President Kutesa concludes his visit to the European Union for Development Days in Brussels with a Keynote Address to the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States on its 40th Anniversary

New York, 5 June 2015

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

President Kutesa concludes his visit to the European Development Days in Brussels

His Excellency Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, concluded a series of bilateral meetings and a number of high-level events in Brussels on the occasion of European Development Days (EDD).

He held  separate bilateral meetings on his first day in Brussels on 3 June with members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees of the European Parliament; H.E. Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; H.E. Mr. Neven Mimica, European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development; Mrs. Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He also participated  in a panel discussion with Youth Leaders from around the world on the new development agenda, youth empowerment, the role of the United Nation, among other issues. On June 4 President Kutesa held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Alexander De Croo, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal services.

During the bilateral meetings, the President of the General Assembly discussed with his interlocutors the priorities of the 69th Session and the upcoming Third Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) that will be held from 13 to 16 July in Addis Ababa. They stressed the need for a successful outcome from the FfD Conference to support the implementation of an ambitious and transformative post-2015 development agenda.

President Kutesa addresses the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States

President Kutesa delivered a Keynote Address and had substantive discussions on 5 June with Ministers, Ambassadors and senior officials the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, with a permanent secretariat based in Brussels. The meeting coincided with events for celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ACP Group. In his keynote address to the Group, the PGA stated that “we have to ensure that the post-2015 development agenda, to be adopted by world leaders in September is ambitious, transforms economies, improves livelihoods of all people and protects our planet.” The President of the General Assembly added that to do so, the international community will need a successful outcome from the Third International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in July in Addis Ababa, with action-oriented deliverables to support the implementation of the new development agenda. President Kutesa further stated that “it is also critical to address the enabling domestic and international environment for development, including on issues related to debt relief and trade as well as on systemic issues, including the reform of global governance and the international financial system.”

Throughout his engagements in Brussels, the President of the General Assembly highlighted the need for all partners, including civil society, the private sector and philanthropic organizations, to remain actively engaged in both the post-2015 development agenda and Financing for Development processes

Official visit to Algeria

On 5 June, the President of the General Assembly left Brussels for Algiers, to undertake an official visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria up to 9 June 2015. During that period, President Kutesa will have a series of high-level engagements and meetings, including with H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria, and a former President of the United Nations General Assembly.