NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba K?r?si
United Nations Headquarters, New York

Friday, 11 August 2023

 

YOUTH DAY

President Csaba K?r?si will give the keynote address tonight to the 28^th session of the AFS Youth Assembly. This conference brings together over 700 young leaders aged 18-32, from over 100 countries, who are working for social good and sustainable development from the grassroots to the international level.

The President will speak at 6:30PM in Conference Room 4.

The theme will be “Breakthrough to a Better Future.”

You can follow live on UN WebTV https://media.sby168.com/en/asset/k1w/k1w4edoazy

The conference is held ahead of International Youth Day on 12 August.

BILATERAL

Turning to the General Assembly…

Member States have been holding informal consultations this week and the last, and will continue to do so next week, on the various General Assembly processes – such as the Summit of the Future. You know the ministerial preparatory meeting for the Summit of the Future will be held during UNGA week on Thursday, 21 September.

This morning, President Csaba K?r?si met with the co-facilitators for the Summit of the Future. That’s Ambassador Antje Leendertse of Germany, and Ambassador Neville Gertze of Namibia.

UNGA PROVISIONAL SPEAKERS LIST

On UNGA preparations…

Thanks to our colleagues in the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management – or DGACM, you received the first provisional list of speakers last month.

I’ve been asked when the second version will be out.

We were advised that a revised version of the UNGA List of Speakers will be circulated the week of 28 August.

NORTH LAWN AND GARDEN AREA

And related to UNGA preparations, starting on Monday, 14 August, the North Lawn and the gardens will be closed for construction activities related to the High-level UNGA week.

The North Lawn and the Gardens will reopen on 10 September.

STEELPAN DAY

Today is World Steelpan Day, as you heard from Farhan.

It’s the first time that we are marking this Day, since its creation by the General Assembly on 24 July.

In the resolution, Member States acknowledged that the steelpan promotes inclusive societies, sustainable communities and the creative economy and can have a positive impact on mental health and well-being, gender equality and youth empowerment.

Resolution: https://documents-dds-ny.sby168.com/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N23/227/21/PDF/N2322721.pdf?OpenElement

NUCLEAR TESTS

And looking ahead, on Tuesday, 29 August, the General Assembly will commemorate and promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests. That’s starting at 10AM ET in the GA Hall.

The List of Speaks for that event is now out.

President K?r?si will open the event.

You will then hear from Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

Also participating will be Ms. Vivian Okeke, Representative of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency…

And Elias Merad Taouli, a youth activist from RTT, which stands for Reverse the Trend

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QUESTIONS

There were no questions online for the Spokesperson.