NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

 

The President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, H.E. Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa visited Mexico from 31 March to 3 April 2019. She met with H.E. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. They agreed to continue working together on strengthening the United Nations and multilateralism. The President of the General Assembly recognized that her priorities coincide with those of Mexico, a country that is not only a great ally in the General Assembly, but also active and committed to upholding with the values and principles of the UN.

When meeting the Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, PGA agreed to continue working together to protect the rights of migrants and to promote policies that address the root cause of migration.

PGA also met with Secretary of the Interior, Dr. Olga Sánchez Cordero, and the deputy director of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples. The PGA and Mr. Saul Vicente agreed to continue promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. With the Secretary of Health, Jorge Alcocer Varela, the PGA agreed to advance the promotion of global health.

In the Senate of the Republic, the PGA met with the Commission of Gender Equality and the president of INMUJERES, Nadine Gasman. She also visited the National Council of the 2030 Agenda headed by Dr. Alfonso Romo Garza, and exchanged views regarding the challenges of and opportunities behind the promotion of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The PGA also met with the UN Country Team and Residents Coordinators of Mexico and Central America, and she gave a lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on global challenges and multilateralism. PGA thanked the hospitality of Mexico.

From 6 to 6 April, the President visited Cuba. She met with the President of the Councils of State and of Ministers of Cuba, H.E. Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel. They agreed to continue defending the role of the United Nations in the preservation of international peace and security.

With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parilla and the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Anayansi Rodriguez, PGA exchanged opinions on the importance of strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation to advance the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, and on the challenges the region of Latin America and the Caribbean is facing. 

President Espinosa also met with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investments, H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, and agreed on the importance of strengthening South-South Cooperation and stressed the valuable contribution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

PGA visited the Federation of Cuban Women and agreed with Teresa Boue, Secretary-General of the Federation, to continue promoting the empowerment of women in the region and the world. She visited the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) where she saw good examples of Cuban solidarity, South-South cooperation, and scientific development, at the service of the health and well-being of people. President Espinosa also gave a lecture to students of the Superior Institute of International Relations about multilateralism.

To conclude the visit to Cuba, President Espinosa met with Consuelo Vidal, Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Cuba, and listened first-hand the challenges faced as a result of the embargo.