NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
INDIA
President Csaba Kőrösi spent today in Bengaluru, India.
The President interacted with national scientists and academics at the Indian Institute of Science.
He visited a water project site.
This is video that we just received from the visit.
[Spokesperson played video of the President visiting a water site. The Spokesperson summarized that the water behind the President was treated waste water. Four years ago, the area was a wasteland. The treated water is now distributed to local farmers. Agriculture in the area has increase five or six-fold. The coconut that the President is holding is one of the foods grown with the treated water. This is transformation, the President says in the video. And a project that he would like to see replicated.]
You can see and hear this video on the President’s social media channels shortly.
The President also visited Anganwadi. Which is a rural childcare center in Karnataka.
He applauded the efforts of the community, the local government and UNICEF India for providing essential services and supporting mothers and children.
Related tweet: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1620451284880076801
The President also visited the Primary Healthcare Center in Kannur, Karnataka. He saw
Related tweet: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1620471217319972864
The President will wrap up his visit to India this evening.
CHINA
The President will head to China from 1 February until 4 February, where his focus will again be on sustainable development and water management.
He will have a number of high-level meeting with Government officials.
He will also conduct several field visits.
Among the locations is the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, and the China Institute for Water Resources and Hydropower Research.
The President will also interact with water scientists.
I hope to share a detailed media advisory later today.
SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM
Turning to the UN Headquarters …
I wanted to update you about the Intergovernmental Negotiations, which is the Security Council reform process.
President Kőrösi has appointed Ambassador Alexander Marschik, the Permanent Representative of Austria, to join Ambassador Tareq A. M. Albanai, the Permanent Representative of Kuwait, as the cho-chair of this process.
As you know the process so far during the 77th session has been led by Ambassador Albanai and by Ambassador Michael Mlynar, the Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic.
Ambassador Mlynar has stepped down. He has informed the President that he will be unable to continue given his appointment as Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat in Nairobi.
The President wishes Ambassador Mlynar all the best in his new role.
OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA
On the topic of co-chairs…
Let me announce the appointment of two new co-chairs.
President Kőrösi has appointed Ambassador Elina Kalkku, the Permanent Representative of Finland, and Ambassador Viliami Va’inga Tone, the Permanent Representative of Tonga, as the co-chairs of the open-ended informal consultative process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked if the President will visit Xinjiang and raise the issue of Uygur minority groups. The Spokesperson said that no, the main focus of this visit is on sustainable development and water issues.
LIZ SCAFFIDI
If there are no further questions, allow me to wish a happy retirement to Liz Scaffidi.
Liz is leaving the Department of Global Communications after nearly 32 years with the United Nations.
Let me add my voice to the chorus wishing her congratulations.
