Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is expected to address the opening session of the General Debate during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month.
The General Debate will provide a platform before the world’s pre-eminent multilateral institutions to advance South Africa’s strategic approach towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Post-2015 development agenda.
According to the Presidency, the rapidly approaching target date for achieving the MDGs by 2015 and the international deliberations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda have become a major focal point in the multilateral arena. As yet, there has not been an intergovernmental process focusing on the development agenda beyond 2015.
“UNGA68 therefore provides an opportunity for the international community to assess the various processes and for setting the stage towards the Post-2015 development agenda,” said the Presidency on Wednesday.
The theme for UNGA68, which will take place from 23-26 September, will be ‘The Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage’.
The UNGA is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations (UN). Comprising all 193 Members of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.
South Africa’s participation will be informed by national interests and priorities, its regional and continental commitments, as well as its “aspirations for a prosperous world at peace with itself”.
In addition to the General Debate, it is expected that South Africa will also participate in the following High-Level United Nations Events at UNGA68:
- High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the realisation of the MDGs and other internationally agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities on 23 September;
- Special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the MDGs on, 25 September;
- High-Level meeting of the UNGA on Nuclear Disarmament on 26 September and
- High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development on 3 and 4 October.
– SAnews.gov.za
