NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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

Tuesday, 29 August 202

NUCLEAR TESTING #STEPUP4DISARMAMENT

Today is the International Day against Nuclear Tests.

This morning, the President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi took part in a symbolic walk to raise awareness about disarmament… the #StepUp4Disarmament.

This is an annual initiative from the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.

(Played video available at https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1696547224157560989) 

The President was joined by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

Here he is meeting with Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, the CTBTO.

Also joining were Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin, the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations.

This is Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations.

And Mr. Elias Merad Taouli, youth activist with Reverse The Trend. 

The aim of this symbolic walk is to either walk 8.29 kilometers … which are the numbers in today’s date (8/29)… or track the equivalent, which comes out to be 10,900 steps.

And at the end, the participants took a photo with certificates. The President is very active each morning, and he swam today – likely covering that distance.

 

NUCLEAR TESTING GA PLENARY

Turning to the General Assembly plenary…

President Kőrösi delivered very strong remarks.

He said quote “It is time to put an end to the threat of our collective suicide.”    

As you know, he has been very direct on the issues of nuclear disarmament, and took today’s opportunity to reiterate the message that out world is in an increased danger… especially if we quote “consider the regular threats of resorting to a nuclear strike in the on-going war against Ukraine.”

He noted that global military spending reached a record 2.2 trillion dollars in 2022.

When public funds are diverted in this way, the President said, and here I am quoting “when our own words are ignored, we have a duty to ask:

How serious are our pledges to focus on overcoming poverty and curbing pollution, climate change, or biodiversity loss?

Will we protect our newest human right: the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment? 

Or are our lofty pledges nothing but words?

Our investment in and ongoing modernization of nuclear weapons is simply incompatible with our goals, aspirations, and promises.”

The President commended Kazakhstan for leading the efforts to create this Day back in 2010, and has been leading on initiatives to end nuclear testing.

The President also pointed to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or the CTBT, which after 27 years is still not in effect.

The President called this a “serious loophole in our global framework”.

And he called on Member States who have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the CTBT.

The President said that there is no such thing as a “limited nuclear war”.

The use of any nuclear weapons will immediately spiral out of control.

You have the President’s full remarks online and in your inboxes: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/08/29/pga-remarks-general-assembly-plenary-meeting-international-day-against-nuclear-tests/ 

The General Assembly on the topic of disarmament will resume this afternoon.

 

BILATERALS

Today, the President is meeting with Ambassador Ferix Hoxha, the Permanent Representative of Albania… in his role as the President of the Security Council for the month of September, to provide an overview of the Programme of Work.

 

FRIDAY

Looking ahead to this Friday, there are an additional number of items for the plenary meeting.

Starting at 10AM ET in the General Assembly Hall.

Action is expected on at least seven draft resolutions, in addition to the decisions to be included in the draft agenda for the 78th session.

Among those news items is a draft resolution related to the outcomes of the UN Water Conference.

And the report from the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly.

And a reminder that the co-facilitators for GA revitalization spoke on our OPGA podcast last month. You can revisit that podcast ahead of the vote, and hear from Ambassadors Egriselda Lopez and Mitch Fifield.

Podcast at https://soundcloud.com/pga-youth-fellows/podcast-5-general-assembly-reform

 

FINAL PODCAST

And on the topic of the OPGA Fellows Podcast, the final one is now out…

OPGA Fellow Amr Danyal speaks with Mr. Abdulla Shahid, the Foreign Minister of the Maldives, and the President of the 76th General Assembly.

He discusses the creation of the OPGA Fellowship.

This interview is a perfect way to wrap up our podcast series and bid “good luck” to our OPGA Fellows.

Plus, you’ll get some tips for creating a successful career and a successful life.  

Podcast at https://soundcloud.com/pga-youth-fellows/podcast-8-origins-of-pga-fellowship

 

WEDNESDAY

And a housekeeping note, I will be in a meeting tomorrow, so will not brief – but will be online and in the office in the afternoon.

And yes, if I get the revised provisional UNGA speakers list, I will share it with you immediately.

 

QUESTIONS

There were no questions on-camera for the Spokesperson.