During a busy week at the General Assembly, President Kutesa meets with the President of the Security Council Chairs a briefing to Member States on Ebola and Meets with the Executive Director of UN Women

New York, 20 February 2015

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly

Meeting with the President of the Security Council

On 17 February 2015, the President of the General Assembly (PGA), H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa met with H.E. Mr. Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, in his capacity as the President of the United Nations Security Council for the month of February.

The President of the Security Council briefed President Kutesa on the Programme of Work of the Security Council for the current month.

Both Presidents exchanged views on a number of important international and regional issues, focusing mainly on the Ebola outbreak, peace and security, international justice, the working methods of the General Assembly and reform of the Security Council.

The two Presidents noted the importance of further strengthening the coordination and interaction between the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The President of the General Assembly holds regular meetings with the Presidents of the Principal Organs of the United Nations, as provided for in the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, to ensure enhanced cooperation and coordination in their work programmes in accordance with their respective responsibilities under the Charter.

Briefing to Member States on Ebola

On 17 February, Dr. David Nabarro, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola briefed the PGA on the latest developments regarding the outbreak. PGA also met separately with the Representatives of the most affected countries.

On 18 February, the PGA convened an informal briefing of the General Assembly on the response to the Ebola virus outbreak. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed Member States alongside Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), and Dr. David Nabarro, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola. The PGA urged the international community to continue to support the affected countries combat the epidemic, as well as embark on long-term recovery. He stated that the commitment made by regional leaders of the Mano River Union in their Declaration of 15th February 2015, to achieve ‘Zero Ebola Infection’ within 60 days, was a clear demonstration of the region’s resolve to combat Ebola. Adding that “we must give them our full support”, the President of the General Assembly indicated that the high-level international conference on Ebola on 3rd March in Brussels being organized by the European Union and other key partners represents an important opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with the countries most affected by Ebola.

Other meetings and courtesy calls

During a busy week, the PGA received H.E Mr. Jan Elliason, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations. They discussed the priorities of the 69th session, including the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the upcoming high-level events at the General Assembly. In the same week, the PGA who was Guest of Honour at the Opening Session of the 2015 Substantive Session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, received the Advisory Group of Experts on Review of Peacebuilding Architecture. Three other courtesy calls were by H.E Ms. Katalin Annamaria Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary H.E Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of Maldives and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (OASIS) and H.E Mr. Fode Seck, Permanent Representative of Senegal, respectively. PGA held a meeting with H.E Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and Chair of the Group of 77.

Meeting with the Executive Director of UN Women

On 20 February, PGA met with H.E Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women. They discussed important issues on the agenda of the General Assembly. They also focused on the High Level Thematic Debate on Advancing Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls for a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda scheduled to take place on 6 March 2015.

Meeting with the Permanent Representative of Morocco

On the same day, the PGA met with H.E. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations who delivered a message from his Government to President Kutesa. During their meeting, they discussed the priorities of the 69th session, such as the Post-2015 Development Agenda and its implementation, climate change, poverty eradication, sovereign debt restructuring, gender and women empowerment. They also exchanged views on important international and regional issues.