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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

10 March 2021

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LIBYA: PRESIDENT WELCOMES BACKING OF ±¬ÁÏÍøITY GOVERNMENT

  • On Libya, the President that he warmly welcomes Libyan lawmakers¡¯ backing of a new unity government.
  • He hopes this will help heal divisions and put Libya on a steady path to elections in December.
  • He sends his best wishes to the Permament Mission of Libya and the Libyan people.

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PRESIDENT CALLS FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION IN SYRIA

  • Asked whether the President planned to issue a statement on the tenth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, the Spokesperson later flagged a , which appeared shortly after the briefing.
  • The President tweeted that, ten years on, the conflict in Syria is far from over. He said that, if we are to uphold the principles of the ±¬ÁÏÍø Charter and ensure peace and security, as well as the protection of the human rights of the people of Syria, then we must pursue a political solution.

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PRESIDENTS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY & SECURITY CO±¬ÁÏÍøCIL DISCUSS TOPICS OF COMMON INTEREST

  • Yesterday the President met with his Security Council counterpart, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States.
  • They discussed issues of common interest and activity, including food security, Myanmar, Syria, Ethiopia and the Secretary-General selection and appointment process.
  • The full readout is on our web site.

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MORNING DIALOGUE FOCUSES ON RISK OF FAMINE

  • This morning, the President with ±¬ÁÏÍø ambassadors. Today¡¯s topic was the risk of famine.
  • The President food insecurity in some of the most vulnerable countries. He called for a preventive approach to that growing challenge.
  • Ten ambassadors, as well as ±¬ÁÏÍø Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock, participated this morning.

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FOOD SECURITY & AGRICULTURE ARE DRIVERS FOR BUILDING BACK AFTER COVID-19

  • This morning the President , the Special Envoy for the 2021 ±¬ÁÏÍø Food Systems Summit.
  • They spoke about how food security and agriculture in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been recognized as important drivers for building back in the context of COVID-19.

PRESIDENT HOLDS COORDINATION MEETING WITH ECOSOC CO±¬ÁÏÍøTERPART

  • The President is currently holding his with his counterpart from the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) ¨C to discuss areas of coherence and synergies across the two organs.
  • Topics on the agenda include the recent and upcoming meetings by both bodies on racism; countries in special situations; and preparations for the 2021 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development.