Jonathan Leads Nigeria To 67th UN General Assembly

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will depart Abuja on Sunday for New York as leader of the country’s delegation to the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations, billed to focus on the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

At its opening on Tuesday, President of the 67th Assembly, Mr. Vuk Jeremic of Serbia had announced ‘bringing about adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means’ as the central theme for the General Assembly’s work in the next 12 months, following widespread consultations on the matter.

In his 2011 address to the General Assembly, Jonathan had advised the international community to muster the political will to promote preventive diplomacy for the peaceful resolution of international disputes through mediation.
 
“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,” he said.

“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 are able to address the real triggers of conflict, without which we cannot achieve sustainable solutions.” 

According to a statement released on Saturday by Dr. Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, “The President’s delegation to New York includes Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Philip Aduda, Honourable Isa Ashiru Mohammed, as well as the minister of foreign affairs, the coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, the minister of petroleum resources, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, and the minister of trade and investment.
 
“In addition to participating in the 67th Session of the General Assembly, President Jonathan is also scheduled to meet with other world leaders including the Presidents of China, France, South Korea, Brazil, Bulgaria, Finland and Switzerland in New York,” the statement added.

“He will also deliver a statement to the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law at the United Nations Headquarters and join the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg with whom he currently serves as co-Chairperson of the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children in presenting its report to the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon.”

While in New York, Jonathan will also attend a high-level meeting on the Nigerian economy, meet with the  chairman and top executives of global oil giant, Exxon-Mobil, and attend a reception hosted by U.S. President, Barack Obama, and the secretary-general’s high-level event on the eradication of polio.