Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade H.E. Mr Péter Szijjártó addressed the General Debate of the 72nd session of the General Assembly on 22 September, underlining the importance of international cooperation in pressing issues, such as security, migration and the protection of the rights of minorities.
He participated at the meeting of the Visegrad (V4) countries, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, as well as the Strategic Forum of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) in Washington, D.C.
Minister Szijjártó held an interactive presentation on the role of Central Europe in tackling today’s challenges. The event was held in the framework of Hungary’s Presidency of the Visegrad Group, and was organized in cooperation with the Foreign Press Association and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
Mr Szijjártó empahsized the importance of the protection of religious minorities in conflict during an event hosted by the Hungarian Mission to the UN, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy at the UN Headquarters. Mr Szijjártó intervened at the annual ministerial Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, calling on member States to sign the Convention as a step towards eliminating nuclear weapons. He participated at a High-Level event on the Human Rights Council reform, and empahsized the responsibility of the international community in fighting impunity for the most serious crimes at a high-level meeting on the Syria accountability mechanism („Building the Foundation for Justice in Syria: In support of the Syria Accountability Mechanism”). Mr Szijjártó invited members of the Security Council to refrain from using their veto power when the Council is tackling cases of mass atrocities at the event entitled „Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities: Tools for More Effective UN Security Council Action”.
On the margins of the High Level Week, Minister Szijjártó participated in more than 30 bilateral meetings with his Partners, establishing diplomatic relations with Palau, and signing eleven bilateral agreements with ten Member States.
Moreover, the Minister participated in the High Level Luncheon held by UN Secretary General António Guterres, and met several prominent UN leaders, including President of the General Assembly H.E. Mr Miroslav Lajčák, Under-Secretary-General and Head of UN Counter-Terrorism Office H.E. Mr Vladimir Voronkov. as well as Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs H.E. Mr Jeffrey Feltman.
Mr Szijjártó opened an exhibition on the life and work of Zoltán Kodály, Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist, at the Hungarian Mission to the UN. He gave a number of interviews to international press and news agencies, including the CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera English, a FOX News, Tass, Politico, Xinhua, World Tribune, a Turkish TV and the American Television News. His itervention at the General Debate was broadcasted live on Hungarian television.
To read the full statement of H.E. Mr. Péter Szijjártó at the General Debate of the UNGA72 click here.
Photos: Máté Paczolay (MFA)
