PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

United Nations Headquarters, New York

26 May 2021

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PRESIDENT DEPARTS BANGLADESH AFTER VISITING ROHINGYA CAMPS, ARRIVES IN PAKISTAN

  • The President has now wrapped up his trip to Bangladesh and arrived in Islamabad for his official visit to Pakistan.
  • He spent the day today in Cox¡¯s Bazar in Bangladesh. There he met with representatives of the Rohingya people and visited their camps.
  • He also met with Bangladeshi authorities, who briefed him on camp management.
  • While in Cox¡¯s Bazar, he visited Camp 9, which was impacted by recent fires, met with healthcare workers and inspected facilities at the Turkish Field Hospital there.
  • In a statement to the press, he said, ¡°Today I came face to face with resilience. The Rohingya people living here in Cox¡¯s Bazar have survived unimaginable horrors and persecution. They undertook treacherous journeys to reach safety¡­ Yet, they persist.¡±?
  • He added, ¡°We must not forget the order of the International Court of Justice in 2020 that everything possible should be done to prevent a genocide against the Rohingya.¡±
  • In that context, turning to the situation in Myanmar, he called on all leaders to act in the interest of Myanmar¡¯s democratic reform, engage in meaningful dialogue, refrain from violence and fully respect human rights, fundamental?freedoms?and the rule of law.?
  • He also reiterated his call on the military authorities to grant the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Special Envoy, Christine?Schraner?Burgener, access to Myanmar to assess the situation firsthand while fostering the conditions for dialogue.
  • He said, ¡°The world has not given up on Myanmar. We have not forgotten the plight of the Rohingya people.¡±
  • He added that the General Assembly was determined to ensure a better future for the Rohingya people.?

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CULTURE MUST BE INCLUDED IN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, PRESIDENT TELLS AFRICA DIALOGUE

  • The President spoke this morning by to the Opening Session of the Africa Dialogue Series High-Level Public Policy Debate. This series was launched in 2018 by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa.
  • The theme this year is ¡°Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.¡±
  • In his statement, the President said, ¡°Africa, the cradle of humanity, is universally recognized for its rich cultural diversity.¡±
  • Yet, he said, culture has not received enough attention as a key component of sustainable development. He added that it must be embedded in national and local development strategies.