General Assembly's High-Level Week & other topics - PGA Spokesperson Briefing

Okay. Hi, media colleagues. I think we have a quorum. So we'll get started. Thanks for coming today. Just a bit of a debrief on the high-level week for you all. Over the course of the general debate, 194 delegations briefed the Assembly. That included 113 heads of state and government, one crown prince, 11 vice presidents, seven deputy prime ministers, and 48 ministers. Our preliminary numbers also indicate that about one in every speakers was a woman, about 14%. That's up slightly from last year when it was 12% and even a bit more from 2024. So we're making some minor strides, but not nearly fast enough. Also, according to our preliminary numbers, more than 60% of speakers mentioned artificial intelligence in their speeches. Almost three quarters of speakers mentioned climate in some capacity. As you know, five mandated high-level meetings were convened, including one just today on the total elimination of nuclear weapons. And we held the annual meeting of the UNGA Platform of Women's Leaders jointly with UN Women. One consensus outcome document was approved during the week. That was a political declaration. approved by the high-level plenary meeting to address the existential threats posed by sea level rise. That's expected to be formally adopted by the plenary in October. And apart from his other engagement, the President of the Assembly has so far held a total of 95 bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, ministers, and other senior officials as of this morning. This also includes bilaterals with UN agency heads, Sorry. This also includes meetings with agency heads, member state blocks, and coalitions. And as you know, the theme for the Assembly debate this week was restoring trust, managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all. This theme was widely embraced by member states and resonated strongly, including in the President's bilateral meetings. In this vein, the PGA in his opening remarks called, and I quote, for "action, sober reflection, clear-eyed realism, and pragmatism in all of the challenges and opportunities facing the United Nations." He emphasized that one of the areas where the UN works best is at the country level, where teams are agile and nimble. from serving Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to feeding, sheltering, and protecting civilians in Iraq, Ukraine, Haiti, and elsewhere. He called for urgent reform of the Security Council and especially for Africa's representation, emphasizing that, I quote, "Africa needs to be at the table, not on the menu." Now, I know that many of you have questions on particular events and other matters, so I'm going to stop there and open the floor for questions. I will do my best to answer them today now, but when I can't, I'll confer with colleagues and I'll get back to you. So please, and still please your names and outlets, if possible. Yes, Susan. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Susan Tehrani from Voice of America. What does the President of the General Assembly want to see from Iran on its nuclear program as these diplomatic negotiations and talks continue?

Thank you. Yeah, the President echoes calls from across the UN system for de-escalation by all the parties in that conflict and for the urgent protection of civilians. President Rachman is a career diplomat. He's a civil servant, and he believes in the power of dialogue and diplomacy. He feels strongly that there's no military solution to this crisis. The President also remains concerned about the impact of the current stalemate on freedom of navigation, as well as on food prices and fertilizer prices, other critical items to people's everyday lives, especially for the poorest of the poor. And he hopes that dialogue will resume and diplomacy will prevail as soon as possible. Yes.

Thank you. One of the big issues at this year's general debate and one for many years has been reform of the Security Council. What is the President of the General Assembly planning to do to try and follow up on the increasing clamor for reform of the Security Council?

Well, as I said, he spoke very candidly about the need for Africa's representation. He's very clear on this. And he will follow the intergovernmental negotiation process, which is mandated and ongoing. He intends to lead the Assembly, you know, clearly in this process and follow the wishes and desires of the groups in the member states.

And he's not going to take any additional measures to try and speed it up and actually try and get some action as opposed to years and decades of discussions.

Yes, he emphasizes the need for action in all of his priorities. However, I don't have further comment on that process. Anyone else in the room have a question? We can take some questions online as well. Let's see. We have Abdul Hamid. Yes. Hi.

Can you hear me?

I can. Please go ahead.

Thank you, Melissa. Yeah, I have a question about the behavior of some diplomats in the General Assembly. The first, when the Prime Minister of Israel displayed the pager, bragging about a weapon that he used, which killed or maimed thousands of Lebanese people. And the second, When the Israeli ambassador walked to the table of the Iranian delegate and he spoke directly to them, displaying the Starlink telephone or device in front of them and telling them to take it to the Iranian people, which they love it. Both behaviors were in contradiction with the general acceptable and custom behavior in the United Nations, which is not common. Did the President of the GA express his displeasure or in any way criticize this behavior and convey it to the concerned party?

Look, member states speaking before the Assembly do have wide latitude to express their views while still being expected to respect the Assembly's rules of procedure. This is a house of dialogue and free expression. However, I would echo my counterpart, Ardi Jashan, in expressing our wish and the President's wish that member states would respect the dignity and the solemnity of the GA Hall and of the occasion. I have no information on the contents of his bilateral meetings with any of the parties.

Thank you.

Do we have more questions from the online community? Anyone just arriving who may have another question?

No.

Okay, going once, going twice. Thank you, colleagues. One more from the floor, I mean, from the virtual community. Abu.

Yes.

Abu Sufyan, yes.

Thank you for doing this. Thank you. Yes. Thank you for doing this. As PJS are in Bangladesh government previously as a high representative for Rohingya issue during interim government of Bangladesh. Can we expect more impactful or meaningful result from him on this particular issue?

On the Rohingya crisis? Yes. So it is, as you know, it's a discussion that's taken up by the assembly in different capacities. It's something that the president remains deeply engaged in, cares a lot about. So you can expect that it will remain on the table, it will remain under discussion. And he has a personal interest in this matter, yes.

Do you have any specific information about this plan?

I don't at this time, but we will relay it when we have something.

Thank you.

Hi. Hi. Can I make a quick question? So during the speech, Israeli Prime Minister left a Starlink device on the podium, and he asked to give it to the Iranian delegation. Did the President take it? And more importantly, did he see this gesture as an act of defiance?

I've just answered this question, actually. I'm sorry, you were just walking in, but I believe it's on record. Yes, I mentioned that there's, you know, wide latitude to express positions and views, but that we do expect that the rules of the Assembly will be followed. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Hi, it's Gabriel from Al Jazeera.

Hi, Gabriel. Nice to see you in person.

Thanks for all your help during last week with all the information. If another candidate for Secretary General is nominated by a member state, is it the President of the General Assembly's intention to hold an interactive dialogue like the previous session or not?

So as of today, as we know, no new candidates have been put forward beyond the ones that we're aware of. The president has stated that he will ensure that any new candidate that emerges is properly introduced to the wider membership. The format that this takes may be slightly different from this presidency, from the previous presidency, but he will act firmly in line with all relevant revitalization resolutions.

I have another question, Melissa.

Yes.

Thank you. You said that 194 statements have been read in the GA. We know there is 193 member states and two observer states. Both observer states spoke, the Vatican and Palestine. That means there is one member state did not speak. Could you tell us which member state did not deliver a statement in the GA?

I am told that two did not deliver member states, Afghanistan and Myanmar. I'm hoping this is correct. I will check and get back to you, but those are the two that I'm aware of.

Yeah. Thank you.

Yes. Any other questions?

Thank you, Melissa. Sylviane, do you know why the do state didn't make a statement? Do you have any explanation?

I'm sorry, I don't. This is not an OPGA matter. This is a DGACM and protocol matter. They handle inscriptions. So I would check with DGACM. Thank you.

On the succession of Guterres, Do you have any information about Mrs. Baki? Is she still on the run?

As far as I know.

Is she still running?

As far as I know, yes. But right now the conversation is with the Security Council, and that would be a matter for to ask Stefan. Thank you. Yeah, we're clear. All right. Thank you, colleagues. Thanks for coming today.