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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

22 March 2021


[Due to scheduling issues, there was no live press briefing today. However, the following highlights provide information on the President’s latest activities and messages.]

PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN FIGHTING COVID-19 AS HIGH-LEVEL WATER MEETING WRAPS UP

  • In a video message to mark World Water Day, the President highlighted the importance of water in fighting COVID-19 – including through handwashing.
  • He also referred to the High-level Meeting on Water, which started last Thursday and is continuing today.
  • In his closing remarks to that meeting this afternoon, the President is expected to say that the meeting’s aim had been to demonstrate clear political support for the 2030 Agenda’s water-related goals and targets – and to highlight priority areas for accelerated action. On both fronts, the meeting has been a success.
  • 31 Ministers and 24 Permanent Representatives are slated to speak today. And the outcome will be a presidential summary, which will feed into the 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and the UN Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Water Action Decade.
  • Also on water, the President will virtually address an award ceremony this afternoon for the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water, which rewards water-related scientific innovation.

 

INCREASING DIGITIZATION RISKS ENTRENCHING INEQUALITIES

  • This morning, the President addressed by video the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, which was established in 2010 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)  and UNESCO.
  • In his remarks, he said increasing digitization risks entrenching inequalities. He noted that the poorest and most vulnerable in developed and developing countries alike, who are the hardest hit by COVID-19, are also the farthest behind in terms of digital access and opportunities.
  • He said that, to secure a digital future for all, policies must go beyond simply connecting more consumers from developing countries to the digital economy. They must also help build domestic capabilities.

 

PRESIDENT MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS

  • Yesterday was the International Day of Forests, which was proclaimedby the General Assembly in 2012 . The theme this year is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”.
  • In a video message to mark the day, the President said reforestation involves such components as rebuilding at-risk ecosystems, promoting clean air, addressing climate change, creating jobs and reclaiming a space for biodiversity to thrive.
  • He said, “By acting together, we can bring life back to our forests.”

 

NOWRUZ STRENGTHENS TIES AMONG PEOPLES

  • This afternoon, the President will deliver a video message to an event marking the International Day of Nowruz – which has been organized by the Permanent Missions of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
  • He will say that Nowruz is an excellent example of a cultural event that strengthens ties among peoples based on mutual respect, peace and good neighborliness.