PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
12 March 2024
Good afternoon, everyone!
Before we start, I would like to say hello and welcome to a group of journalists from Germany participating in the RIAS programme, and also to our new colleague and producer for Al Jazeera Arabic, Biesan Abu-Kwik, who has joined us here in New York. Welcome!
We now will start with a trip announcement today…
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TRAVELS TO VIENNA
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, will undertake an official trip to Vienna, Austria, from 12-14 March, to attend the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
The PGA will underline the need to address the emergence of synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, and the societal impacts of this ever-growing crisis. Whilst in the Austrian capital, he will hold separate bilateral meetings with H.E. Mr. Alexander Schallenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria; and H.E. Mr. Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council of Austria.
Mr. Francis will visit the Vienna International Centre, which houses several UN agencies in Austria, and will be received by the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms. Ghada Waly, and the Chair of the CND current session, H.E. Mr. Philbert Abaka Johnson, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations Office at Vienna, and Mr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of CTBTO.
Before departing from Vienna, on Thursday, President Francis will deliver a lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna to engage academia and civil society in the work of the General Assembly.
Travels costs are being covered by the OPGA’s Trust Fund for the PGA, his Chef de Cabinet, a senior political affairs adviser, and a communications adviser.
PGA TO ATTEND GLOBAL BAKU FORUM IN AZERBAIJAN
On Friday, 15 March, President Dennis Francis will arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan, to attend the 11th Global Baku Forum from 15 to 16 March.
There, the PGA will deliver a special address on the Forum’s theme ‘Fixing a Fractured World’, emphasizing the need for unity, solidarity, dialogue and diplomacy to address ongoing geopolitical tensions; and with a view to restore the multilateral system as well as international cooperation.
The PGA will have several engagements, including participating in a panel discussion on the objectives that can be set for the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29), which will be held in Baku, from 11-22 November.
The President of the General Assembly will pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev.
The PGA will also hold separate meetings with other Azerbaijani authorities, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, and the Chair of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mrs. Sahiba Gafarova, among others.
The PGA’s delegation to Baku includes his Chef de Cabinet, a Special Adviser on the Summit of the Future, an adviser on Political Affairs, Peace and Security Team, as well as a Communications Adviser.
Travel costs to Baku are covered by the Republic of Azerbaijan.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS WELCOMES BRIEFING ON G20 SHERPA OF BRAZIL
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, has delivered welcoming remarks at the informal briefing on the Priorities of the G20 Presidency, by Brazil’s G20 Sherpa, Ambassador Mauricio Carvalho Lyrio. The theme of the Brazilian Presidency is: “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet”.
The meeting is also being attended by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua.
In his remarks, the PGA said that: “As we continue to seek ways to infuse some fresh perspectives into our multilateral system, we all look forward to hearing about G20’s plans to bolster global stability and to strengthen international governance during these challenging times.”
Mr. Francis also echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a ‘new Bretton Woods moment’ – emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the needs of developing countries within the global financial framework.
As we speak, the PGA will hold in a few moments, a High-Level event under the theme, “Closing the gender gap in education: How to address long-term barriers and emerging challenges in a world of complex crises?”
The PGA will host a Presidential Fireside Chat—an informal discussion with Heads of Delegation moderated by a youth representative.
This is all for today and for this week. There will no video press briefing here until Monday, but we will be in touch via email.
Do you have any questions?
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