Press Conference by Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly

Opening remarks by the President: I am excited to be here with you for my first press conference.

While I have had the chance to meet with some of you, during interviews over the past two weeks, I think this is the official start to what I hope will be an ongoing process with you.

On that note, I want to thank you for your coverage during the High-level Week, which once again confirmed the unparalleled relevance of the UN General Assembly as a global platform for world leaders and a centre stage of multilateralism.

I welcome this opportunity to touch upon some highlights.

As you know, the General Debate of the 78th session just concluded.

I am encouraged by the engagement and participation of delegations:

A total 189 Member States spoke from the rostrum – an impressive increase over recent years.

 

There were 88 Heads of State, 6 Vice-Presidents and 42 Heads of Government, along with 4 Deputy Prime Ministers, 40 Ministers, 3 Vice Ministers and 6 Chairs of Delegation, who took the floor.

This total includes 21 women – which is a decrease from 22 last year. Nonetheless, there were 6 women Heads of State, 1 Vice President, 4 Heads of Government, 9 Ministers and 1 Vice Minister.

In addition, 3 observers – including 1 Head of State, 1 Head of Government and 1 speaker of High-Level Representation – spoke on Days 3 and 6.

At the Week’s outset, I had the privilege of convening the second annual Platform of Women Leaders, which featured women Heads of State and Government, and focused on the role of women’s leadership in achieving the SDGs.

These leaders showcased why it is so important to recognise and elevate the talents and perspectives of half of humanity in tackling today’s challenges.

As you heard from Spokesperson Monica Grayley earlier this week, the number of women who spoke during the general debate fell to 21 this year – from 22 last year.

As an international gender champion, I pledged to work with my Special Adviser on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment to ensure gender parity in all deliberations during the 78th session.

More broadly during the General Debate, we heard calls to resolve conflicts, from Africa to the Middle East, to of course, Ukraine.

And I was unequivocal here when speaking to the Membership: we need peace, Ukraine needs peace, this war must end.

Aside from the war against Ukraine, one call, in particular, resonated across the General Assembly Hall: the effects of climate change and the need to do more.

I heard this during my bilaterals. I heard it during the speeches of Heads of State and Government. And I heard it during the two high-level events – on climate mobility and sea-level rise – that I hosted.

In doing so, my objective was to elevate shared priorities ahead of COP28 in December, as well as the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States and the Summit of the Future, next year.

And I think we are already seeing some of that momentum in the recent Summit of Pacific Island leaders and United States President Biden, which I wholeheartedly welcome.

Beyond climate, the SDG Summit and its Political Declaration marked the start of a new phase of accelerated progress to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Again, compared to pre-pandemic 2019 SDG Summit, the participation and engagement of leaders was significantly higher: 144 participating States plus the EU spoke at the 2023 SDG Summit, compared to 80 speakers in 2019.  This included 87 Heads of State and Government and 58 Ministers, compared to 64 HoS/HoG and 17 Ministers in 2019.

During the Summit and throughout the Week, we heard stakeholders, SDG Advocates, youth representatives, international financial institutions, the private sector, major group representatives and numerous other stakeholders.

A number of countries called for continued work on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, the use of blended financing mechanisms and efforts to unlock climate financing opportunities.

Other countries confirmed support for the Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus – which, as you know, was launched this year to help offset the challenging conditions that many developing countries face in financial markets.

These are encouraging developments that give me hope that we can close the gaps to 2030.

The Week also featured the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, on 20 September.

The Dialogue offered a platform for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and others to renew their commitments to reform the international financial architecture.

Many countries called for greater efforts to alleviate the debt crisis and for policies to ensure debt sustainability across the world.

Several commitments sought to increase investments and financing for development. On this point, I welcome the announcement of one country to host the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025.

On 21 September, at the Ministerial Meeting on the Summit of the Future, Governments set their vision for the Summit in 2024, outlined expectations for its outcomes and presented proposals on how to strengthen the multilateral system.

 

In addition, the General Assembly held three High-level Meetings on health – an historic opportunity for world leaders to place health squarely on the global agenda.

On 20 September, leaders approved the first ever UN political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, which aims to build momentum towards agreement on a pandemic accord, which is currently being negotiated in Geneva.

On 21 September, at the High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, Governments reaffirmed the right to health for every human being. They recognized the key role of primary health care in achieving universal health coverage by 2030.

At the High-level Meeting on the fight against tuberculosis on 22 September, Governments set targets to end TB by 2030. They committed to mobilise $5 billion a year for research and innovation by 2027, and to reach global investments of at least $22 billion a year, also by 2027.

