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

AMBASSADORS SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF PRESIDENT’S “MORNING DIALOGUES” INITIATIVE

  • This morning the President held the 14th and final in his series of Morning Dialogues with United Nations ambassadors.
  • The topic this time was “Best practices and lessons learned – what we did, what we didn’t do and how to move forward”.
  • 29 Permanent Representatives participated. They were all co-facilitators of processes that had been mandated for this session.
  • The Morning Dialogues were an initiative by President Lajčák. He wanted to provide a platform for ambassadors to truly listen to each other and exchange views in a frank and constructive way.
  • Because ambassadors have expressed an interest to continue the practice in the General Assembly’s next session, the President-elect of the 73rd session was also invited to participate today.

 

MONDAY EVENT TO FEATURE PRESIDENT’S TEAM OF EXTERNAL ADVISORS

  • This Sunday, the President will hold his fourth and final meeting with his Team of External Advisors. The topics for discussion will include a reflection on the 72nd session, an independent report that has been prepared by the External Advisors and challenges ahead.
  • On Monday, 10 September, all are invited to a public event that the President’s office has organized together with the International Peace Institute (IPI). It will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the IPI offices at 777 United Nations Plaza.
  • There will be an interactive discussion with President Lajčák, his team of External Advisors and IPI President Terje Rød-Larsen under the topic: Broader Perspectives on the UN of Today and Tomorrow. Members of the Team will highlight ideas and recommendations that emerged from their discussions with the President throughout his term.
  • And the Team’s independent report will be distributed. It will contain their thoughts on the current state of multilateralism; peace and prevention; the work of the General Assembly; the Security Council; migration; and financing for development.

 

PRESIDENT MEETS HEAD OF NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION

  • The President met this morning with the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Lassina Zerbo.
  • They spoke about the urgency of having the CTBT enter into force and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

 

MANDELA SUMMIT: DRAFT POLITICAL DECLARATION NOW AVAILABLE

  • The first ever Nelson Mandela Peace Summit will be held on 24 September.
  • Member States are expected to adopt a political declaration.
  • That draft text is now available online And informal consultation to finalise it will be held this Monday afternoon.

 

KOFI ANNAN TRIBUTE TO BE HELD ON 21 SEPTEMBER

  • The President has informed Member States that a plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to pay tribute to Kofi Annan will take place on Friday, 21 September, at 10:15 a.m. in the General Assembly Hall.
  • In his letter, the President wrote: “As the United Nations family and the world mourn the passing of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who dedicated his life to this organization, we also remember him as a formidable diplomat and tireless advocate of peace and creating a better life for humanity.”
  • Immediately before the start of the formal plenary meeting, there will be a traditional Ghanaian cultural performance.
  • Asked whether the President planned to attend Mr. Annan’s state funeral in Ghana, the Spokesperson said that there were no such plans.

 

PRESIDENT NOT INVOLVED IN BELGRADE-PRISTINA DIALOGUE

  • Asked whether the President of the General Assembly was currently involved in the dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina, the Spokesperson said he was not.
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