THE PRESIDENT'S ENGAGEMENTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK

THE PRESIDENT'S ENGAGEMENTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK

H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, continued with his extensive meetings with various Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York, where he is attending the meeting of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly.

On Wednesday evening, the President had the opportunity of meeting over 80 Permanent Representatives accredited to the United Nations from Europe, Africa, America and Asia during a reception hosted by Malta's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Walter Balzan. Also present at the reception were former Presidents of the UN General Assembly and other distinguished personalities.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the President attended the formal meetings of the Council of Presidents of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters. These two days of talks were preceded by an informal meeting on Tuesday. The participants, all former Presidents of the UNGA, had a constructive exchange of views regarding the revitalisation of the United Nations and the General Assembly in particular also within the context of the forthcoming Millennium General Assembly Session.

On Thursday the Council of Presidents met the Executive Board of the International Association of Permanent Representatives at the UN, during which these issues and other proposals were discussed.

The Council of Presidents issued a Communiqu'� in which it expressed its "grave concern at the increasing marginalisation of the United Nations in particular the General Assembly, the most representative of its organs."

"The Council of Presidents also noted that a balance between the General Assembly and the other organs of the United Nations, as envisaged in the Charter, should be strictly observed to strengthen the United Nations, in particular international peace and security." The Council also emphasised the fact that "the General Assembly must be enabled to play its full role and exert the influence expected of it."

The Council also addressed these concerns in letters to the President of the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General and the members of the Security Council.

Today, the President will be meeting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the UN Headquarters in New York.

On Sunday Prof. de Marco will be conferred with a Degree in Humane Letters honoris causa by the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut during the university's Commencement 2000 ceremony. The President will deliver the keynote address.

Prof. de Marco returns to Malta on Monday 15^th May 2000.