President James Michel met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Vuk Jeremic at State House this afternoon. Mr. Jeremic is in Seychelles to address the AIMS Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

President Michel congratulated Mr. Jeremic on his dynamic presidency of the UNGA during the last year, where the interests of the developing world were often brought to the forefront of its discussions.

"Thank you for championing the cause of Small Islands Developing States and for the support you have given us in the AIMS Regional Preparatory Meeting. This will make a difference in the agenda which is set for the Samoa conference, and further promote our common aims for sustainable development, "said the President.

Mr. Jeremic said that the conference is timely and will provide an opportunity for SIDS to make their voices heard and ensure they have a constructive and active role in the development agenda in the UNGA.

" We will be discussing the post-2015 development agenda currently being developed in the United Nations, and in particular the priorities of the small island states.... We discussed  how these priorities can be integrated in the broader goals of the international community," said Mr. Jeremic.

The President of the UNGA commended Seychelles for the progress it has made in its economic and social development, and added that Seychelles is making a strong impact with its work within the United Nations system.

"Seychelles is a small country but a very visible country in the international community...I think the Seychelles balanced very well the interests of various countries, like in the fight against piracy.... in development issues, renewable energy and the blue economy.... You do have a good image in the United Nations," said Mr. Jeremic.

Mr. Jeremic added that in the UN General Assembly each country has one vote, and by grouping together to form a common position on issues that are their priority, small island states, which are large in numbers, therefore have a serious negotiating power in the United Nations. Furthermore, Mr. Jeremic expressed his confidence that the Seychelles bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council  2017-2018 term would be successful in the vote in 2016.

Editor's Note

•             Vuk Jeremić was elected President of the sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly on 8 June 2012. At the time of his election, he was serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, an office he held starting on 15 May 2007. He ends his term in the UNGA in mid - September 2013.
•             Present at the meeting were; Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Barry Faure, the President's Diplomatic Adviser, Ambassador Callixte d'Offay, as well as the UNGA President's Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Zdravko Ponoš.