Report on the meetings held at the 77th Session of

Transcript:Report on the meetings held at the 77th Session of:
Report on the meetings held at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly General Debate and related high-level events PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PURPOSE To inform the Portfolio Committee on the meetings held at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77). SECRET 2 SUMMARY The General Debate and High-Level Meetings of UNGA77 took place from 19-26 September 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This was a first fully in-person UNGA, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which provided significant opportunity to engage broadly on SA’s priorities. SECRET 3 SUMMARY continued The General Debate was dominated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the polarisation it has caused. SECRET 4 DISCUSSION General Debate of UNGA77 World leaders reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism and the role of the UN and regretted the slow pace of response towards the achievement of (SDGs) On the UN Secretary-General’s report entitled “Our Common Agenda”, Leaders indicated their support for UNSG’s attempt to focus on implementing the 2030 Agenda and reset Global Governance, and UN itself. SECRET 5 DISCUSSION continued Issues raised by South Africa in the General Debate: UN reform and strengthening of a rules-based international multilateral system The economic and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 The impact of Climate Change International peace and security Palestine, Western Sahara, Cuba, Zimbabwe. SECRET 6 DISCUSSION continued UNGA77 was of significance to South Africa and the Continent. African leaders addressed the following concerns: UNSC Reform and the AU seat at the G20 Emergence from the COVID-19 and the inequality, unfairness of the global economic recovery Focus on development SECRET 7 DISCUSSION continued Meetings and Side Events during UNGA77: Transforming Education Summit; Foreign Policy and Global Health; Meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC); Ministerial Meeting of the NAM; Ministerial meeting of the AUPSC on Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism; Ministerial meeting of African Women Leaders Network; Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of UNGA77. SECRET 8 DISCUSSION continued Bilateral meetings held on margins of UNGA77 President of 77th General Assembly, Ambassador Csaba Kőrösi; Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo Former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete Secret 9 DISCUSSION continued Bilateral meetings were also held with Foreign Ministers of the following countries: France; the Netherlands; Cuba; the Russian Federation; Nicaragua,