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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

20 April 2021

 

PRESIDENT SENDS CONDOLENCES TO CHADIAN PEOPLE FOLLOWING PASSING OF HEAD OF STATE

  • On Chad, the President tweeted this morning that he was sending his most sincere condolences to the Chadian people on the passing away of H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic, Head of State and Supreme Chief of the Armies, who had just been re-elected.
  • The President said he would soon convene a General Assembly meeting to pay tribute to Mr. Deby’s memory.
  • He also called Chad’s Ambassador to the UN this morning to express his condolences.

 

BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS NOT JUST AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE

  • This afternoon, the President will address the Like-Minded Group on Biodiversity, which brings together UN ambassadors.
  • He is expected to say that, if there is one lesson which COVID-19 has taught us, it is that the world is interconnected, and we cannot address environmental, social and economic issues in silos.
  • He will add that biodiversity loss is not just an environmental issue; it affects our health, wealth and resilience.

 

NEW PLEDGING MECHANISMS NEEDED TO INCREASE RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

  • Also this afternoon, the President will address the first virtual informal dialogue to explore alternatives to the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities.
  • This annual conference has been held since 1979, but there are concerns that its format is considered outdated.
  • The President is expected to say that new pledging mechanisms are needed if we want to increase resources for development activities in a predictable and continuous way. He’ll say this is particularly critical as we recover from COVID-19.

 

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MUST BE ENGAGED IN PANDEMIC RECOVERY-RELATED DECISION-MAKING

  • Yesterday afternoon, the President addressed the opening ceremony of the 20th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
  • He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly difficult for indigenous peoples who suffer from underlying health issues, poverty, and food insecurity, at rates disproportionately higher than the general population.
  • He warned that, if we fail to ensure vaccine access for indigenous communities, then we risk losing the elders who uphold traditions, cultures and languages.
  • Indigenous peoples must also be fully engaged in pandemic recovery-related decision-making processes, he said.

 

PRESIDENT DISCUSSES U.N. WORK WITH SECURITY COUNCIL COUNTERPART & SECRETARY-GENERAL

  • The President held his periodic coordination meeting yesterday afternoon with the Security Council President and the Secretary-General.
  • Among the topics discussed were the President’s recent travels, the upcoming work of the General Assembly and Security Council, business continuity at the UN, Syria and Myanmar.
  • Asked if a separate meeting would be held between just the Presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council, to discuss the Secretary-General selection and appointment process, the Spokesperson said that no such meeting was currently envisioned or planned.

 

ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER SYRIA REPORT & U.N.D.P. APPOINTMENT TOMORROW

  • Regarding General Assembly activities tomorrow, in the morning, the plenary will hold a debate related to Syria – specifically on the report of the IIIM.
  • That stands for the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011.
  • Also tomorrow morning, the plenary plans to take note of the Secretary-General’s request to the General Assembly to confirm his appointment of Achim Steiner of Germany as Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
  • This would be for a further four-year term of office, starting on 17 June 2021.