NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
VETO INITIATIVE
Starting with the General Assembly debate…
The President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, today urged Security Council members to think about the needs of the 4.1 million people in Syria’s north who are now all but cut off from food, water and medicine.
Given the extraordinary lengths that Syrians are pursuing just to survive, the President said, it is only right that we ask: Are we doing enough to protect human life?
He then called on the Security Council members to be alive to the realities and oriented towards genuine solutions… and to urgently prioritize long-term cooperation over division.
The comments were made to the General Assembly, which today holds a debate in line with the so-called Veto Initiative.
This debate follows the Security Council meeting on 11 July, under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East,” – specifically on Syria – when a permanent member cast a veto.
President Kőrösi said that he wishes that he didn’t need to convene today’s debate.
That the Security Council could have overcome its deadlock on humanitarian aid delivery to northern Syria.
Yet, today’s debate is a clear demonstration that two UN organs – the Security Council and the General Assembly – can and must work together on matters of international peace and security, especially in times of crises.
You have the full remarks online and in your inboxes: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/07/19/pga-remarks-to-general-assembly-debate-on-the-use-of-the-veto-syria/
The debate will continue in the 3PM session.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Earlier this morning, President Kőrösi paid homage to the United Nations personnel killed in the line of duty.
The President lit a candle alongside Secretary-General António Guterres and Ambassador Barbara Woodward, in her capacity as President of the Security Council.
GENDER ADVISORY BOARD
Turning to gender equality…
This afternoon, President Kőrösi will be joined by UN Women at a reception for the Member States who have pledged to complete the UN trainings on gender equality and prevention of sexual harassment.
A total of 44 Member States joined the first phase. I will include the full list in my notes.
Today’s ceremony is in the context of the President’s Advisory Board on Gender Equality, which is coordinated by Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives.
1) Dominican Republic
2) Delegation of the European Union
3) Republic of Rwanda
4) Republic of Azerbaijan
5) Togo
6) Kingdom of the Netherlands
7) Republic of Latvia
8) Romania
9) Slovak Republic
10) Denmark
11) Republic of Slovenia
12) Republic of Maldives
13) Portugal
14) Italy
15) El Salvador
16) Republic of Estonia
17) People’s Republic of Bangladesh
18) Czechia
19) Ireland
20) Republic of Cyprus
21) Austria
22) Republic of Croatia
23) Luxembourg
24) Republic of Malta
25) Hungary
26) Costa Rica
27) Republic of Bulgaria
28) State of Libya
29) Finland
30) Principality of Monaco
31) Israel
32) Republic of South Africa
33) Sweden
34) Ukraine
35) Germany
36) Switzerland
37) Canada
38) Barbados
39) Andorra
40) Albania
41) Liechtenstein
42) Mexico
43) Argentina
44) Philippines
GLOBAL WATER INFO SYSTEM
Among his other engagements today, the President will speak an HLPF side-event organized by the World Meteorological Organizations in collaboration with Member States, on the need for a global water information system.
That event will take place at 6:30pm.
NELSON MANDELA DAY
Tomorrow… The UN will commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day.
That’s starting at 10AM ET in in Conference Room 4.
President Kőrösi will deliver remarks, alongside Secretary-General António Guterres and others.
The keynote will be delivered by Mr. Andrew Young, former United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations…. who had worked for decades for social, political and economic advancement of oppressed people around the world.
As part of the annual UN commemoration, there is a public service component.
The UN community is partnering this year with the City of New York to perform community service at the Nelson Mandela High School in Brooklyn.
The project is in line with this year’s theme for the Day of “climate, food and solidarity”.
BILATERALS
And ending on bilaterals…
President Kőrösi will meet this afternoon with Don Pramudwinai, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
QUESTIONS
There were no questions for the Spokesperson.
