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UN chief to attend CARICOM meeting in Barbados; will stress peace, climate and sustainable development
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Summary
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, for the 48th CARICOM heads of government meeting, where he is expected to emphasize peace and security, climate action and sustainable development, the UN spokesperson said.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, to attend the 48th annual conference of heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the UN spokesperson said.
The secretary-general is scheduled to speak at the opening ceremony and to hold a closed session with CARICOM leaders to exchange views on regional situations including Haiti. While in Bridgetown he will hold a bilateral meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and meet other leaders on the margins of the conference.
The visit is brief: the secretary-general will leave New York early the morning of the conference and return the following Thursday, the spokesperson said. The office will share his remarks with the press ahead of the opening ceremony.
The spokesperson summarized themes the secretary-general is expected to highlight: “progress, peace and security, the climate [crisis], and sustainable development.” At a Security Council meeting earlier the secretary-general said, “we have the hardware for international cooperation, but the software needs an update,” a comment the spokesperson relayed as reflecting the goals of the Pact for the Future adopted in September.
The spokesperson said the Pact for the Future aims to strengthen global governance for the 21st century, rebuild trust in multilateralism and ensure that the Security Council better reflects current geopolitical realities. He said the pact “sets out important principles to guide this long awaited reform” and urged members to work toward consensus to deliver peace for people worldwide.
The trip comes amid ongoing discussions at the United Nations about Security Council reform and broader efforts to update multilateral institutions. The secretary-general’s meetings with Caribbean leaders will include a focus on regional priorities and on how the UN can support recovery, resilience and climate objectives in CARICOM member states.
A fuller text of the secretary-general’s remarks at the Security Council and an itinerary for the Bridgetown visit will be released by his office, the spokesperson said.
