PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
20 October 2023
Video: https://tinyurl.com/8abbt9u2
Good afternoon, everyone. Here we are to close this week…
PRESIDENT FRANCIS CONCLUDES VISIT TO REPUBLIC OF KOREA
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, is on his way back to New York after visiting the Republic of Korea, where he attended the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNCPGA’s) annual meeting and delivered the keynote address to the event.
The former PGAs spoke about the necessity of international cooperation and solidarity in the face of global threats.
The discussions focused on the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and in other parts of the world facing challenges to peace and security.
Whilst in Seoul, Mr. Francis held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Han Duck-soo.
He was also received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Park Jin, and paid a courtesy call on his first day in Seoul to the President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol.
During his guest lecture at the Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment of Yonsei University, yesterday, the PGA learned about the institution’s pioneering work in sustainable development and spoke with students about the decisive role of youth in creating a better future.
The PGA stressed to students that “this month’s events in the Middle East are a sober reminder of just how quickly tensions can rise, and (…) in times of conflict, it is systematically civilians, women, children and those most vulnerable who suffer the most.”
After the lecture, Mr. Francis met a 10-year-old girl, who told him that she intends to become “one day, Secretary-General of the United Nations.”
More information on the PGA’s trip on our website and on his X social media account.
EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION ON MIDDLE EAST
The Office of the President of the General Assembly has received two letters from Member States requesting the resumption of the Tenth Emergency Special Session (ESS): Illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
As you may recall, the GA resolution ES 10/L23 entitled “Protection of the Palestinian civilian population”, from June 2018, was adopted under the Tenth Emergency Especial Session.
The GA decided to adjourn the meeting and to authorize the President of the General Assembly to resume the session upon request from Member States.
Upon the receipt of the letters, PGA Dennis Francis is consulting with Member States and the Secretariat to decide on the date of the meeting in the General Assembly.
As soon as a decision is made on when the meeting takes place, we will inform you immediately. Either via e-mail or here in the briefing whatever comes first.
On our website.
This is all from us. Any questions?
Background information:
- A letter was sent to the PGA’s Office by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Nicaragua, by Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation, and by Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations.
- A second letter was sent to the PGA’s Office by the Permanent Mission of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the UN and the Permanent Mission of Islamic Republic of Mauritania in their respective capacities as Chair of the Arab Group and Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group at the United Nations in New York.
- GA resolution on Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council of 26 April 2022. A/RES/76/262.
END
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