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

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DESERVE ACTION, NOT JUST WORDS

• This morning, the President of the General Assembly addressed the opening ceremony of the 17th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
• He said, “Our resolutions, and our speeches, can make it seem like everything is perfect. They emphasise the rights of indigenous peoples. They recognise the value of indigenous culture and heritage. And, they encourage greater integration – and participation – of indigenous peoples in the decisions that affect them.
• “But, everything is not perfect. The reality for indigenous peoples is very different to how it sounds on paper. None of our resolutions talk about their desperation. None of our speeches can give credit to their pain.”
• He added, “They deserve more than our words. Words cannot protect their ancestral lands. Words cannot keep their lakes clean. And words cannot make sure there is a future ahead, for their children.”
• “And so,” he concluded, “I hope we can have a Permanent Forum, which goes beyond words. And, a Permanent Forum, which focuses – not on politics or positions – but on people.”

PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS OCEANS AT MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY MEETING

• Also this morning, the President delivered remarks at an organizational meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).
• The President said,” We do not have other oceans we can use, when our current ones are depleted. That is why we need to act now.”
• In today’s meeting, Ms. Rena Lee of Singapore was formally elected to preside over the BBNJ process. The President had nominated her earlier this year.
• This organizational meeting will last until Wednesday. The first substantive meeting will be held in September.

U.N. HAS NEVER BEEN MORE AT RISK

• Right now, the President is speaking at an event called “UN 2.0: Past, Present & Future of the United Nations”. It has been organized by the European-American Chamber of Commerce.
• He is making the point that we have never needed the United Nations more. And yet, the United Nations has never been more at risk.

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH CHAIRS OF REGIONAL GROUPS

• The President will be meeting with the Chairs of the Regional Groups this afternoon. Those are the representatives from Iceland, Mali, Montenegro, Republic of Korea and Suriname.
• They will be speaking about the President’s upcoming events.

PRESIDENT DEVASTATED BY MURDER OF SLOVAK JOURNALIST LAST FEBRUARY

• Asked for the President’s reaction to developments related to the killing of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak last February, the Spokesperson said the President strongly believed in the freedom of the press and the right of journalists to be able to work in safe and secure environments.
• In that regard, the President had been devastated by the brutal murder of Mr. Kuciak and his partner.