The High-level Week concluded on Tuesday, 26 September, with the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly to promote and commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

This year, we heard 77 statements – up slightly from 73 last year. I welcome the engagement of some nuclear weapons states in these discussions.

I hope that this will inspire more Member States to heed the call of the overwhelming majority of the international community, including civil society, to take serious action towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

Like many of the calls we heard throughout the Week, this is a moral duty of our time, of our generation. And we must fulfil it for the sake of humanity.

Thank you very much.

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QUESTION AND ANSWERS:

Question: Thank you, Mr. President, on behalf of United Nations Correspondents Association. Valeria Robecco from ANSA Newswire. My question is: during the past week, have you seen any concrete progress or any glimpse of hope on any of the most challenging crises – like the war in Ukraine, the climate change, the 2030 Agenda that is not, like, on the path to reach the Sustainable Development Goals? So, have you seen something positive out of the last week’s High-Level Debate? Thank you so much.

GA President: Thank you, I’m happy to say that I saw an engaged international community recommit, almost as a matter of honour, to completing and delivering the SDGs by 2030. If you think back, it was on the lips of all of those who spoke, because of the crucial importance of sustainable development to civilization on this planet. So, I’m very encouraged and gratified that there’s been this wellspring of good will and commitment that the UN should honour its undertaking to deliver the SDGs. We saw some countries making bold commitments. We saw the private sector accepting their responsibility to play an important role, through partnerships. We saw civil society in the vanguard of the movement to build on the work already done – and to support delivery of the SDGs. So, on balance, I feel very comfortable going forward to the next phase, which is the implementation phase. We also had the three declarations on health. You know, health is something we tend to overlook and take for granted, until … until you don’t have it. When you don’t have it, a mood of desperation descends over us. So, it’s important for the United Nations and for the international community, that there should be increased focus on preserving the health and well-being of the global population. And I’m happy to say that Heads of State and Government focused their attention on doing just that. The pandemic ... the tuberculosis issue is extremely important. We know the damage and the pain and suffering that TB can cause. And I would urge and encourage all delegations to participate actively and fulsomely in those negotiations that are ongoing in Geneva so that we get the best possible outcome. Thank you.

Question: Thank you, Mr. President, for this press briefing today. I’m working for Azerbaijan News Agency Report. So, I have two questions. And my first question is the landmine crisis and humanitarian disaster in Azerbaijan. So, Azerbaijan is currently considered one of the most mine contaminated country in the world. According to Azerbaijani Government, during the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani land, Armenia had planted almost 1 million landmines. Since November 2020, more than 300 Azerbaijani civilians died, and two of them were journalists, they were my colleagues. And 6,000 injured because of mine explosions. So, despite the end of the conflict, Armenia refused to share accurate and comprehensive information about the map. So, my question is about what is your position in this regard? Do you have any plans to work on these problems? To solve or to get some .. because this is a disaster. And my second question is Azerbaijan’s role as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and contribution into 2030 SDGs. Thank you very much.

GA President: The situation you describe is one of concern. The international law prescribes that there are certain categories of weapons that ought not to be used in international conflict. I would encourage all combatants, wherever they may be, to follow the international law because of the humanitarian consequences and the pain and suffering that those weapons inflict upon not just combatants, but civilian populations. I would urge all combatants to honour their obligations under the relevant international law.

Question: So, I’ll ask my first question and maybe I will have another chance later. Thank you for this press briefing. Nabil Abi Saab, Al-Araby TV station. We heard a lot of statements about the reform in the Security Council, and especially on the veto power and how the Security Council is facing a deadlock on many peace processes and issues they discuss. What do you think the first step should be? Where the process of the reform should start? Can you give us any new thoughts – maybe out of the box because this has been addressed for a long time and we don’t see any progress.

GA President: The first thing I’d like to say in response, is that Security Council reform is not an event. We will not awaken tomorrow morning, or one morning next week, and find the Security Council has been reformed. It is a process. It is an ongoing process, and therefore, driven by the members. As well it should be a process because it is not a simple task to reform the Security Council. The existing structures were designed for a world back in the late 1940s that no longer exists today. Geopolitically, the world is quite different. We’re moving towards a multipolar world. There are a number of new members to the United Nations who were not present when the Charter was promulgated. In fact, most of the global South did not exist. They exist now. some of them with very large populations and very important roles in their regional situations. So, we do need to rethink the structure of the Security Council so that it more aptly represents current realities of global politics. That is going to be a process that will continue to engage the House for some time. But what I would say is, however it comes out, the Charter defines in clear terms what the role of the Security Council is. And what we need is a Security Council that is fit for purpose, and ready and capable of executing its mandate, however long that process might take. Thank you.

