NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
COMMODITIES
The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, this morning opened the one-day informal interactive dialogue of the General Assembly on Commodity Markets.
He said that trends in commodities markets have profound impacts and implications on the ability of commodity dependent developing countries to achieve sustainable development.
The Least Developed Countries are particularly vulnerable, the President said. They are struggling with a wide range of macroeconomic vulnerabilities, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and exacerbated by the shocks emanating from Ukraine.
In his address, President Shahid welcomed the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary General¡¯s establishment of the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, which held the first meeting of its Steering Committee last week.
This is the Group that is looking to at the consequences of rising food prices and the costs of energy and fertilizer.
President Shahid also noted the importance of promoting economic diversification and value-addition, calling for concrete support from the international community, development partners, and the private sector for commodity dependent developing countries.
His full remarks are at /pga/76/2022/03/31/interactive-dialogue-on-commodity-markets/
The opening segment also heard from Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, who addressed in-person, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIDO Director-General Gerd Muller, who addressed the event virtually.
FAO and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCTAD then presented on COVID-19 and commodity trends and prospects.
We are now listening to the interactive panel on the threat of crises and the renewed impetus for diversification.
This will be followed by a second panel on overcoming dependence through technology and innovation.
The panelists include Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ officials, representatives from the private sector, academia and civil society.
Right now, Ambassador Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of Malawi and a General Assembly Vice-President is moderating.
President Shahid will give closing remarks this evening.
A summary of the discussion will be circulated in due course.
BILATERALS
In addition to the Commodities event, President Shahid has several bilateral meetings today.
This morning, he met with Leonardo Garnier, Secretary General¡¯s Special Adviser on the Transforming Education Summit, which will take place in September 2022.
President Shahid will speak with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.
Tomorrow is already April. As such, the President will meet today with Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the UK and President of the Security Council for the month of April.
The President is due to meet with Catherine Marchi-Uhel. She is the Head of the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism to?Assist in the Investigation and
Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic.
President Shahid will also have a bilateral with Juan Carlos Holguin, Foreign Minister of Ecuador.
The President will also take part tonight in a reception to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor of Japan.
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QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked if there are any plans in the General Assembly for a humanitarian meeting on Ukraine. The Spokesperson said that she did not have anything to announce.