HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MIROSLAV LAJČÁK

United Nations Headquarters, New York

18 September 2017

 

HURRICANE IRMA SURVIVORS LOOK TO GLOBAL FAMILY TO STAND WITH THEM ON PATH TO RECOVERY, PRESIDENT SAYS

  • The President of the General Assembly today opened a high-level meeting on Hurricane Irma at United Nations Headquarters.
  • He said, “Damage to property is extensive [and] the toll on people’s lives is almost immeasurable.” He also highlighted “the importance of adaptation and resilience to climate change and further strengthening mitigation efforts, through the implementation of the Paris Agreement.”
  • He emphasised that “those affected by catastrophe look to the global family to stand with them on their path to recovery”
  • In addition to the President and the United Nations Secretary-General, the event also featured remarks by: the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Errey Lawrence Williams; E. Mr. Danilo Medina Sánchez, President of the Dominican Republic; H.E. Mr. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba; Mr. Mark Lowcock, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; H.E. Mr. Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas; and H.E. Mr. Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
  • Also: Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator; H.E. Mr. Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for International Development and Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom; H.E. Mr.  Nicolas Hulot, Minister for an Ecological and Inclusive Transition of France; H.E. Ms. Michele Sison, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations; Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association, World Bank; and Mr. Robert de Niro.
  • Asked for the President’s reaction to comments by an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official, in which the official allegedly said that the IMF would not be open to instituting a debt moratorium for hurricane-hit Antigua and Barbuda, the Spokesperson replied that the President would not want to second-guess the comments of an IMF official in an area of the IMF’s expertise. The Spokesperson reiterated that the President was committed to the recovery of Antigua and Barbuda, which is why he had convened the high-level meeting on Hurricane Irma and invited the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to speak there.

 

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH CZECH PRESIDENT, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, O.E.C.D. CHIEF

  • This morning, the President spoke at a high-level event on the Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Technology. He also visited the VIP Social Media Zone in the United Nations Visitors Lobby, where he spoke to representatives of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Weibo.
  • He also met with H.E. Mr. Angel Gurría, the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They discussed migration, sustainable development, water-related issues and climate change. The President highlighted the need for an evidence-based discussion on migration and acknowledged the work of the OECD in monitoring migration trends. The President and the Secretary-General also discussed the importance of private sector partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the launch of the International Decade for Action on “Water for Sustainable Development”.
  • The President also met today with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. They discussed United Nations-China relations, the Sustainable Development Goals, sustaining peace, migration and United Nations reform. The President thanked the Minister for China’s strong support for his work and expressed his hope that China would play an even greater leadership role in international peace and development.
  • This afternoon he is scheduled to deliver opening remarks to the World Economic Forum and meet with the President of the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Milos Zeman. He will also speak at the United Nations Secretary-General’s high-level meeting on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
  • This evening, he will speak at a high-level side event on water, peace and security – at the invitation of the Swiss Foreign Ministry.

 

U.N. REFORM REMAINS A PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITY

  • Asked whether the President had been expecting an invitation to United States President Donald Trump’s meeting today on United Nations reform, the Spokesperson noted that this was an event hosted by the United States, and it was up to them to decide who to invite.
  • The issue of United Nations reform remained important to the President of the General Assembly and one of his priorities, so he would be looking with interest toward any outcomes from today’s meeting.

 

NO NEW AGENDA ITEM EXPECTED ON MYANMAR

  • Asked whether there was a possibility of Myanmar appearing on the agenda of the 72nd session of the General Assembly, the Spokesperson said that the President was in touch with the Secretary-General on Myanmar and was aware that the Security Council was engaged on that matter as well.
  • Although the President was monitoring the situation closely and did not want the human tragedy to escalate, there were currently no immediate plans for any meeting or new agenda item on Myanmar. Regardless, the agenda for the 72nd session had already been adopted last week.