Summit to adopt the 2030 agenda and UN General Assembly: Switzerland commits to sustainable development

Bern, 11.09.2015 - The President of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, will represent Switzerland at the UN summit meeting from 25 to 27 September 2015 in New York to adopt the sustainable development goals for the period to 2030. On 28 September, at the opening of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, she will present Switzerland's priorities in the context of the UN for the coming year. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will represent Switzerland during this ministerial week in New York at various events on current themes and will hold bilateral talks.

At its meeting today, the Federal Council noted the foreign policy priorities that Switzerland will pursue within the context of the 70th session of the General Assembly. At the same time it decided that the President of the Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, and Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter would represent Switzerland at the opening of the General Assembly in New York.

Prior to the General Assembly, the UN Sustainable Development Summit will be held from 25 to 27 September 2015, at which the heads of state and government will adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda (previously referred to as the post-2015 agenda) features 17 Sustainable Development Goals on themes such as eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, education, health, gender equality, water, sustainable consumption and production, work, biodiversity and ecosystems, and peaceful and inclusive societies.

On 25 September 2015, President Sommaruga will present Switzerland's position to the plenary session of the UN Sustainable Development Summit. In addition, during the summit, she will represent Switzerland at various events, such as a debate on the role of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions for sustainable development. The President of the Confederation will also chair a high-level event organised in conjunction with the Institute for Democracy and Election Assistance (IDEA) on the theme of the rule of law, transparency and civic participation. She will also take part in a parallel summit meeting of global leaders on the issue of gender equality and empowering women.

70th session of the UN General Assembly

The 70th session of the UN General Assembly will begin on 28 September with what is known as a high-level week in New York attended by numerous heads of state and government as well as ministers of the UN member states. As President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga will address the General Debate at the opening of the General Assembly, at which she will discuss current issues in world politics and explain Swiss foreign policy priorities in the context of the UN.

During the ministerial week, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will participate in a number of events dealing with themes including the primacy of humanitarian principles, the contribution of OSCE peace missions to international security and peace, preventing violent extremism, the situation in Syria, climate change and migration. In addition, Mr Burkhalter will take part in an open debate in the Security Council organised by the Russian presidency on conflict resolution and fighting terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa. He will also take the opportunity to hold various bilateral talks with the numerous foreign ministers present.


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