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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

27 October 2020

 

IN-PERSON COMMITTEE MEETINGS CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 INFECTIONS

  • The President wrote to Member States yesterday evening to inform them that, following information from the Secretariat regarding five COVID-19 infections at a Mission of a Member State, the advice of the Medical Unit was to cancel in-person meetings at UN Headquarters today, pending contact tracing.
  • Thus, after consulting the Main Committee Chairs, and to safeguard public health, all in-person meetings of the Main Committees of the General Assembly are cancelled today.
  • Regarding the General Assembly plenary, there were no meetings planned for today. Thus, the plenary was not affected.
  • The First Committee, which covers disarmament, was supposed to start voting today – in person. The Fourth Committee – or Special Political & Decolonization Committee – also had an in-person meeting planned. Those two committees have therefore postponed their work for today.
  • The Second Committee, which handles economic and financial matters, was planning to hold virtual negotiations today. And the Third Committee, which covers social, humanitarian and cultural issues, was planning to hold virtual interactive dialogues.
    The Fifth Committee, which handles budgetary matters, was also planning to meet virtually today. So, the work of those three committees will proceed online, as originally planned.
  • The Sixth Committee – or Legal Committee – was supposed to meet this morning for a debate and also hold virtual negotiations. The in-person debate was postponed, but the virtual negotiations will proceed as planned.
  • Asked if he agreed with the Secretary-General’s spokesperson that the cancellation of in-person meetings would be extended for several days, the Spokesperson said he could not confirm that. Currently, the President was awaiting a letter from the Secretariat containing medical guidance. Based on that, he would make a decision related to meetings of the General Assembly and its Main Committees.
  • Asked about the timeframe for contact tracing, the Spokesperson said the President expected that to be done quickly and efficiently. But it was a matter for the Secretariat’s medical unit. The President’s office was therefore waiting for them to revert with their findings.
  • Asked who was recording information on which people attended which meetings, the Spokesperson said that was also a matter for the Secretariat. He added that the President took decisions based on guidance and advice from the Secretariat.

PRESIDENT CALLS FOR FAIR & EQUITABLE ACCESS TO VACCINES AT UN75 EVENT

  • The President addressed a panel discussion this morning entitled: “UN Day 2020: An inclusive dialogue on the world we need.” That was co-organized by the UN75 Campaign Team and the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments.
  • In his remarks, the President said that, as the UN75 survey pointed out, the ongoing pandemic and its related socio-economic impacts remain primary concerns for the international community. And the world expects the UN to step up and help meet these challenges.
  • He added that we must work with Governments to strengthen healthcare systems; and we must advocate for fair and equitable access to vaccines – if and when they become available.

PRESIDENT SUPPORTS OBJECTIVE OF NUCLEAR WEAPON-FREE WORLD

  • Asked whether it was possible for Member States to withdraw their ratifications from the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), if they were under pressure to do so from other Member States, the Spokesperson referred the journalist to the Secretariat and its legal affairs officers.
  • From the President’s side, the TPNW represented a significant step, and in general, he supported the objective of a nuclear weapon-free world.
  • Asked why any countries would want to pressure others to withdraw, the Spokesperson said the journalist would have to follow up with those countries, as he only spoke for the President of the General Assembly.

DRAFT RESOLUTION ON COVID-19 SPECIAL SESSION STILL UNDER SILENCE

  • Responding to a question about the silence procedure for the draft resolution related to the General Assembly special session on COVID-19, the Spokesperson noted that the draft was still currently under silence and would be so until this evening.