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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

22 November 2017

The President of the General Assembly is convinced that justice has been served, following the conviction of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladić on multiple counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
The President said, “This is proof that one can delay justice but not escape it.” He added that the verdict sends a very important message to the mothers of Srebrenica and others who suffered at the hands of Mr. Mladić.
President Lajčák served as the High Representative of the International Community and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2007 to 2009. In that capacity, he visited Srebrenica several times and met with the families of the victims.
He said, “I have personally witnessed and felt the despair in Srebrenica. I hope this ruling will help lift the anguish and impart some sense of justice.”
He added, “Mr. Mladić personified the horrific nature of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the validity of this decision cannot be questioned by anyone.”

The Third Committee – or Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee – wrapped up its work at around 5:30 p.m. yesterday.
That was a day earlier than in past years – and in keeping with the Chair’s goal to work as efficiently as possible this session.
The Committee adopted a total of 62 draft resolutions and one draft decision. They will now go to the General Assembly plenary for consideration in mid-December.

The President will travel to Vienna on 27 November, to visit the United Nations Office at Vienna. He will also deliver opening remarks at the 17th Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The conference’s theme this year is: “Partnering for Impact – Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”.
In Vienna, the President will hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with the Federal President of Austria; the President of the Swiss Confederation; the President of Croatia; the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The President will then head to Geneva to address the 108th Session of the Council of the International Organization for Migration on 28 November.
The President will return to New York that same day and be back in the office on 29 November.

Asked for the President’s reaction to United Nations accreditation policies that excluded journalists from non-Member States, the Spokesperson said the President supported full transparency in general and wanted journalists to be able to cover the General Assembly and communicate its messages to the outside world.
However, regarding procedural matters having to do with media accreditation, the Spokesperson deferred to the United Nations Department of Public Information, which handled such issues at the United Nations.