Question: Thank you, President. First of all, congratulations not only for you, but for your country to have you as a President. Mine is first a follow up – because my question was the same – on a specific:  Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Security Council, he said that to have General Assembly as kind of a veto to override a veto exercised by some member, permanent member of the Security Council – he was talking about basically giving the power to the General Assembly to decide on the hand if the veto can be.. you know. I understand, my question is: is it feasible reform for the Charter? I mean, I understand what you’re saying, it’s a process but do you think it was just a, you know, a proposal like that or is it feasible? Then my question at this point, is a question I asked to one of your predecessors: Is there any power available to the President of the UN General Assembly that was not used before and that you would like to use?

GA President: The powers of the President of the General Assembly are dictated by the rules of procedure. And those powers are not powers that the President arrogates unto himself. Those powers are powers that members of the General Assembly confer on the President of the General Assembly. So, to the extent that Members want to add powers to the President of the General Assembly, it is entirely in their discretion to do so. The President of the General Assembly is in some ways, in many ways, a servant of the General Assembly, so I’ll take my cue from what they decide.

Question: Alright, Mr. President, we have seven High-Level Meetings and four political declarations. But listen to what two of my colleagues asked: Azerbaijan, Security Council reform, Ukraine, General Assembly power – I mean, none of those are in those seven High-Level Meetings. What do you think is the meaning for having those different meetings, while we’re not really put our priority on those High-Level Meetings? And what experience have you gained from organising the GA General Debate Week? Thank you.

GA President: We’ve had good outcomes. We’ve had exceptionally good outcomes. But those outcomes have come at a cost. It was unarguably the most intense High-Level Week we’ve had – and required delegates, Heads of State and Government, members of the UN team literally running back and forth. I think one of the lessons learned is to manage the number of meetings and encounters much more stringently. Though I have to say, that given that it would have been a GA coming out of COVID-19 when all of the restrictions were in place, one can understand why it was necessary to have these encounters. Because fundamentally, things are going off track. And we are at the midway point. So, it’s not something to be ignored or swept under the carpet. We needed to engage members so they could come to New York and give further guidance and make further commitments on all of the issues that are before us. And they did that. So, it was successful. But with a cost that perhaps we can manage better in the future. I think you asked the question as to the difference ...

Question: Celhia de la Varene, from Africa Confidential. Mr. President, you talked about the world reconnecting during High-Level Week. Would you say the Africa continent reconnected with the Occident? Because it does not seem that way, at least to me.

of what you achieved this week on the SDGs. You said it was on the lips of all of those who spoke. But, I’m going to ask you: Yes are they saying the right things but are you convinced they are going to do the right things? Because certainly, the Secretary-General has said he wants to see more concrete action, particularly from the G20, on issues like global debt, reform of global financial institutions and, of course, on climate. And if I may, a second rather cheeky and self-serving question because this is the 13th General Assembly I’ve covered, you say at the beginning “you have 15 minutes”. They, then, all talk for 30, 40 or 50 minutes. Would it be sensible of you to write to some of the delegations who went double over their limit and say, “it’s 15 minutes next year”?

GA President: Well, the first thing is, for the seventy ninth session of the General Assembly, I will not be sitting in this chair. That will be for my successor to do. But, it did happen, in some instances, speakers went over the time limit. Some. And I should say, it’s not entirely unusual that that happens. It’s awkward, to say the least, disciplining sovereigns, particularly when those sovereigns are extremely senior. And so, this is the reason why we provide the info upfront that the time limit is 5 minutes as the case might be. 15 minutes in the general debate and that in order to ensure that we complete the list of speakers, we entreat all speakers to observe the limits, hoping that they will. The other question you asked about whether I’m, in fact, sure or confident, that commitments given during High-Level Week will in fact be honoured: What’s fantastic about it is that these commitments were made in public, in front of you guys – who influence public opinion. So, my question to you is, how will you react if you detect over time that commitments made have not, in fact, been honoured? I take, I take the words of Heads of State and Government at face value. And I do so because when they give those commitments, they are in the full exercise of their sovereign authority. So of course, we’d like to have commitments honoured. It is going to be an extraordinary contribution towards achieving the SDGs that the world so desperately needs. At the end of the day, the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating.

