NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York

Friday, 7 October 2022

 

PAKISTAN

 

The General Assembly this morning adopted by consensus a resolution in support of the people and Government of Pakistan, in the wake of the devastating floods.

The resolution is A/RES/77/1. This is the first resolution of the 77th session.

It had 151 co-sponsors.

The resolution calls upon the international community to scale up its humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation of Pakistan.

In his remarks before action was taken on the resolution, President Csaba Kőrösi said that “Pakistan has come to this General Assembly in a show of great confidence in this Organization.

I commend their leadership for putting forward a proposal that seeks solutions through solidarity.”

 

The full remarks are in your inboxes and online: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2022/10/07/pga-address-at-the-general-assembly-meeting-to-take-action-on-a-draft-resolution-related-to-flooding-in-pakistan/

 

NEXT WEEK

 

Looking to next week…

 

Starting with Monday, 10 October.

The 16th plenary will begin at 10:30AM – not at the usual 10 o’clock time.

The plenary includes a number of development items, including on the outcome of the Millennium Summit.

 

In the afternoon, the Emergency Special Session will be reconvened at 3PM ET.

The item includes a debate and action on a draft resolution.

We expect that – based on the list of speakers – the Emergency Special Session will go past Monday. But I don’t have another date or time to announce to you.

 

On Tuesday morning will be the elections for the Human Rights Council.

There are 14 vacant seats and 17 candidates.

The two groups that are contested are the Asia-Pacific States and the Latin American and Caribbean States.

As is the norm, these elections will be held by secret ballot. And depending on the rounds needed, to get an absolute majority, it might go in the afternoon.

 

QUESTIONS

 

The Spokesperson was asked about any guidance from the Office of Legal Affairs on the letter from the Russian Federation. The Spokesperson read out the following:

  • I understand that the Russian Federation circulated a communication to Member States in which it has referenced a published opinion of the Office of Legal Affairs dated 2 December 1977 contained in the 1977 UN Juridical Yearbook.
  • The opinion discusses the possibility of taking a decision by a secret ballot on matters other than elections and notes that this is a matter for the General Assembly and its Member States.

 

The Spokesperson was asked if a procedural vote was taken, on Russia’s request, how many votes would be required. The Spokesperson said procedural votes require a simple majority.

 

The Spokesperson was asked in the chat when would a procedural vote take place. The Spokesperson answered that typically, procedural votes take place at the start of action on a draft resolution.