Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson of the President of the General Assembly
Tuesday 12 November
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing.
Good afternoon, everyone
As you know, the President of the General Assembly is in Baku to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). While there, President Yang will underscore the UN General Assembly’s commitment to global climate action, stressing the need for increased climate finance to boost implementation, adaptation, and mitigation efforts.
He will be there until 14 November.
Plenary meetings
Focus of this week’s plenary meetings include the Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council.
Happening now is also the debate on Sport for development and peace.
And continuing today is the joint debate on implementation of resolutions of the UN and revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.
Tomorrow, there will be elections of members of the different organs.
First Committee
In total, the First Committee adopted 49 resolutions and 3 decisions. Following its practice, the Committee adopted the resolutions and decisions by clusters. Last Friday, the First Committee also adopted its provisional Programme of Work and timetable for 2025.
Second Committee
Last week, the Second Committee also concluded the fourth round of negotiations on most of the resolutions.
As of today, mandates can be expected in 11 resolutions from the 79th session of the Second Committee of the General Assembly.
Third Committee
Yesterday, with regard to the Third Commitee, the Committee started actions on draft resolutions, with the adoption of six draft resolutions.
Four were adopted without vote on ageing, literacy, crime prevention as well as on cybercrime.
Two were adopted by vote on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and on Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Fourth Committee
During the period 04-11 November, the Fourth Committee discussed “Questions relating to information”, and “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”. Two draft resolutions were adopted by consensus on 6 November under the item, “Questions relating to information”.
Today, the Fourth Committee will consider an item entitled “Comprehensive review of special political missions”, including a draft resolution under this item.
Yesterday marked the deadline for submission of proposals under the items “United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” and “Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories”. The General Debate on these items will take place from the 13-20 November.
Fifth Committee
The Fifth Committee examined the Report of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). The Committee also examined the Report of the Secretary General relating to the Office of Administration of Justice.
Sixth Committee
Last week, the Sixth Committee wrapped up its consideration of final agenda items. These included the Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country as well as the Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization
Appointments
Covering appointments, the President has appointed H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN and H.E. Hector Jose Gomez Hernandez, Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN as co-facilitators of the intergovernmental process and consultations to identify the terms of reference and modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance for adoption by the General Assembly.
PGA Fellowship
The deadline for submission of applications for the PGA fellowship programme has now been extended to 25 November.
Looking Ahead
With regard to looking ahead, the President of the General Assembly will convene an informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 2 December to hear a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General Robert Piper, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement in the light of the end of his mandate on 31 December 2024.
President Yang will also convene an informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to consider the biennial report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Global Compact on Migration on 5 December 2024.
And to confirm, the President will be participating in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Botswana from 9 to 13 December. More details will follow shortly.
Questions
Question: You mentioned the sessions on Palestine from 13 to 20 November. Is that the Emergency Special Session? Last time you were here on 29 October, you said that the office of the PGA received a letter from member states and consultations were underway. And two weeks later today, do you have any news about this ESS?
Response: So that has been mentioned in the UNRWA meeting that was held. We have not received any official documentation/request as yet. But as soon as we do, the relevant actions will be taken.
Full Video: https://youtu.be/kldAKbhhlg4?si=wnT-kgL6Dufckqqg
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
