Ebola virus, conflicts to headline 69th UN general assembly session

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella this afternoon left Malta to New York where the PM will be taking part in the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Over 140 heads of states and governments will join in discussions over important global themes, including the conflicts threatening peace and security like the violence in Syria and Iraq, the volatile situation in Ukraine, the lack of security in Libya and the conflict in Gaza.

The Assembly is set to discuss the need for international cooperation in the fight against the Ebola virus whose health, humanitarian, economic and social consequences could extend far beyond countries directly affected by the disease outbreak.

In New York, Muscat will be taking part in the climate change summit chaired by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon. Participants will include various governments, civil society representatives, CEOs of multi-national companies and influential personalities.

Muscat and Vella will be holding a number of bilateral talks with different countries as Muscat is expected to be one of the Prime Ministers leading a meeting on the CHOGM reform.

The two will also visit Maltese communities in San Francisco and New York as they mark Malta's 50th Independence anniversary and becoming a UN member.