The General Assembly of the United Nations met this morning in a special event to honour the life and memory of the late President Nelson Mandela.  Speakers included the President of the General Assembly, Mr John Ashe, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, the former Mayor of New York, Mr David Dinkins, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu by video from South Africa.  Fiji's Ambassador Peter Thomson led the speakers from the floor of the General Assembly, speaking in Fiji's capacity as Chairman of the 133-member Group of 77 and China.

Speaking in Fiji's capacity as 2013 Chair of the Group of 77 and China, Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addressed the United Nations 5th Committee today on the need for the budgetary committee to move responsibly towards the completion of its work in 2013. The 5th Committee has before it the task of approving the United Nations budget for the biennium 2014-2015.

At the request of UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr Ban Ki-moon, the UN Ambassadors of the 134 Member States of the Group of 77 and China met in New York yesterday.  The meeting was Chaired by Fiji's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Peter Thomson.