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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

24 May 2018

The General Assembly plenary met this morning to discuss peacebuilding.
In his remarks, the President said the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission has become more flexible and adaptable, while the Peacebuilding Fund has been investing faster and farther.
He also noted that yesterday evening, the summary of his recent High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace was issued. That document captures the key recurring messages that emerged from the gathering.
This morning the plenary also appointed the members of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.

The President met yesterday evening with the Foreign Minister of Greece. They discussed the “name” issue involving Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as the role of the European Union at the United Nations.
Asked whether the President would also be meeting with the Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Spokesperson said that no such meeting had been requested or scheduled.

This afternoon, the President spoke at a reception to mark World Bee Day.
He said that, without bees, we would see devastating effects on food security, the environment and development.
Last year the Office of the President of the General Assembly joined with the Secretariat to install a hive here at the United Nations. It is made up of 3 colonies of rescued honey bees, which produce up to 250 pounds of honey per year.
Asked what happens to the honey, the Spokesperson said the original idea was for the honey to be sold with the proceeds given to a non-profit which supports sustainable apiaries in developing countries. Currently, however, the honey was not being sold but rather given out as gifts.
The Spokesperson added that the hives were currently maintained by the non-governmental organization Bees Without Borders and managed by the United Nations Office of Central Support Services.

Asked whether the President had any plans to visit the Middle East, including Israel and the State of Palestine, the Spokesperson noted that the President had made several visits to the Middle East’s Gulf region. There were currently no plans for him to visit Israel or the State of Palestine
The reporter then asked why the President was not planning to visit Israel and the State of Palestine, since it was “an area that needs his attention.” The Spokesperson responded that the President had been highlighting concerns and speaking out from New York about the situation there, including in Gaza. He had also chaired General Assembly meetings related to the Question of Palestine, including the Emergency Special Session last December.
Regarding why the President had not travelled to Israel or the State of Palestine, the Spokesperson noted that the President had only one year to fulfil his mandates. That is why all envisioned trips were carefully evaluated in advance — in order to see how his presence could add value. The Spokesperson said that, if and when there were requests from States for the President to visit, or there were reasons for him to travel, such matters were taken into consideration.