NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Starting with the General Assembly Hall. Elections for the one remaining ECOSOC seat resumed this morning. There were a number of rounds.
General Assembly Vice-President Pedro Comissário Afonso, Permanent Representative of Mozambique, presided over today’s session.
No Member State received the required 2/3 majority. Ballots will resume at a date yet to be announced.
PRESIDENT SHAHID
The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, is now enroute to the Dominican Republic for an official visit at the invitation of the Government.
His official program starts tomorrow. Among his activities, the President will attend a High-level Event on Sustainable Tourism and Economic Recovery at the National Palace, hosted by President Luis Abinader.
This event follows the high-level event on sustainable tourism held at the UN General Assembly here in New York on 4 May.
Costs associated with the visit are funded by the Government and the OPGA Trust Fund.
EXTREME WEATHER
Turning to climate change… We are seeing extreme weather events all over the world. This week alone, depending which region – there are unprecedented flooding due to rain and melting snow. Heat waves and forest fires. Recording breaking freeze.
Taking care of the planet is one of the five priorities of the Presidency of Hope.
In this context, a reminder that President Shahid will host a Moment for Nature on 19 July, to review the science on climate change, the environment and biodiversity, and bring together the international community to see what has worked and remedy what hasn’t.
I don’t have a concept note for you, yet. I have been asked, but hope to have something for you in the next week or two.
NEXT WEEK
And speaking of next week. I will be out tomorrow so here is a look of what is coming up.
Monday at 10AM ET will be the informal high-level meeting to mark the commemoration of the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech. This will be held in the General Assembly Hall. President Shahid will preside over the Assembly, and will have remarks.
On Tuesday at 3PM, the focus will be on the Inter-Parliamentary Union. There will be discussions on the Secretary-General’s report and action on a draft resolution. President Shahid will have remarks.
This Wednesday, 22 June, there will be an informal briefing on the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on torture-free trade. This will be held in the Trusteeship.
And Thursday, 23 June, staring at 10AM, there will be the debate on the responsibility to protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This is organized with Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Wairumi Nderitu.
And then looking to the week after…
The Ocean Conference will be held in Lisbon, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal. President Shahid will participate. That’s from 27 June to 1 July.
And there will be two-day plenary meeting on 30 June and 1 July, here in New York, on improving global road safety. You will have a media advisory next week with the details. President Shahid will participate, as well.
QUESTIONS
There were no questions for the Spokesperson.
