Andorra's Espot Strengthens Ties at UNGA with New Diplomatic Deals and Climate Talks

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, participated on Tuesday in the opening day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he deposited instruments ratifying Andorra's accession to two protocols supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: one addressing migrant smuggling and the other illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms.

Espot held a bilateral meeting with the assembly president, Khalilur Rahman, exchanging views on multilateralism, gender equality, youth participation in decision-making, and protections for mountain regions affected by climate change. Rahman is presiding over the session, themed "Restoring trust and managing transformation for the United Nations to deliver results for all."

During the day, Espot attended the welcome reception for heads of state and government, UN Secretary-General António Guterres's annual report, and the start of the General Debate. His agenda featured a CEAPI working lunch with Ibero-American business and institutional leaders to promote Andorra's opportunities in economic diversification, digital transformation, and trade. He also joined a high-level event co-chaired by France, Spain, Kenya, and Australia on safeguarding children's rights amid artificial intelligence advances, with input from UN agencies, the private sector, and civil society. Espot is scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday afternoon, September 23, in the 15th slot of the evening session.

Foreign Minister Imma Tor attended a high-level event hosted by Ireland's UN mission and the Malala Fund on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, restating Andorra's support for women's rights and calling for ongoing global attention. She held bilateral talks with Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Tor formalized diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Zambia, Eritrea, and Guyana. Her discussion with Guyana's Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd explored cooperation in sustainable tourism. She met Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos to express gratitude for support during Cyprus's EU Council presidency on Andorra's association agreement and ahead of a gathering of Europe's small states. Tor also met Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and attended the Council of Europe's new New York office opening.