PRESS RELEASE

His Excellency Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration, was received in audience in New York on 1 March 2017 by His Excellency Antonio GUTERRES , Secretary-General of the United Nations.

First of all, Minister DUSSEY, on the occasion of their first official meeting, on behalf of the Head of State, His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE , congratulated Mr. GUTERRES on his brilliant election to the post General of the United Nations, and to commend the leadership and commitment he has shown to bring a new dynamic to the United Nations system in addressing the many challenges facing the world, particularly those facing Africa.

During their meeting, the two personalities discussed various issues of international interest, such as international peace and security, maritime safety and security and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. 2030, including other current issues.

Addressing the issue of international peace and security, the Secretary-General expressed his determination to address the security challenges associated with armed conflict and terrorist acts and welcomed the active participation of Togo in various international initiatives , As one of the main contributors of troops to peacekeeping operations. In this regard, the Minister announced the Government’s decision to increase the number of Togolese soldiers in peacekeeping operations and reiterated Togo’s resolute commitment to support action to ensure a safer and more energetic world. peace. Mr. GUTERRES and Minister DUSSEY concluded their exchanges on this issue by expressing their deep concern about the security and humanitarian situation prevailing in South Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic, the DRC, northern Mali, Burkina Faso , Syria, Yemen and other regions.

On the question of maritime security and safety, the Secretary-General welcomed the holding of the African Union Summit in Lome in October 2016, which resulted in the adoption of the Charter on Security and Safety Maritime security and development in Africa. Minister DUSSEY welcomed the support of the United Nations for this initiative and requested the assistance of the Secretary-General in order to speed up the process of appropriation of the Charter by the United Nations as an international legal instrument Which contributes to making the ocean a factor of economic development. He also welcomed the United Nations initiative to organize a high-level conference on oceans in New York in June and assured the interest of the Government of Togo in this meeting.

With regard to the implementation of the SDGs, they welcomed the September 2015 adoption of the Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030 as a comprehensive, ambitious and multidimensional program. The teacher. DUSSEY took this opportunity to express the satisfaction of the Government of Togo on the excellent relations of cooperation and partnership that so happily exist between Togo and the United Nations system in the process of implementing this program, while welcoming the Togo was selected as one of the two pilot countries in the SDG implementation process through, inter alia, the National Sustainable Development Plan (PNDD) and the Community Development Emergency Program (PUDC).

In this regard, the Secretary-General congratulated Togo on being one of 22 voluntary countries to present their national report on the implementation of the MDGs in 2016 during the High-Level Inaugural Policy Forum on Sustainable Development As well as its commitment to the same exercise during this year’s Forum to share experiences with other states.

Finally, the two Senior Officials pledged to continue consultations in order to ensure the continued support of the United Nations to the various projects initiated by the Government of Togo with a view to eradicating poverty in all its forms and accelerating economic and Inclusive development in order to leave no one behind.
At the end of the meeting, DUSSEY invited GUTERRES to make an official visit to Togo as soon as his agenda allows.