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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

6 November 2020

PRESIDENT HOLDS INFORMAL MORNING DIALOGUE WITH U.N. AMBASSADORS

  • This morning the President held his first Morning Dialogue with UN Permanent Representatives. This practice started in the General Assembly’s 72nd session.
  • The Morning Dialogues are meant to provide a space for frank and informal exchanges on items on the UN’s agenda.
  • Today’s topic was “Action for the Most Vulnerable”. Eleven UN ambassadors participated.

HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS CAN HELP REDUCE RISK OF WAR

  • Today is the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. It was declared by the General Assembly in 2001.
  • In a tweet, the President said that healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed resources can help reduce the risk of armed conflict and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • He added, “We must protect natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems.”

PRESIDENT LAUDS U.N. TECHNOLOGY BANK FOR HELPING LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

  • The President met virtually this morning with the Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
  • He commended the Bank for taking swift action to help LDCs in the areas of science, technology and innovation, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

WORLD COURT ELECTIONS TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK

  • The General Assembly and the Security Council are scheduled to simultaneously hold elections for five members of the International Court of Justice on the afternoon of Wednesday, 11 November.
  • There are eight candidates running for five vacant seats. They are nationals of: China; Croatia; Germany; Japan; Nigeria; Rwanda; Slovakia; and Uganda.
  • They are not nominated by individual Member States – and serve in their personal capacities as independent judges.