PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

United Nations Headquarters, New York

21 September 2020

 

PRESIDENT KICKS OFF HIGH-LEVEL PERIOD WITH 75TH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVANCE, SAYS MULTILAERALISM NOT AN OPTION BUT A NECESSITY

  • The General Assembly’s high-level period kicked off today with the high-level meeting to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations.
  • The President opened the meeting, which is expected to last until 9:00 this evening.
  • In his remarks, the President said, “Multilateralism is not an option but a necessity as we build back better and greener for a more equal, more resilient, and more sustainable world. The United Nations must be at the center of our efforts.”
  • He said an upgraded UN must respond to new challenges and changes to stay relevant and effective. It must be inclusive and consult widely with all relevant stakeholders.
  • Calling for support for the UN to evolve into a more agile, effective and accountable organization, he said, “The United Nations is only as strong as its members’ commitment to its ideals and each other.”
  • Addressing Member States, he said, “It is now time to mobilize your resources, strengthen your efforts and show unprecedented political will and leadership, to ensure the future we want, and the United Nations we need. The time for action is now.”

 

WORLD LEADERS LAUD U.N.’S LEGITIMACY & IMPACT IN 75TH ANNIVERSARY DECLARATION

  • This morning the General Assembly adopted by consensus a declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations.
  • According to the text, Heads of State and Government representing the peoples of the world said, “There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations.
  • “No other global organization gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want. The urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater.”
  • The declaration also states: “Our world is not yet the world that our founders envisaged 75 years ago. It is plagued by growing inequality, poverty, hunger, armed conflicts, terrorism, insecurity, climate change and pandemics. Our challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism.”

 

GENERAL DEBATE LAUNCHES TOMORROW

  • The General Debate will start tomorrow morning.
  • At 9:00, the Secretary-General will present his annual report on the work of the Organization. After that, the President will speak and open the General Debate. Proceedings can be followed at webtv.un.org, and the public can get speakers list updates online via the UN Journal.
  • The Spokesperson said that he would not be briefing on 22 or 23 September – to allow journalists to focus on the General Debate. The President’s opening statement would be circulated by email and posted online.
  • Asked for other resources to get statements and updated speakers lists, the Spokesperson noted an additional web site, which could be helpful.
  • Asked if statements and video messages could be shared in advance with journalists, the Spokesperson said that those materials did not go through the President’s office but rather the UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM). In that regard, he referred the journalist to the Secretariat’s spokespeople.