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UN / NEW PGA BOZKIR
STORY: UN / NEW PGA BOZKIR
TRT: 2:55
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 JUNE 2020, NEW YORK CITY
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters exterior
22 JUNE 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiple screen, participants
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Volkan Bozkir, President-elect of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly:
"We are faced with serious immediate problems in different parts of the world, including humanitarian crises, deadly conflicts, and COVID-19. These are global problems, and they require global responses. Multilateralism is the most effective way to seek successful global solutions. The General Assembly, as the parliament of the world, is uniquely situated to steer our multilateral efforts. This is why presiding over the UN membership is a big responsibly. I am aware of this, and I will discharge this duty with utmost care."
4. Med shot, Guterres attending virtual meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Volkan Bozkir, President-elect of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly:
"I will use, to the extent possible, the moral authority and the soft power of the President of the General Assembly. The guiding principles of my presidency will be impartiality, effectiveness, transparency, and non-discrimination. During my tenure, all three pillars of the UN, namely peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights, will receive equal and balanced attention from my office in a way that acknowledges their connections in the world outside these walls.”
6. Med shot, Muhammad-Bande in conference room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Volkan Bozkir, President-elect of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly:
"In our collective response to the pandemic, we must focus on the special needs of the most vulnerable across the three pillars of the United Nations. We must build back better and recognize that no one is safe until we are all safe."
8. Multiple screen, participants
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the United Nations General Assembly:
“This week, we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations. This occasion reminds us of the need to re-commit to multilateralism, as we are one humankind, one world, and one United Nations.”
10. Multiple screen, participants
11. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“And day in and day out, the Assembly will need to address the full range of global challenges, from climate change to human rights, from gender equality and our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. You bring decades of diverse diplomatic experience to the task. I agree with your sense that we must “build back better” from the pandemic – and address the severe inequalities and fragilities that the crisis has so painfully exposed. I especially welcome your intention to build trust among countries; this is essential for progress at any time, but especially now.”
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
12. Close up, United Nations flag outside headquarters
General Assembly President-elect, Volkan Bozkir said the UN body, “as the parliament of the world, is uniquely situated to steer our multilateral efforts” in the face of global challenges, “including humanitarian crises, deadly conflicts, and COVID-19.”
Addressing the General Assembly today in a virtual meeting, Bozkir said as President of the General Assembly he would be serving all UN member states. He highlighted the importance of working in harmony with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, adding that his efforts would complement Guterres’s agenda and priorities.
Bozkir is the first Turkish national to be elected to the post. He was elected on 17 June in a secret ballot held without a plenary meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President-elect said the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health challenge and humanitarian crisis, but it is also a threat with social, political and economic consequences and human rights repercussions. He added that due to challenges cause by COVID-19 upholding the UN charter and restoring people's faith in international institutions with the UN at their centre is crucial.
Bozkir said he would use “the moral authority and the soft power of the President of the General Assembly.” He stressed that the guiding principles of his presidency will be impartiality, effectiveness, transparency, and non-discrimination. He added, “During my tenure, all three pillars of the UN, namely peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights, will receive equal and balanced attention from my office in a way that acknowledges their connections in the world outside these walls.”
Bozkir said, "In our collective response to the pandemic, we must focus on the special needs of the most vulnerable across the three pillars of the United Nations. We must build back better and recognize that no one is safe until we are all safe."
The President-elect said the UN General Assembly represents the collective conscience and will of the international community, adding that it was an honour and privilege to serve as President of the UN body.
Current General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said this week marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations. He added, “This occasion reminds us of the need to re-commit to multilateralism, as we are one humankind, one world, and one United Nations.”
Muhammad-Bande said the landscape in a post-coronavirus world would require urgent action to guarantee recovery and to build back better. He said he was encouraged by the President-elect’s pledge to renew the Assembly’s collective commitment to multilateralism and his inclusive approach to ensure the full participation and engagement of Member States and other relevant stakeholders.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Bozkir would preside across a crucial year in the life of the Organization. He said the priority would be to continue the UN’s wide-ranging response to COVID-19, adding that the General Assembly would need to also address “the full range of global challenges, from climate change to human rights, from gender equality and our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.” He said the President-elect brings “decades of diverse diplomatic experience to the task” and welcomed his intentions to build trust among countries, which he said was “essential for progress at any time, but especially now.”
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