UNITAR Gives an Orientation Briefing to the New Delegates of the Omani Diplomats Prior to the 73^rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly

5 September 2018, New York, USA - The Head of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office, Mr. Marco Suazo, met with the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations at the Mission’s New York Office, to give an orientation briefing to the new delegates of the Omani Diplomats attending the 73^rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In the past the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Oman is a part of, and UNITAR have had relations, which the Permanent Representative to the Mission the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Mr. Khalif Ali Issa Al Harthy, said the Mission has benefited from. The Ambassador’s aim is to revitalize the relationship between the Mission and UNITAR.

Delegates of various committees in the Mission were present to gain the experience from UNITAR Head of Office Mr. Suazo and former Senior Political and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Affairs Branch of the UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) Mr. Otto Gustafik. Together, Mr. Suazo and Mr. Gustafik informed the Ambassador and the delegates of what to expect at the upcoming 73^rd Session of the General Assembly, how to prepare themselves for the debates, and how to conduct themselves as representatives of Oman. Mr. Gustafik, an expert on the Second and Third Committees, spoke to the delegates in great detail on the deep intricacies of the mechanisms and processes during the debates, drawing on his experiences during his time at the United Nations. 

At the end of the meeting, the delegates from the Mission of the Sultanate of Oman were given resources from UNITAR: a poster depicting the United Nations System, a booklet and DVD on The Story of Human Rights, and a guide to access the United Nations mobile app. This session and the revitalization of the relationship between UNITAR and the Permanent Mission to the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations will hopefully give the delegates of Oman some additional tools to help them in the upcoming 73^rd Session of the General Assembly.

Photo 1: UNITAR New York Head of Office Mr. Marco Suazo, and Permanent Representative to the Mission the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Mr. Khalifa Ali Issa Al Harthy, opening the orientation.

Photo 2: Mr. Otto Gustafik speaking to the new delegates to the Permanent Mission of the Mission of the Sultanate of Oman.