Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson of the President of the General Assembly
10 December 2024
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing
Good afternoon, everyone,
The President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang has now returned from the Doha Forum in the State of Qatar. While there, he engaged with global leaders and visionaries, delivered remarks at the opening and closing sessions, and underscored the importance of the Pact for the Future, a blueprint for reinvigorating multilateralism to address present and future challenges.
Tenth Emergency Special Session
With regard to the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly, it resumes tomorrow at 10 am. 21 statements were delivered last week, with 50 remaining on the speakers list. Two resolutions are expected to be adopted tomorrow.
Plenary Meetings
Yesterday, a plenary meeting took place on Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance
Today, there is the plenary meeting on Oceans and the law of the sea
On Thursday, there will be a plenary meeting on the Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields
Just to state as well that the plenary meeting on the Oceans and the law of the sea also continues on Thursday.
Main Committees
The General Assembly adopted 65 texts last week.
Among those 65 texts were 33 resolutions and five decisions by the Fourth Committee, whose agenda items ranged from decolonization to atomic radiation to outer space.
The Sixth Committee sent 16 resolutions and 11 decisions to the General Assembly for adoption that addressed topics from laws to facilitate international trade, to measures to enhance protection for victims of armed conflict.
Appointments
The President of the General Assembly is pleased to appoint H.E Mr. Francois Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, and H.E Ms. Anna Johannsdottir, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations, as co-chairs of the open ended informal consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea.
And lastly, today is Human Rights Day
The President of the General Assembly stresses that human dignity is inherent to the enjoyment of human rights. He adds that on Human Rights Day, we have to act now and mobilize action to reinvigorate a global movement for human rights for a more peaceful, equal, and sustainable world.
Questions
Question: On the Tenth Emergency Session resuming tomorrow, do you have any idea when the vote on the two draft resolutions will be, in the beginning, at the end?
Response: It should take place at the end because we still have about 50 speakers. The adoption is expected to take place at the end of the session.
Question: Just to follow up on that, is there going to be a time limit on the speakers that you know of?
Response: No, there is no time limit. It is the usual practice.
Question: And it will start when?
Response: It will start at 10 am.
Question: On Syria and the Credentials Committee, they would decide about potentially delisting HTS as a terrorist organization, correct?
Response: I would not be able to speak on what the Credentials Committee can do, will do.
Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: + 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations M: +1 917 3614990, mariam.shaikh@un.org
More Information and Updates : Website: YouTube: X (Twitter): Instagram: LinkedIn: Photo Repository: GA Resolutions during 79th Session
