NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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

Tuesday, 28 February 2023

 

UN WATER CONFERENCE

President Csaba Kőrösi this morning briefed journalists from Geneva about the UN Water Conference that will take place here in New York staring on 22 March.

The President said that we are already in a global water crisis, where global demand for fresh water is expected to exceed supply by 40 per cent at the end of this decade.

What’s more, about 40 per cent of the grain that we produce by 2030 will come from regions that already suffer droughts.

So this means we need a very significant change – a transformation.

Which the President said he hopes will come about as a result of the UN Water Conference.

He said that quote “We need to shift from a water crisis to a water secure world. From water conflicts to water cooperation. From a lack of information to an evidence-based data-supported decision making.”

That means game changers, like the ones that you’ve heard the President, and me as a result, talk about since October when we held the water consultations.

One of those gamechangers is a water information system, that would inform water-climate policies, and which doesn’t exist right now.

The President was asked in Geneva about the link between food and water.  In the Horn of Africa, million of people are struggling ahead of what is yet another consecutive season of failed grains.  You heard Stephane echo the concerns about food insecurity and droughts during his briefing just now.

The President said that is an example of what he wants to see from the water action agenda. He said if the right policies are implemented, it could make a lifesaving difference for some 400 million people – not just in the Horn of Africa, but throughout the Sahel and around the world, who are in immediate danger. The policies that need to be implemented aren’t just short-term, but they are meant to address long-term survival.

In terms of what the President wants to see come on the last day of the UN Water Conference, he said quote “By 24 March, I hope that there will be a strong political commitment by 193 Member countries. I hope that there will be a strong commitment by all those companies that will be with us. And I hope there will be a strong commitment by the science community and the NGO community that will be with us. I hope that the UN agencies will immediately jump on the implementation of the decisions that we agree to take.”

You have the transcript from the press conference in your inboxes and online: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/02/28/press-conference-in-geneva-on-un-water-conference-and-other-issues/

 

BILATERALS

The Water Conference and water-climate policies were on the agenda in the President’s bilaterals.

The President met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Luu Quang. The SDGs and attendance to the UN Water Conference were part of that discussion.

The President also met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The President encouraged Iran to attend the UN Water Conference. In terms of other topics raised, President Kőrösi invited continued cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA. The President asked for engagement with the Human Rights Monitoring Mechanism. He also acknowledged and expressed appreciation for Iran hosting millions of refugees.

Turning to bilaterals within the UN family…

The President met with the Secretary-General for WMO, Petteri Taalas.

He also met with the Director-General of IOM, António Vitorino. They discussed the importance of liming water, climate-change and early warning systems to migration policymaking.

The President also today met with Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova at the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

As well as with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Gilbert Houngbo…. And with the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Rebeca Grynspan.

This hour, the President is in a meeting with the International Federation of the Red Cross.

He will head next to the University of Geneva Global Studies Institute, where he will deliver a keynote on crisis management and transformation.

The President will leave Geneva tomorrow, which is 1 March.

 

AZERBAIJAN

The President will make an official visit to Baku, Azerbaijan on 2 March to address a Summit-Level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Post-COVID-19 Recovery.

The President is expected to highlight the urgent need for a “new normal” as the world emerges from the COVID pandemic – one based on science, innovation, technology and digitalization.

President Kőrösi will make the visit at the invitation of Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In addition, the President is expected to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov.

The President and his team will depart on 3 March 2023.

Costs are covered by the OPGA Trust Fund.

You have a media advisory in your inbox: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/02/28/un-general-assembly-president-to-address-post-covid-non-aligned-movement-summit/

 

QUESTIONS

There were no questions for the Spokesperson.