PRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA

Thank you, Stephane!
Good afternoon, everyone!
Hope you are well today?

IPCC REPORT – INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE

I start with a statement by the President of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report importantly demonstrates that it is possible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade as long as we are able to work quickly and collectively: we need global leadership and shared responsibilities. We must take action.”

This morning, she spoke at the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. She congratulated the Ambassador of Romania, His Excellency, Mr. Ion Jinga, for chairing the work of the First Committee. She mentioned three points that are pertinent to our efforts toward disarmament and international security. First, we must build on the strong commitments world leaders made in the General Assembly two weeks ago. The second point relates to the need to encourage countries to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in 2017.
Third, we must Strengthen Inclusion as a means to Promote International Peace and Security.

And in a Tweet, President Espinosa highlighted the importance of involving women and young people in the prevention of conflicts.  Later this afternoon Ms. Espinosa will make statements to the Fourth and Sixth Committees.

AGENDA

The President will meet the Permanent Representative of Norway, His Excellency Ambassador Tore Hattrem, and the Ambassador of Chile, His Excellency, Milenko Skoknic.

On the agenda, I would like to flag that the meetings can change at last minute.

On the interviews side, we do not have any interviews happening today.

This is all from me.

Following questions on violence against journalists:

JAMAL KHASHOGGI

The President of the General Assembly is very concerned about the disappearance of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. We understand this is now under investigation. President reiterates the importance of press freedom and the need for journalists to operate in a free environment and to be able exercise their profession in a safe manner.

VIKTORIA MARINOVA

Ms. Espinosa condemns the killing of journalist Viktoria Marinova and reiterates the importance of press freedom and the need for journalists to operate in a free environment and to be able exercise their profession in a safe manner. She has noted some reports on sexual violence. She has made clear that there is zero tolerance to sexual aggression and violence.