NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
IMRF
The first International Migration Review Forum is now underway. It opened today with the Roundtables. Roundtable 1 is cochaired by Egypt and Germany. Roundtable 2 this afternoon, will be chaired by Tajikistan and Ecuador.
The roundtables are designed to review progress and challenges in the implementation of the 23 objectives of the Global Compact on Migration.
There are four roundtables in total – Roundtable 3 and 4 will be held tomorrow morning. And a policy debate will follow in the afternoon.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Related to the IMRF…
The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, will hold a press conference in this room as part of the noon briefing on Friday, 20 May.
This will be a joint press conference with IOM Director-General António Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, and Coordinator of the United Nations Network on Migration
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Turning to ECOSOC…
President Shahid highlighted the complementary work of the General Assembly and ECOSOC, at the operational activities segment of the Economic and Social Council.
He noted the interlinked nature of the 2030 Agenda, and urged all participants to ensure the UN development system is equipped to support Member States as they build back better from the pandemic and move forward in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for a more inclusive future, post-COVID-19.
UAE PRESIDENT
Two remembrances to highlight…
This Friday, in the morning, the General Assembly will pay tribute to the late President of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The tribute will be held at 9AM, immediately before the third plenary meeting of the International Migration Review Forum.
Also that day, the UN Flag will be lowered to half-mast at UN Headquarters here in New York as a mark of respect for the passing.
ALBRIGHT
Today, there is yet another tribute – this afternoon, the General Assembly Hall honors Madeleine K. Albright.
President Shahid will make remarks.
The tribute is hosted by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States to the United Nations.
HOPE FELLOWS
Turning to the HOPE Fellows…
They are in Bern, Switzerland.
They were hosted today Mr. Ignazio Cassis, President of the Swiss Confederation in Bern. The topics discussed included insights on Switzerland’s bid for non-permanent seat in the Security Council and the importance of accepting divergences and polarization in multilateralism.
The Fellows then went for a walk around Schwarzsee with Joseph Deiss, former President of the Swiss Confederation and former President of the General Assembly.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked about the Credential Committee. The Spokesperson said that there was nothing new to inform the journalists.
The Spokesperson was asked if President Shahid planned to visit the Middle East, and whether he was in touch with Palestinians. The Spokesperson said that OPGA was in touch with the Palestinian delegation in New York. On travels, there were no trips to the Middle East to announce.
