Varela leads team to UN

PRESIDENT  Juan Carlos Varela left  Panama  Wednesday, September 23, for the United States on a seven day  official tour that includes participation in the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York  and World Summits on gender equality  and Families, in Philadelphia.

He was  accompanied by his wife Lorena Castillo and a large delegation including  Vice-President traveled with him and including Vice-President and  Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Finance Minister Dulcidio De La Guardia, Environment Minister Mirei Endara,,Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Maria Luisa Navarro; Deputy Minister of Public Works, Marietta Jaen; and Deputy Chief Francisco Sierra.

Also on the flight were  the plenipotentiary ambassador Raul Sandoval, presidential adviser Jonathan del Rosario and Panameñista deputy Adolfo Valderrama.

Part of the official delegation were two young pople Deyra Caballero and Eloy Nunez, who after participating in a competition held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will attend as youth delegates to the session at the UN, which this year adopted the Sustainable Development Goals Post 2015.

Varela  will hold bilateral meetings with the heads of state of Israel, Jordan and the Netherlands.

He  will participate and speak at the UN Summit for the Adoption of a Post-2015 Development Agenda on Friday, September 25.

The president will also participate in the meeting of world leaders for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women: “A commitment to action” on September 27.

In addition, he will be part of the Summit of leaders of the fight against violent extremismof  ISIS on September 29.

On September 30, Varela will speak during the general debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

The president was invited by the Holy See, September 23, to give the opening address to in the World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia

In addition, he will attend the closing ceremony, the Mass led by Pope Francisco on  September 27.

During his visit to New York, Varela is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu; and will also  meet with King Abdullah of Jordan and Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Minister De La Guardia, will lead a meeting with US businessmen to promote investment in Panama.