Visit of the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, to the United Nations New York, New York, United States of America
From December 17 to 18, 2009, the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, led an official delegation composed of Mrs. Ann Kinsella, Ms. Janelle Feldstein, Chief of Staff of the Speaker of the Senate, Ms. Catherine Piccinin, Secretary to the Delegation and Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges, to the United Nations in New York, United States.
At the United Nations, the delegation met with:
- Her Excellency Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg and President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC);
- His Excellency Abderrahim Ould Hadrami, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the United Nations and Ambassador to Canada;
- His Excellency Lhatu Wangchuk, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations and Ambassador to Canada;
- His Excellency Saviour Borg, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations;
- His Excellency Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga and High Commissioner to Canada;
- His Excellency Fuad Al-Hinai, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations;
- His Excellency Mohammed Al-Allaf, Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations;
- His Excellency Ahmed Abdulrahman Al-Jarman, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations;
- Mr. Abdul Wahab, Ambassador and Permanent Observer for the Organization of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations;
- Mr. John Holmes, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs;
- Ms. Hilde Johnston, UNICEF Assistant Secretary General;
- Ms. Caroline Ziade, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations;
- Mr. Yaqoub Al-Sanad, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations; and
- Mr. Tchary Atayev, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations.
The delegation also met with His Excellency Frà John Dunlap, Member of the Sovereign Council, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, who is based in New York City.
In addition to the meetings at the United Nations, the Speaker observed a session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The objectives of the visit were to:
- enhance relations between Canada and the United Nations, as well as bilateral relations with a number of countries including Bahrain, Bhutan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Oman, Tonga, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates, some of whose permanent representatives to Canada are located in New York. This included highlighting the range of Canada's interests with these countries, promoting educational exchanges, discussing research sharing in the area of agriculture and aquaculture, as well as advocating greater collaboration between container shipping ports;
- highlight the range of Canada's interests with the United Nations in the areas of international development, security and human rights;
- encourage ongoing parliamentary dialogue by further promoting parliamentary exchanges;
- discuss foreign policies with respect to issues of international and mutual interest; and
- pursue good relations in all fields of contact.