terrible conflict, the destroyed cities of Europe and the devastation arising from a new nuclear age, the United Nations was born, and with it a bold, new system based on international agreement, co-operation, peace and development. Our forefathers and foremothers were far sighted: they were determined to build a better world and one that would have multilateralism at its core. Today, more than ever, we need to champion multilateral solutions to global problems and challenges.’
While in Paris, she will meet with French civic and political leaders. She will also address the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to discuss and exchange views on the priorities of her Presidency, with a specific focus on migration, climate change and decent work as well as the General Assembly High Level Meeting on middle income countries on 4 December 2018, which the OECD is contributing to. Ms. Espinosa will meet with the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr. José Ángel Gurría. Ms. Espinosa will also meet with Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, to discuss areas of common interest and to explore ways to further strengthen synergies across the UN system. She will also speak at a conference at Paris Science Po, titled; ‘La Revitalisation des Nations Unies et le renforcement du Multilaterisme’ on 13th November.
To France, the President will travel with her Political Adviser and Special Assistant, Mr. Andres Fiallo Karolys; Communications Team Coordinator, Ms. Nevena Toaso, Coordination Officer, Diego Barreiro; and her Personal Assistant, Ms. Carolina Nazarro.
Travel costs will be covered by the Regular Budget and the Office of the President of the General Assembly
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