HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA,?SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MIROSLAV LAJ??K

United Nations Headquarters, New York

3 October 2017

 

 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSSES SECRETARY-GENERAL’S 2017 INITIATIVES

  • The President chaired a General Assembly plenary meeting this morning on the of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization.
  • Discussions focused on the Secretary-General’s main initiatives in 2017 – as well as progress achieved in: advancing the 2030 Agenda; protecting human rights; and promoting international peace and security.
  • During this morning’s meeting, India exercised the right of reply in response to a statement by Pakistan. Pakistan then responded to India, also using the right of reply.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES CONTINUE THEIR DEBATES

  • , many speakers called for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear?Test?Ban Treaty and made suggestions on ways to resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
  • The representative of Syria exercised the right of reply in response to four different parties – the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Norway, Germany and the European Union. The First Committee continued its general debate today.
  • The Second and Third Committees are also continuing their general debates — with the latter focusing on social development.
  • The Fourth Committee will meet today at 3:00 p.m. to consider items related to decolonization. It will hear from the representatives of French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam and New Caledonia, and from petitioners on French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, New Caledonia, Turks and Caicos Islands and Western Sahara.
  • The Sixth Committee, which handles legal matters, will continue its discussions on measures to eliminate international terrorism. Yesterday afternoon, the Sixth Committee heard of the General Assembly. He said: “International law cannot be frozen in time. It must adapt to changing circumstances and new developments.”

PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO BRATISLAVA AND GENEVA

  • Asked about upcoming travel plans by the President, especially to Eastern Europe, the Spokesperson confirmed that the President would be leaving for Slovakia this afternoon for a brief visit. The Spokesperson noted that President Laj?ák remained the Foreign Minister of Slovakia, even though he did have an acting head of office in Bratislava. In that regard, the President would be taking care of some internal housekeeping matters with the cabinet there. He would return to New York on the evening of 5 October.
  • Regarding additional travel, the Spokesperson said he would soon announce details of a visit by the President to Geneva in early October. The main purpose of that trip would be to chair a multi-stakeholder meeting and speak at a thematic session on migration.