NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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

Thursday, 17 August 2023

SDG SUMMIT 

Let me start with preparations for the SDG Summit, which will be held on 18 and 19 September.

President Csaba Korosi met today with Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani of Qatar and Ambassador Fergal Mythen of Ireland. They are the co-facilitators for the SDG Summit Political Declaration.

As the President has said – An ambitious political declaration is key for the success of the SDG Summit and to guide our future work on advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

 

FOSS

Last hour, the President met with the chair of the Forum of Small States, Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, the Permanent Representative of Singapore.

They exchanged views on the challenges that small states face, and the President also appreciated the engagement of small states in the work of the General Assembly.

 

GENDER

And this hour, President Kőrösi is meeting with Ambassador Boštjan Malovrh, the Permanent Representative of Slovenia.

The focus of this meeting is on the PGA’s Advisory Board on Gender Equality.

As you know, the Board met four times during the 77th session, and it was also at the recommendation of the Board that the President and UN Women launched a campaign to encourage all Missions to complete the trainings on gender and the prevention of sexual harassment.

 

YOUTH PODCAST

Another podcast from our Fellows is out. OPGA Fellow Gerard Anapu speaks with the European Union Youth Delegate Ms. Nadia Gallestrup Christensen. She explains what has been achieved in the past year, and the EU’s plans for involving more young people in the work of the EU and the United Nations. https://soundcloud.com/pga-youth-fellows/podcast-7-eu-youth-envoy

This podcast follows Gerard’s interview with the African Union Commission Youth Delegate, Ms. Chido Mpemba. https://soundcloud.com/pga-youth-fellows/podcast-7-au-youth-envoy

 

UNGA PLANNING

And related to UNGA planning…

Because I’ve been asked a few times in recent days about the revised provisional List of Speakers.

Our colleagues at the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management has said that a revised UNGA List of Speakers will be out the week of 28 August.

And I’ve also been asked about bilaterals. There will be bilaterals during this year’s UNGA. There has been no prohibition on bilaterals.

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked about any restrictions for this UNGA. There are no COVID-related restrictions for UNGA78, per our MALU Colleagues.

The Spokesperson was asked about Lists of Speaks for the UNGA Summits. There are no Lists of Speakers available yet for the seven summits. There likely won’t be until much closer to the date.

The Spokesperson was asked about the role of Iran, as the Vice-President of the General Assembly during UNGA. The Spokesperson clarified that there are 21 Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly each term. The Vice-Presidents fill in for the PGA in chairing the General Assembly meetings, whenever the President is unable to be there physically. The Vice-Presidents are not expected to take on any special duties, such as panel moderators, the Spokesperson said in response to a question.

The Spokesperson was asked if President Csaba Kőrösi will attend Friday’s commemoration for World Humanitarian Day. The Spokesperson said that the President will attend the wreath laying in New York, but does not have a speaking role.

The Spokesperson was asked about progress on the SDG Summit Political Declaration. The Spokesperson said that President Kőrösi has confidence in the co-facilitators and the importance of an ambitious political declaration.