NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Thursday, 13 April 2023
SCIENCE BRIEFING
Let me start with yesterday’s surprise.
As we now know, Member States launched the Group of Friends of Science for Action.
President Csaba Kőrösi congratulated the creation of this informal forum
He encouraged Member States to join.
He stressed that this was a planform by Member States for Member States.
And that this is an important step forward towards multilateral cooperation and exchange of information and data.
You have a statement from the President shortly after the announcement: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/04/12/statement-on-the-launch-of-group-of-friends-on-science-for-action/
Which was done at the end of the science briefing yesterday by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India.
Ambassador Philippe Kridelka, Permanent Representative of Belgium.
And Ambassador Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa.
Also in your inbox is what I call a press release – which is a feature summary of all three panels with direct quotes: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/04/13/second-science-briefing-to-general-assembly-ends-with-launch-of-group-of-friends-plans-for-greater-role-of-science-in-decision-making/
You are welcome to use that text and photos, as you would like .
BILATERALS
Today, President Kőrösi has two main bilaterals.
He will meet with Ambassador Neville Gertze, Permanent Representative of Namibia, and Ambassador Antje Leendertse, Permanent Representative of Germany – who are the co-facilitators of the Summit of the Future
Later this afternoon, President Kőrösi will meet with USG Li Junhua from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to discuss follow-ups from the UN Water Conference.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Tomorrow, President Kőrösi will take part in the annual observance of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The commemorative event will take place in the GA Hall starting at 11AM ET.
Among the key speakers will be Ms. Henriette Mutegwaraba, a survivor of the genocide.
Earlier in the day, President Kőrösi will address the “African Union Challenges Conference: towards an Integrated and more resilient Africa”, hosted by the Italian Diplomatic Economy.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked for the President’s thoughts on artificial intelligence and its ability to benefit and damage life. The Spokesperson said that the President is a big supporter of new technological advances, but on AI specifically, she would revert.