GA President: I don’t think it would be accurate to describe Africa as not being connected to the processes we’ve had last week. In fact, African countries, through their diplomatic missions in New York, have played important roles in the intergovernmental processes that have taken place over several months to prepare for GA78. Extremely important roles. The fact, however, that there appears to be a tendency for militarisation in Africa, constitutes in my view a retrograde step. And its retrograde because of the uncertainty it brings, the potential for harm to people, the potential for loss of life, the potential for massive displacement of large numbers of people – and all that that implies for their human rights and humanitarian rights. However, that does not in my view, constitute a basis for deciding that Africa is not engaged. Fully engaged. We’ve had members of the African Group co-facilitate important processes that have produced these declarations. The African Group itself has been very active in all the intergovernmental processes. But clearly, something is happening on the ground in Africa that is not consistent with the values and principles of the UN, and I think we need to do a proper examination as to why that’s the case – to see whether there are ways in which we can encourage democratic norms be upheld in Africa.

Question: Thank you, Mr. President. Javier from the Spanish newswire, EFE. My question is on the Credentials Committee – a body appointed by the General Assembly. We’d like to have some transparency. When are they meeting? Which cases are they treating this year, I understand at least Afghanistan again, and Myanmar and Niger – can you confirm that? And can we expect a decision on these issues?

GA President: You’re asking me, in fact, to guess. It is not something I’m inclined to do. And I say this because you’re quite right. The Credentials Committee has not met and will not be meeting for some time. I don’t know. I cannot foretell what’s on the agenda of the Credentials Committee. At such time as they’ve met and taken decisions, they will provide a report to the General Assembly and then we’ll be able to see what were the issues that they took up. But, so I’m in no position to guess. They have the authority in the rules of procedure to consider those issues. I’m absolutely sure that when they met and they have taken decisions, those decisions will be known to us. It’s not opaque, it’s just procedural. There’s no opacity in there. It’s just procedural.

Question: Thank you, Monica. And congratulations, Mr. President. My question was about Security Council reform, my colleagues Nabil and Stefano, they have asked. So, I turn to Afghanistan. As President of the General Assembly, what is your message to the Taliban, especially in terms the rights of women and girls? And sir, my second question is on sport. You’re a diplomat, sir, from a cricket playing nation. The World Cup is beginning next week – what message do you have for the cricketers of the world?

GA President: For the Government of Afghanistan, I would urge, I would urge that they honour the international human rights of all Afghan citizens: men, women and children. I’m well aware there is a particular problem as it affects women and girls. They are denied the right to an education. And I believe there was a decision taken very recently to deny Afghan citizens working for the United Nations. Now, there is no right any citizen of any country in the world has to work for the United Nations. That’s a privilege. As regards the treatment of women and girls, however, like the Government of Afghanistan – all men – they have inalienable rights. Women and girls have inalienable rights. Human rights, that must be upheld and honoured. So, I would urge the Afghan authorities to reconsider the policy and allow girls to go to school, to get an education, so that they can play a role in the development of their communities and society. They can add value in making Afghanistan a strong, cohesive State, which I’m sure they want to become. And not create a sense of hopelessness by keeping girls out of school. It is not a behaviour that is going to strengthen the country. If anything, it is likely to weaken the country. So, I entreat them to reconsider this policy sooner rather than later. It is the only country, I believe, in the world now, where this is happening, where girls are not allowed an education. It is inconceivable, really, that this should be the case. It is an anachronism. It is a global anachronism. And anachronisms need to be fixed.

GA President: Ah yes. Cricket, they say, is a sport of gentlemen, and skill, but also of temperament. We’re very much looking forward to the tournament. I come from the West Indies and therefore, the West Indies is in the heart of every West Indian. But what I would like to say is that I hope all the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure the games are successful, that they are drug free and that the spirit of competition remains high, so that we can have an excellent tournament.

GA President: Do I believe from men should refrain from running the next time around? No. No. I believe that men should run next time around. As I believe women should run in their numbers. Because what I would want to happen is for a woman to win in those circumstances. Not from a field of women. That would be the wrong message. The message has to be: women are and can be as productive, as competent, as resourceful, as efficient as any man. So, I would like a field of candidates, men and women. But I’d like for a woman to win because it has never been done before. We have to .. the only way we can make meaningful progress on an issue such as this, is that we have to break through the old norms. We have to create new realities, so that little girls everywhere can aspire to being whatever they are. I tell you, I once, and I’m not saying this to be polite. But I once took a flight, an early morning flight, from Jamacia to Miami. When I got aboard the aircraft – it was an American Airlines aircraft – captain and co- were women. It is the smoothest landing I’ve ever experienced in flight. I’m telling you, as light as a feather. That is supposed to be a male dominated profession. So..

