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

Good afternoon, everyone!  I hope you are well today. Before we start, I have to say welcome to Karina Muslimova, a new addition to our correspondent family here at the UN. She joins us with Sputnik, so welcome!

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS COMMITTEES REPORTS

The President of the General Assembly has started her day chairing the 64^th plenary meeting at the GA Hall. The meeting is considering draft resolutions and reports from several committees. The first item on the agenda was “General and complete disarmament – Item 101”. Member States took action on the draft resolution A/73/L.10 entitled: “Preservation of and compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty”. The draft resolution received 43 votes in favour, 46 against and 78 abstentions. After this action, the General Assembly is considering several other items in its morning session, and you can follow them at the UN Journal.

RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Ms. Espinosa will meet later today at her office with the Ambassadors of the Republic of Korea, and Antigua and Barbuda who are co-chairs of the Steering Committee on Accessibility. The PGA will discuss the work going forward. This meeting will follow up on the Launch of the Steering Committee in late November as part of the PGA’s Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. The Committee is open ended and on voluntary basis, composed of Member States, UN Secretariat and Civil Society Organizations, to promote Accessibility at the United Nations premises. 

PGA NOON BRIEFING TO RETURN ON 2 JANUARY

As you know, today is our last briefing for the year of 2018. We will resume our Noon Briefings on 2 January. I thank you for our work together since President María Fernanda Espinosa took office, in September.

Let me also take this opportunity to wish you very happy holidays. I am aware that this month of December is marking Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. I am not aware of any other holiday, but I wish you a very restful time. If there is any relevant news on the work of the PGA, we will update you on our website un.org/pga/73 or send an email.

And I look forward to meeting you all in the 2019. From all of us in the PGA’s Office, a very happy 2019!  May the New Year bring good news to us all.

Now I am happy to take your questions.

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