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

GREECE: PRESIDENT ALARMED BY DEVASTATION FOLLOWING FIRES

• This morning on Twitter, the President said he was alarmed by the death and devastation caused by the fires in Greece.
• He said his thoughts are with the Greek Government and people during this difficult time.

ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON NUTRITION DECADE

• The General Assembly today adopted by consensus a resolution entitled “Implementation of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025)”.
• The resolution emphasizes the need to eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition worldwide.
• The draft was presented by Ecuador.

PRESIDENT LAJČÁK PAYS TRIBUTE TO PAST ASSEMBLY PRESIDENTS WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY

• The Assembly paid tribute today to two former Presidents of the General Assembly, who passed away recently.
• They were Dante Caputo of Argentina, who presided over the 43rd session in 1988, and Theo-Ben Gurirab of Namibia, who led the 54th session in 1999.
• In his remarks, President Lajčák noted his two predecessors’ “great contribution to our global endeavour to maintain peace, uphold human rights, [and] promote justice and social progress.”
• He added, “While we mourn their passing, we can preserve their legacy through our own actions and commitment to the cause of multilateralism and the United Nations.”
• The President’s statement was delivered by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, who serves as one of the General Assembly’s Vice Presidents.