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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

7 January 2021

 

PRESIDENT TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK

  • The President will hold a hybrid press conference next week, on Friday 15 January, at 11:00 a.m. in the press briefing room.
  • He will share his impressions of the main part of the General Assembly’s 75th session, which wrapped up on 31 December. And he will tell you about his priorities and what to expect during the resumed part of the session, which is currently underway.
  • He looks forward to seeing you all – whether that’s virtual or in person – and answering your questions.

PRESIDENT TO BRIEF ASSEMBLY ON 21 JAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL TO FOLLOW A WEEK LATER

  • In terms of important meetings that will be taking place in the General Assembly Hall this month, I’d like to flag the following.
  • On the morning of 21 January, the President will brief Member States about his priorities for the resumed part of the 75th session. That will be an informal meeting of the plenary.
  • Then on the morning of 27 January, the plenary will meet informally to hear a briefing on the priorities of the G-20. That will be done by the G-20 Sherpa of Italy, Ambassador Pietro Benassi.
  • Also on 27 January, at 3:00 p.m., there will be a joint briefing by the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.
  • And the following day, on 28 January at 10:00 a.m., there will be a formal plenary meeting to debate agenda item 115, which is entitled “Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization”. The Secretary-General has been invited to make a statement at that time on his priorities for 2021. The formal meeting will then be suspended and there will be an informal meeting to allow for a question and answer segment with the membership.

PRESIDENT SADDENED & CONCERNED BY DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON, DC

  • The President tweeted yesterday following yesterday’s events at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. He said he was saddened and concerned by those developments.
  • He added that the United States was one of the world’s major democracies. And he believed that peace and respect for democratic processes would prevail in the UN’s host country at this critical time.