Agovaka leads delegation to UNGA

Agovaka leads delegation to UNGA

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Hon. Peter Shannel Agovaka will be leading Solomon Islands delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The annual event will be held in New York, from 22nd to 28th September 2024.  

The theme for the 79th UNGA is “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”. 

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is not attending the UN meeting.

A number of High Level Meetings will be convened at the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. These include:  

  • High Level Meeting on “Summit of the Future”
  • High Level Meeting “Addressing the existential threats posed by sea level rise”
  • High Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), 
  • HLM to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. 

Various Ministers will be participating in meetings relevant to their Ministries. 

The HLM on Summit of the Future aims to reaffirm commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Charter while enhancing cooperation and laying the foundations for a reinvigorated multilateral system. 

The HLM on Sea Level Rise focus on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership, and promoting multi sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise”.  

The HLM on Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents an opportunity for Solomon Islands and other international stakeholders to renew efforts and accelerate progress in combating the growing threat of AMR. This will serve as the foundation for executing policies and ensuring accountability for strengthening health systems against AMR which is one of the utmost public and health threat for Solomon Islands.

During the plenary sessions of these High Level Meeting, six government ministers from six relevant ministerial portfolios accompanied the Foreign Affairs Minister flanked by their respective Permanent secretaries will participate in deliberating and delivering country statements and positions simultaneously at these highest august international fora.   

Additionally, during the one week of intense meetings, related side line events, including bilateral, regional, intergovernmental and interorganizational meetings: 

  • Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting, 
  • the Alliances of Small Islands Leaders States Meeting,
  • G7+ High Level Summit 
  • Least Developing Country Ministerial  

These meetings will be held concurrently. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs & External Trade will also be signing of Joint Communiques with his counterparts for the establishment of diplomatic relations with a number of United Nations member countries. The delegation will use the opportunity to also sign up, accede and deposit to some of the conventions and treaties.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will deliver the national country statement which is expected to be live streamed on SIBC on the 27th September 2024.