– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
23 November 2020
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Excellencies,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Distinguished delegates,
Invited guests,
Thank you for your participation in this informal meeting of the General Assembly to discuss business continuity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide space for an exchange between Member States and the Secretariat on the situation at the United Nations Headquarters, including technical aspects related to business continuity and meetings management as we head into Thanksgiving and Winter here in New York.?
The shutdown of the United Nations headquarters in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges for the continuity of our work. Nevertheless, the General Assembly and its Main Committees have found ways to resume their more full function, including holding in person meetings for the implementation of essential mandates during this time of global crisis and uncertainty.
Since the beginning of the? 75th?session, the General Assembly has held high-level meetings, conducted elections, continued the work in Main Committees, adopted important decisions and resolutions and considered reports of the Courts, main organs or other bodies of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system, while following medical guidance to mitigate risks related to the pandemic.
We are on track to conclude the main part of the session in December and already four of the Main Committees have concluded their work after taking decisions on various complex issues that affect people around the world. The Second Committee continues its work, including on the crucial QCPR resolution which sets the framework for the development system delivered by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Funds and Programmes who operate in around 170 countries globally expending billions to make our work safer, fairer and more prosperous.? The Fifth Committee, always the last to finish but without which we could not undertake any of our work, will pass the regular budget for 2021, including on mandates with program and budget implications just agreed and adopted in other Main Committees.
I would like to thank the Chairs and Bureaux of the Main Committees for their exceptional work, leadership and flexibility throughout this period. It is thanks to their cooperation that we were able to deliver many of our mandates.
I also would like to highlight the good cooperation with Member States and the Secretariat, in particular the?Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, which allowed us to be able to catch up on the program of work after in-person meetings were suspended for several days following the report of five COVID cases in one delegation. The lack of additional cases demonstrates the commitment of delegations to successfully implement risk mitigation measures.
At the same time, my office is regularly contacted by Member States seeking rooms for initiatives and for the normal conduct of diplomacy, as well as by important stakeholders, such as Permanent Observers, who have had less access to the United Nations than at any period in recent history.? They are not represented here at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters today.? They have asked, as you have, whether we are managing the spaces available to us in the best and most transparent way.
I have called this meeting today at your request.?? Your strong interest in business continuity reflects a desire for full functionality of the General Assembly at all times. This has been reflected by your active engagement this Session, as well as by the adoption of a mechanism for decision-making when an in-person meeting is not possible in the most exceptional circumstances. It is my sincere hope that we do not have to use it.
This discussion on business continuity comes the week before the Special Session of the General Assembly in response to COVID-19 pandemic, to be held on third and fourth December 2020, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/4.
The Special Session is an important opportunity to reflect on the pandemic and strengthen the global response based on unity, solidarity and multilateral cooperation.
I have called this meeting today at your request. Your strong interest in business continuity reflects a desire for full functionality of the General Assembly at all times.
Distinguished delegates,?
I could not address the issue of business continuity without touching on the financial situation of the United Nations.? I share the Secretary-General¡¯s concern regarding the financial situation of the United Nations and its ability to meet its ongoing financial obligations. As we ask the Secretariat to deliver for us, I take this opportunity to once again urge all Member States to pay their dues in full and on time.?
My Office and I will continue to work to ensure the smooth functioning of the General Assembly and implementation of all mandates without interruption. I welcome your continued support and that of the Secretariat and its enabling services to ensure this is realised.
Thank you.