PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
16 October 2023
Video: https://tinyurl.com/zbhcmbj8
Good afternoon, everyone. I will start today, and Steph will follow.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS TRAVELS TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, will make his first official visit to Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 17 to 20 October.
Mr. Francis will attend the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNCPGA’s) annual meeting and take the opportunity to engage in separate bilateral consultations with key host Government senior officials, members of civil society and academia.
He will also undertake a familiarization tour of the Demilitarized Zone between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The President’s visit is an opportunity to strengthen international relations and foster cooperation on a range of global issues, while promoting peace and sustainability for all.
While in Seoul, the President will also deliver a Guest Lecture to the Institute for Global Empowerment and Engagement at Yonsei University to an audience of young academics and faculty staff. The topic is anchored on SDGs and the overall theme for UNGA78.
President Francis will pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol; the Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; and the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban ki-Moon.
He will be accompanied by his Chef de Cabinet, a Political Adviser, and a Communications Adviser. Travel costs are covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the OPGA Trust Fund.
The GA President and his team will return to New York on Friday 20 October.
PGA JOINS SECRETARY-GENERAL ON NEW MIDDLE EAST APPEAL
The GA leader has joined the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in the SG’s latest humanitarian appeal for civilians in the Gaza Strip and on the release of all hostages taken from Israel on October 7.
In a post on his X social media account, President Dennis Francis says, and I quote: “Civilians have been suffering the horrific consequences of violence since the attacks by Hamas against Israel on 7 October. I join the Secretary-General António Guterres in his appeal for the immediate release of all hostages taken from Israel and for the unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip in line with international law.”
PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI’S PASSING AWAY
The President of the General Assembly has expressed his sadness to hear of the passing the former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari.
Mr. Francis recalls the commitment of the former Finish President to multilateralism and his work for peace with the United Nations in Namibia and Kosovo.
The GA leader conveys his heartfelt condolences to Mr. Ahtisaari’s family and friends as well as to the people and Government of Finland.
WORLD FOOD DAY
The PGA has released a video message on World Food Day highlighting the importance of food production in sustaining healthy life on our planet. Mr. Francis welcomes this year’s call to action: Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.
He reminds that 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries and that food security is the cornerstone of sustainable development and goes hand-in-hand with water security.
For the GA leader: “With 800 million people in a state of chronic hunger today, the most sustainable way to improve food security is through improving access to clean water.”
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This is everything that we have for today… Do you have any questions?
And if you want to find out more on the PGA’s remarks in the respective GA committees, you can also access the PGA’s YouTube channel on
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