NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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

Tuesday, 21 February 2023

 

PEACEKEEPING

President Csaba Kőrösi today paid tribute to all United Nations peacekeepers who have died in the line of duty since 1948.

He noted that peacekeeping is international solidarity in its truest form, and the most visible aspect of the UN’s work

Quote “Peacekeepers enter a conflict setting, help to manage a crisis, and, ideally, leave behind a society transformed. They go where no one is wishing to go, often becoming targets for attacks themselves. Not a single month passes without an attack on a blue helmet.”

He urged the international community to remember and act on behalf of the more than 87,000 men and women from 121 countries who are proudly serving the cause of peace today.

The President’s remarks were made to the C-34 Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.

You have the full remarks online and in your inbox: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/02/21/pga-remarks-to-the-opening-session-of-the-un-special-committee-on-peacekeeping-operations-c34/


CIVIL SOCIETY

Also today, the President spoke to civil society organizations at the Third Committee, which deals with social, cultural and humanitarian issues, chaired by Ambassador José Alfonso Blanco, the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic.

The President said that now more than ever, there is a need to deepen the UN engagement with civil society to facilitate solutions that have meaningful impact on the ground.

Civil society organizations are that ground, they have the practical knowledge that the UN needs.

You have those full remarks online as well as in your inbox: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/02/21/pga-keynote-to-informal-dialogue-with-civil-society-organizations-in-the-third-committee/

 

INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY

This afternoon, the President will speak at the observance of International Mother Language Day, organized by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh.

The President is expected to say that Our mother language is the soundtrack of our childhood, our first tool for understanding meaning in the world.

It allows us to communicate, and empowers us to share knowledge, memory and history. Yet some mother languages are on the brink of extinction, threatened by globalization and our ever-growing online culture. When it’s gone, so too is a distinct way of being human.

I will share the President’s full remarks once delivered.

 

BILATERALS

Turning to bilaterals, the President met today with Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India.

And also with Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane, the Permanent Representative of Japan.

 

EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION

Tomorrow, as you know, will be the resumed Emergency Special Session on Ukraine. That will start at 3PM ET in the GA Hall.

President Kőrösi will make opening remarks; Secretary-General António Guterres is also expected to make remarks.

I’ve been asked about a copy of the draft resolution. It is available online from the UN Journal. I will include the link in my notes: https://journal.un.org/en/new-york/meeting/officials/0e2f9564-8a83-40d3-6e7f-08daff194b89/2023-02-22

As for the List of Speakers, it should be available tonight. Once out, I will share it for your information.

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked how many speakers were on the list. The Spokesperson said she didn’t know.