HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MIROSLAV LAJČÁK
PRESIDENT RETURNS FROM DAVOS, CHAIRS DIALOGUE FOR U.N. AMBASSADORS
The President returned to New York from Davos last night.
There, at the World Economic Forum, he participated in two panel discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals, and two on migration.
Back at Headquarters this morning, he chaired the fourth instalment in his series of Morning Dialogues for United Nations Permanent Representatives.The topic this time was “Coherence in the Work of the Main Committees.”
These off-the-record chats, which are an initiative of the President, aim to foster free exchanges of ideas. The 14 ambassadors that took part today all served as current or former Chairs of General Assembly Committees. They shared insights into how to update and enhance the Committees’ working methods – so that they are as efficient and effective as possible.
PRESIDENT TO APPEAL FOR OBSERVANCE OF OLYMPIC TRUCE
This afternoon at 3:00 in the General Assembly Hall, the plenary will be considering agenda item 11: “Sport for development and peace: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”.
In connection with that, the President will be making a solemn appeal for the observance of a truce during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
This is a tradition that Presidents of the General Assembly have practiced since 1994.
The President is expected to call upon all warring parties of current armed conflicts around the world to agree to ceasefires for the duration of the Olympic Truce.