The situation in eastern DRC and CAR were high on the agenda at Tuesday's opening.
The 68th session of the UN General Assembly opened yesterday, September 24, 2013, in New York, United States of America with more than 30 world leaders in attendance. Participants are among others discussing the continuing challenges in the Middle East and Africa, Radio France Internationale, RFI reported.
On the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, diplomats noted that there was progress since the putting in place of the UN rapid intervention brigade to check the activities of armed groups and any further Rwandan meddling. Meanwhile, European ministers intend to put more pressure on DRC and Rwandan authorities to implement past accords. The alarming security situation in the Central African Republic, CAR, where former Séléka rebels continue to wreck havoc on the civilian population, was also on the table. The African Union is taking over the hitherto sub-regional force to ensure the complete disarmament of the now disbanded Séléka force and restoration of law and order.
The annual general debate will set the stage for building a new global development agenda which both protects the planet and promotes equity, justice and prosperity for all people, the US News Centre said. Some 84 Heads of State, 41 Heads of Government, 11 Deputy Prime Ministers and 65 Foreign Ministers will till October 1, 2013 address the Assembly on sustainable development, poverty eradication, climate change, human rights, and a range of peace and other security issues.
Yesterday’s opening saw high-level political officials pondering on what John Ashe, President of the 68th session called “pivotal” talks on identifying the parameters of the post- 2015 sustainability agenda which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals. Among those present at the session were the new Malian President, Ibrahim Boubabcar Keita and Iran’s new Head of State, Hassan Rouhani, who spoke at his first ever trip to the United Nations. US President, Barack Obama, exchanged letters with Rouhani but officials said he had no plans to meet with him either formally or informally at the General Assembly.
President Obama plans to meet Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, to talk regional security, the Boko Haram insurgency and the potential for investment in Nigeria, the PSB Newshour website hinted.
