Press Archives Press Releases

Press Release on the visit of External Affairs Minister, H.E. Smt Sushma Swaraj to New York for the 69th Session of the UNGA 24th September - 2nd October, 2014

Press Release on the visit of External Affairs Minister, H.E. Smt Sushma Swaraj to New York for the 69th Session of the UNGA

(24th September-2nd October, 2014)

1. External Affairs Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj visited New York  to attend the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly from 24th  September -2nd October. This was the first visit of External Affairs Minister to the United Nations after she assumed office in May 2014. The visit was fruitful and External Affairs Minister met over 100 of her counterparts from various countries, bilaterally and multilaterally, during the 69th UNGA. 

2. External Affairs Minister had bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the UK, Sudan, the Maldives, Norway, Kyrgyz Republic, Greece, Nigeria, Brazil, China and Israel on the margins of the UNGA session.  The discussions during these meetings covered the entire gamut of India’s bilateral and multilateral relations and issues of regional and global importance and relevance.

3. During the meeting of the G4 (Germany, Brazil, Japan and India), Foreign Ministers hosted by Brazil, matters related to United Nations reforms, including the reform of the Security Council were discussed.

4. External Affairs Minister interacted with the leaders of the 53-member Commonwealth, including members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, on the margins of the UNGA. The focus of interaction was highlighting the need for poverty eradication to be included in the Post Development 2014 Agenda. 

5. External Affairs Minister attended the India-CELAC Quartet meeting (Cuba, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Antigua & Barbuda). Matters of regional and global importance including trade and investment, energy, science and technology, Post 2015 Development Agenda, environment sustainability, SDGs, disarmament, climate change were discussed and prioritized as action areas for India’s relations with the 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries represented by CELAC.

6. The Foreign Ministers of the 8 SAARC countries met and discussed, among wide ranging issues, regional integration, connectivity, culture, education, energy, poverty alleviation, etc at a working lunch hosted by the Maldives.

7. India hosted the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) meeting, during which UNSC reforms, regional and political developments, situation in Palestine and IBSA fund were the focus of discussions. External Affairs Minister presented a portrait of Nelson Mandela to the Foreign Minister of South Africa after the conclusion of the IBSA Ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the UNGA.

8. External Affairs Minister led the Indian delegation in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers Meeting hosted by Russia on the sidelines of the UNGA. The participating countries reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation in the UNGA and a closer economic partnership. A wide range of issues including international peace and security, the situation in Gaza, Ebola outbreak, terrorism etc were covered during the meeting.

9. External Affairs Minister reiterated the support of India to the cause of Palestine and solidarity with the Palestinian people during the Ministerial Level Meeting of the Nonaligned Movement Committee on Palestine.

10. The Eighth India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Political Dialogue was held on the sidelines of 69th UNGA Session, hosted by Kuwait. External Affairs Minister highlighted the “Make in India” programme and investment opportunities in India during the meeting.

11. Other important meetings held during the 69th UNGA session included the 38th Annual Meeting with Ministers of Foreign Affairs Group of 77 & China and the Meeting of Group of Fifteen (G-15) Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the margins of the UNGA Session. 

12. The Executive Director of the UN Women called upon the External Affairs Minister to discuss matters pertaining to gender equality and empowerment of women, the drafting of the post-2015 Development Agenda, and related issues. During the meeting, External Affairs Minister handed over the fifth installment of USD one million of India’s contribution to the UN Women, in keeping with the commitment and support of India to UN Women and its cause.

13. On the occasion of the United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence, celebrated worldwide on the 2nd October, 2014, External Affairs Minister presided over a commemorative meeting, attended by the President of the UN General Assembly H.E. Sam Kutesa, Foreign Minister of Uganda. Children from the UN International School and over one hundred Heads of Delegations from UN Member States participated in this historic function held in the UN Trusteeship Council Chamber.

14. External Affairs Minister became the first-ever dignitary to place a Wreath in memory of the valiant UN Peacekeepers at the United Nations Memorial to UN Peacekeepers in New York on 2 October 2014. The Memorial had been set up after the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to UN Peacekeepers in 1988.  India is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, having contributed more than 170,000 troops in 43 out of 69 peacekeeping missions mandated by the United Nations Security Council so far.

2 October 2014

*****