Media Statement
24 September 2020
Minister Pandor to participate in a virtual Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will tomorrow, Friday, 25 September 2020, participate in a virtual Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism to be held on the margins of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, under the theme: “Our Commitment and Contribution to Building Back Better.” This virtual meeting will be streamed live from 16:00-19:00 on www.multilateralism.org.
The Ministerial Meeting will reflect on the continued efforts and initiatives of the Alliance to strengthen multilateralism and international cooperation, with the United Nations (UN) at its centre, and address the many challenges confronting the world beyond the COVID-19 pandemic by ‘building back better’ so as to ensure that countries and regions are better prepared for similar pandemics in the future.
“As members of the Alliance, together with the international community, we should redouble our efforts to building more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of pandemics other global challenges,” said Minister Pandor.
Furthermore, the Ministerial Meeting is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles outlining the objectives of the Alliance, namely, to seek broad and diverse support in favour of international cooperation to protect the rules-based international order, promote new initiatives and advance reforms in order to make multilateral institutions more effective in delivering tangible results to citizens around the world.
The Alliance for Multilateralism was officially launched on the margins of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly on 26 September 2019 under the theme: “Building the network and presenting results.” Co-Chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr Jean-Ives Le Drian; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Mr Heiko Maas; the Alliance comprises a grouping of countries from all regions of the world and including South Africa.
The objective of the Alliance is to illustrate that countries that support multilateralism and support the UN remain the majority of the world. The Alliance seeks to establish a network of countries ready to support multilateralism and cooperation, including joint efforts on empowerment of women and girls, climate change, health, humanitarian law, disarmament, and transnational organised crime, amongst others.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
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