Jonathan leads Nigeria’s delegation to 67th UN Assembly

A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati Saturday stated that theme of the Assembly would be on peaceful resolution of international disputes.

Abati said that the President of the 67th Assembly, Mr Vuk Jeremic of Serbia had announced the theme as “bringing about adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means.’’

Abati recalled that the theme had been endorsed by Jonathan in his statement to the 66th General Assembly last year.

He said that Jonathan had in his 2011 address to the General Assembly and called on the international community to muster the political will to promote preventive diplomacy for the peaceful resolution of international disputes through mediation.

Jonathan had declared to the Assembly in 2011:

“For too long, the international community has focused too little attention on mediation and preventive diplomacy and far too much effort and resources on military aspects of peace and security.

“Yet measures to address the root cause of conflict, including dialogue and mediation, can be far more effective as means to achieving sustainable peace and stability.

“As I see it, our goal should always be to present the peaceful alternative as a less costly and effective way of achieving political and social objectives.

“By focusing on mediation as a tool for conflict prevention, we would be able to address the real triggers of conflict, without which we cannot achieve sustainable solutions.’’

The president’s delegation, which departed for New York on Sunday, includes governors Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Sen. Philip Aduda, Hon. Isa Mohammed, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru.

Others are Ministers of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison- Madueke, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.

“In addition to participating in the 67th Session of the General Assembly, the President is scheduled to meet with other world leaders including the Presidents of China, France, South Korea, Brazil, Bulgaria, Finland and Switzerland in New York,’’ Abati said.

He said that Jonathan would also deliver a statement to the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law at the UN Headquarters.

The president, according to Abati, will join the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr Jens Stoltenberg in presenting a report to the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon.

Jonathan and Stoltenberg currently serve as co-Chairpersons of the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children.

Abati said that the president would attend a High-Level meeting on the Nigerian Economy and meet with the chairman and top executives of the global oil giant, Exxon-Mobil.

The president will also attend the Secretary-General’s High-Level event on the eradication of polio and a reception to be hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama.  (NAN)