Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
How are you today?
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT FOR 74th SESSION, WHICH WILL START IN SEPTEMBER
This morning, the General Assembly has elected H.E. Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande the next President of the GA.
Mr. Muhammad-Bande, the current Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nations, was elected by acclamation. He will preside over the 74th Session of the General Assembly, which starts in September and lasts for a year until 2020.
Following his election as the PGA for the 74th Session, Member States also chose the 21 Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly for the next period and the chairpersons for five main committees and the bureau members for the next session.
The Republic of Ghana won the drawing of lots by the Secretary-General, António Guterres, to determine the Member State which will occupy the first seat in the GA at the next session.
In her remarks, after the election of Ambassador Muhammad-Bande, the President of the General Assembly, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, congratulated the PGA-elect and said that he is “well-seasoned to provide the strong and creative leadership” which the Assembly requires for a world in rapid change.
Ms. Espinosa also said that his presidency comes at a very critical moment for the United Nations and multilateralism.
PGA-ELECT TIJJANI MUHAMMAD-BANDE WILL SPEAK TO THE PRESS AT 3 PM. TODAY
As announced yesterday, the PGA-elect, Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, will speak to UN correspondents at 3 pm. today during a stakeout in front of the General Assembly Hall at the East Foyer.
UN Web TV will broadcast it live and all UN-accredited correspondents are invited to be there.
The President-elect will deliver short opening remarks and take your questions.
AS UNHQ STARTS TO PHASE-OUT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, PGA THANKS SG AND STAFF FOR SUPPORT TO GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION
President Espinosa has thanked the Secretary-General, António Guterres, his Management Team and all UN Staff for the strong support given to her global campaign against single-use plastics.
This week, the UN Headquarters is starting to phase-out all single-use plastics from its premises as part of its strong commitment to tackle plastic pollution.
Ms. Espinosa said she is grateful to all those who made the extra mile to turn the tide on plastic pollution and save our oceans including Member States, UN agencies, civil society, the creative community, representatives of the media and individuals across the globe who are signing up and taking action.
On Saturday, the PGA joined the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, and Norway, in Antigua for the PlayitOut concert to beat plastic pollution.
More information on our website www.un.org/pga/73/playitout
PGA AND OSCAR-WINNING ACTRESS WHOOPI GOLDBERG TO UNVEIL NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL PHOTO EXHIBITION ON PLASTIC POLLUTION
Later today a 6 pm. the PGA will join Oscar-winner actress Whoopi Goldberg to unveil a photo exhibition by National Geographic at the UN Visitors Centre Hall.
The UN will be the first stop on a global tour for the ‘Planet or Plastic?’ photo exhibition.
Ms. Espinosa and Ms. Goldberg will be joined by the Permanent Representative of Monaco, H.E. Ms. Isabelle Picco and the National Geographic Society’s Chief of Content, Communications and Public Affairs, Ms. Kalee Kreider.
This exhibition, a partnership between National Geographic and the Office of the President of the General Assembly, is supported with funding from the Government of Monaco, and will effectively ‘tell the story of plastics’.
As you know, we will be back here on Thursday. Tomorrow is a holiday in the UN. Happy Eid to all of those who are celebrating it.
This is all from us. Do you have any questions?
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