SA to push for reform in UN system at UNGA

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma is to attend the 64th United National (UN) General Assembly in New York next week with the aim of pushing for reform within the UN system.

"South Africa will again argue for the need for reform within the UN system, including in the Security Council, to ensure that it is more representative, transparent and responsive to the needs of developing nations," said President Zuma on Thursday.

The assembly, which will meet from 21 to 25 September, provides a forum for multilateral discussions between the 192 members of the UN.

Following the UN General Assembly, the South African delegation will travel to Pittsburgh to attend a Group of 20 (G20) Summit.

According to the President, the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors will need to review the implantation of measures agreed upon in London earlier this year to respond to the global economic crisis.

"South Africa will continue to promote steps to transform international financial regulatory mechanisms, to ensure that the current crisis is not likely to recur," he said of the 24 to 25 September meeting.

After attending the G20, a South African delegation is expected travel to Venezuela for the 2nd Africa - South America Summit from 26 to 27 September.

"This is an important meeting, not only for the historic ties of kinship between these two continents, but because of the strategic partnerships that can be formed.

Economically, politically and socially there is much that can be derived from closer cooperation between the countries of Africa and South America," said Zuma.-