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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

23 November 2020

 

PRESIDENT TO BRIEF PRESS ON 1 DECEMBER ON SPECIAL SESSION ON COVID-19

  • The President has sent Member States the concept note and provisional programme for the General Assembly’s special session on COVID-19.
  • The first day, 3 December, will consist of an opening segment followed by a general debate, which will focus on Member States’ experiences in addressing the pandemic.
  • On 4 December, there will be an interactive dialogue featuring panel discussions on the UN system’s health and humanitarian response to date; the road to a COVID-19 vaccine; and the socio-economic impact and recovering better.
  • The President will hold a press conference on the special session on Tuesday, 1 December at 2pm.

PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CHIEF ON RE-ELECTION

  • This morning the General Assembly re-elected Filippo Grandi as UN High Commissioner for Refugees for a period of two and a half years, beginning on 1 January 2021 and ending on 30 June 2023. The President congratulated High Commissioner Grandi on his re-election.
  • This afternoon, there will be a debate in the plenary on cooperation between the UN and regional organizations. That will be followed by action on ten draft resolutions on this topic.
  • Asked why Mr. Grandi’s term was only being extended for two and a half years, the Spokesperson noted that, while the Secretary-General had intended to request the General Assembly to elect Mr. Grandi for a further term of five years, Mr. Grandi was agreeable, owing to personal reasons, to a shorter term of two and a half years.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSSES BUSINESS CONTINUITY DURING COVID-19

  • This afternoon, the President will convene an informal meeting on business continuity.
  • The idea is for delegations to be able to interact with different departments of the Secretariat and the Host Country and discuss how they can continue their work in the context of COVID-19.
  • The President is expected to note Member States’ strong interest in business continuity and their desire to see the General Assembly fully functioning at all times. He will pledge to continue working to ensure the implementation of all General Assembly mandates without interruption.
  • Expected speakers at today’s 3pm informal meeting include the Secretary-General and his Chef de Cabinet. Other Secretariat officials will be on hand to answer Member States’ questions.