PRESS BRIEFING BY AMY QUANTRILL, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

United Nations Headquarters, New York

9 April 2021

 

PRESIDENT TRIP TO TURKEY QATAR & AZERBAIJAN

  • The President of the General Assembly is currently on first official trip of the session.
  • The President is traveled to Azerbaijan where he was received by His Excellency, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Presidents discussed COVID-19, including vaccines and efforts to counter the pandemic’s impacts; regional developments; and the work of the General Assembly. They also exchanged views on how multilateralism can solve global problems. ‪The PGA recognized Azerbaijan’s role in chairing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and proposing the General Assembly’s special session on COVID-19, which he had convened last December.
  • The President also met with H.E. Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister for Foreign Affairs and discussed regional dynamics and the value of multilateralism and diplomacy. They also spoke about the effects of COVID-19 and the President’s priorities for the 75th session of the General Assembly.
  • While in Baku, the President also met with H.E. Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, Chair of the Parliament and participated in wreath-laying ceremonies in the Alley of Honor and the Alley of Martyrs. Before his departure, the President met with the United Nations Country Team, led by Resident Coordinator Ghulam M. Isaczai.
  • The President has now departed Baku‪ for Turkey.

 

INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE PERMANENT FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT

  • The President’s Chef de Cabinet delivered remarks on the President’s behalf at the informal consultations on the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. She urged all Member States to prioritize this process, and engage constructively, and with purpose, in order to determine the modalities, format, and substantive and procedural aspects of the Permanent Forum.

 

When asked if the President of the General Assembly had expressed any view on the public remarks of the President of Turkey and the Italian Prime Minister, the Deputy Spokesperson said he had not. The Deputy Spokesperson confirmed there was one candidate in the selection process of the Secretary-General and said the President was due to meet the current President of the Security Council, Vietnam, this month.