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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

28 September 2020

 

FIRST EVER U.N BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY

  • The President will convene the UN’s first ever Biodiversity Summit this Wednesday, 30 September.
  • Speaking virtually, over 100 world leaders will aim to mobilize concrete action to stem the decline of the planet’s biodiversity, which has seen a 68% loss of vertebrates since 1970. The goal is to build political momentum for the Convention on Biodiversity’s Conference of the Parties (COP15), in Kunming, China in 2021. There, world leaders will agree to an ambitious plan of action on biodiversity.
  • According to the President, “Kunming needs to turn biodiversity into a household concern and political issue. Everyone must realize the risks of inaction.”
  • The President’s office had just issued a joint press release on this – together with the UN Development Programme, the Convention on Biological Diversity, UN Environment and the Department of Global Communications.
  • And on the Summit, the final speakers list is expected to be done by this evening. That will be posted on the President’s web site in the ‘letters’ section.

PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ACTION TO PREVENT BIODIVERSITY LOSS

  • This morning, the President virtually addressed an event highlighting the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, which commits to urgent actions to address biodiversity loss. This event is being held ahead of the first ever UN Summit on Biodiversity, over which the President will preside.
  • In his remarks, the President said that, as an international community, we have not lived up to our ideals or commitments on biodiversity.
  • He added that words and good intentions will not clean the oceans, save elephants, or prevent deforestation. Only our actions can do that.

PRESIDENT DISCUSSES POVERTY ERADICATION WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER

  • The President had a phone call yesterday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
  • They discussed how to strengthen multilateralism and global cooperation related to COVID-19, and the importance of poverty eradication to achieving the 2030 Agenda.

PRESIDENT MEETS VIRTUALLY WITH ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER & SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER

  • This morning, the President met virtually with Slovakia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, H.E. Mr. Ivan Korčok.
  • They discussed the effects of COVID-19 on the overall work of the United Nations. They also agreed on the importance of renewing collective commitment to multilateralism.
  • Shortly, the President will be holding a virtual bilateral with the President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of Italy, Giuseppe Conte. After the meeting ends, a readout will be posted here.

GENERAL DEBATE TO WRAP UP TOMORROW

  • Tomorrow – Tuesday 29 September – will be the last day of the General Debate.
  • There are 27 speakers currently scheduled for tomorrow. As of now, no delegations have asked to deliver any rights of reply.
  • The President will deliver a closing statement at the end of the proceedings tomorrow – at around 5:00 p.m.
  • Before concluding, the Spokesperson noted that he would not be briefing tomorrow, as there would be no formal noon briefing. His briefings would resume on Wednesday.
  • Asked to clarify what he had said about rights of reply, the Spokesperson explained that, as of now, no delegations had asked to deliver any rights of reply orally on Wednesday. He noted that the President’s office had received a request from China last week to circulate a right of reply as a General Assembly document – in writing. The President’s office had asked China to send this request to the Secretary-General as per procedures. The Spokesperson also noted that the General Assembly’s practice was that rights of reply to Heads of State were not exercised orally but rather in writing.
  • In response to further questions from the journalist after the briefing, the Spokesperson noted that, at the 2377th meeting of the thirtieth session of the Assembly, in 1975, the President at the time had indicated that he did not consider it appropriate for oral rights of reply to be exercised in relation to addresses made by Heads of State. He further indicated that he would see no objection to observations in the nature of rights of reply to such addresses when made in writing. This has become a practice of the Assembly.