NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

SECURITY COUNCIL

Starting off with some questions.

What happens to a nation’s sovereignty – including UN membership – if it sinks beneath the sea? What happens to a Member States voting rights if the country is submerged? There are rules about the creation of states – but none about their physical disappearance.

Those are some the questions that the President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, posed to the Security Council today.

He spoke to a high-level open debate on sea-level rise: implications for international peace and security.

He urged members of the Council to invest in prevention today, rather than address the implications of food scarcity and mass migration tomorrow.

This could be done by integrating climate analysis into planning for conflict prevention and protection efforts.

As we know from science – whether cities or countries disappear depends on whether we as humans counteract the threat.

The President then reminded the Council that about 10 years ago, Hurricane Sandy shut down the UN Headquarters in New York for three days.

You might remember the fish that were found in the basement.

The UN was criticized at the time for its lack of planning.

The President turned that question around – asking are you ready today?

He also looked forward, saying that at the current trend, the PGA in 2050 may represent fewer than the current 193 Member States.

His full remarks are online and in your inboxes: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/02/14/pga-remarks-to-security-council-high-level-open-debate-on-sea-level-rise-implications-for-international-peace-and-security/

Today’s Security Council debate was chaired by the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta, Ian Borg. And the President and Minister Borg met ahead of the Security Council meeting.

JAPAN

President Csaba Kőrösi is this hour heading to Japan.

Given the travel time, his official visit will begin on Wednesday.

The visit will focus on strengthening the relationship between the UN General Assembly and Japan, as well as ensuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, especially on water disaster resilience and sustainability.

You have a media advisory from Sunday in your inbox: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/02/12/president-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-to-make-official-visit-to-japan/

ESS

On the Emergency Special Session…

I wanted to let you know that there will be a stakeout outside of the GA Hall, throughout the length of the ESS.

That’s thanks to our colleagues at UN Television and BCSS.

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked if there is a time frame for the introduction of the draft resolution by Vanuatu and other Member States about ICJ/climate change. The Spokesperson said that no, but she would follow up.

The Spokesperson was asked about a readout by the Chinese Ministry following the bilateral between the PGA and the Chinese FM. The journalist asked if the President supported One-China principle, as stated in the readout. The Spokesperson said that the President supported a One-China policy. The journalist said that the One-China Policy and the One-China Principle are not the same. The Spokesperson later added that the President supports General Assembly resolution 2758 on One China.

The Spokesperson was asked about a draft resolution to be taken up for action next week. The Spokesperson said that she has seen the same media reports, but she doesn’t have any information on a resolution. Currently, only a debate is scheduled https://journal.un.org/en/new-york/meeting/officials/0e2f9564-8a83-40d3-6e7f-08daff194b89/2023-02-22.

The Spokesperson was asked about if the President plans to travel to any countries that are in a crisis. The Spokesperson said that after Japan, the President has said he would travel to Geneva and Doha, and that she didn’t have anything new to announce..