Question: I am Deandre Williamson from Nassau, Bahamas. I work for Jones Communications Network, the Bahama Journal. I have a question for you, Mr. President. During the General Assembly, a lot of world .. several world leaders, and particularly Caricom leaders, called for a resolution, calling on the Security Council for a resolution on Haiti for a multinational force. So, how soon can we expect to hear from the UN Security Council on this matter? Any update on that?

GA President: I would hope sooner rather than later. In fact, I’m inclined to believe that such a resolution, being taken to the Security Council, is imminent. It needs to be imminent. It needs to be quick because of what is taking place on the ground in Haiti. The security situation in Haiti has deteriorated at an alarming rate, and clearly requires something to be done. People are marooned in their homes. They cannot leave their homes to go grocery shopping. Children are unable to go to school. Rape is being used as a method of violence and subjugation, while these gun-toting gangs literally terrorising the civilian population. It has to stop. It has to stop. Therefore, I would hope the Security Council can see its way quickly, to consider the resolution and give its assent to it to make it possible for the force to go in. That will be the start, one hopes, of the re-democratisation of Haiti, which is also extremely important. But for the moment, re-democratisation cannot begin in earnest while the security situation persists as it is.

Question: I’m from Nepal. I’m here as a UN RAF fellow. My question, Mr. President, is that you have mentioned that world needs peace, Ukraine needs peace. So, you met during the High-Level General Assembly session, you met with Lavrov and Zelensky. So, during the conversation with them, did you find any room, negotiation room to broker this deal? Thank you.

GA President: My conversations with both of them focused primarily on getting the guns to go silent; stopping the war. War is never, you know, how do you win a war when you’ve lost millions of lives, destroyed the economy of a country? Its basic public infrastructure, electricity, water distribution systems. How do you win? How do you win when hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives or have been maimed permanently or scarred psychologically for life. How do you win when hundreds of thousands of people are in desperate need of humanitarian care and support, and it may not be easy to reach them? So, winning a war, in my view, might be situational. And for that reason, I pressed them both on bringing the war to an end sooner rather than later.

Question: Thank you. I am from South Sudan and I work for The Insider, South Sudan, and also a RAF Fellow. So, I would like to get your thoughts, Mr. President on two things. First, during the General Assembly, you know South Sudan is trying to implement the peace agreement they have .. I mean after the conflict. A lot of things are still lagging. The President did call for the lifting of the arms embargo. I would like to get your thoughts on that. And secondly, one of the things that has never been talked about is the recent crackdown on press freedom, especially in Africa. We have seen a lot of arrests and trampling under .. I mean of press freedom in most parts of Africa. I would like to get your thoughts on how to improve the environment of press freedom in those places.

GA President: Press freedom. It’s a basic condition, really, and principle of democracy. And I would hope that not just in Africa, but across the world that Governments would accept press freedom as necessary. Not just necessary, but advantageous. That’s how you build a strong polity. One of the ways in which you build a strong polity. Freedom of expression. It is enshrined in the Magna Carta. People must be free to think and act independently of the State. It’s the power of ideas that win, not the power to subjugate people or to control their thoughts. That’s why elections are important. It is the contention between differing ideas and viewpoints that make for choice of Government. So, I would urge that freedom of expression be honoured in Africa, as elsewhere. But of course, the press also has responsibility. That responsibility is to ensure accuracy and not particularly in these times of fake news, and fake information. It is extremely important that people are able to trust what they are being fed by the media. Because people often act, they make decisions about their own lives and livelihoods based on what they’re hearing, what they’re getting from the media. And because most people, certainly the traditional press, most people tend to believe what they read in the press. So, there is a responsibility there as well, that the press has, to ensure accuracy in their reporting. So, as an intern, I think that is an important lesson to keep in mind as you grow in your profession.

Question: My name is Sinan Tuncdemir, from Rudaw, the Kurdish outlet. My question is that if there is going to be a reform, this reform is going to include anything for stateless nations. For example, there is more than 40 million Kurds around the world, and unfortunately, they do not have a chair at the UN. The question is: is this fair, do you think? Or do you think if this is going to be fair .. sorry if there is going to be any reform, this reform is going to include anything for stateless nations?

GA President: That’s a big one. The formula we now have recognizes established States. One of the requirements of which is you must have a clearly defined territory. That’s how the UN is structured now. You must have a clearly defined territory. I can’t project what the outcome of the reform would be. I’m in no position to project that. It’s a very dynamic process, because you have 193 Member States who will be working on this, bringing forward ideas and proposals. We do not know what the eventual form will be. But I think this is an issue for Kurdish people themselves to engage in, to make strategic decisions about. Because you said there are approximately 60,000 people, Kurdish people, distributed across the world. Perhaps it is something that they might want to spend some time taking a careful look at.

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