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Ukraine, Security Council & other topics - PGA Spokesperson's Briefing
Tuesday, 6 June 2023
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UKRAINE
Let me start with the war in Ukraine…
President Csaba Kőrösi says that he stands in solidarity with the families and communities suffering from the major human-made ecological disaster in the Kherson region.
Intentional attacks to cause long-term and severe damage to the natural environment are war crimes, the President wrote in a tweet.
Related tweet:nbsp;https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1666119360765734913
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SECURITY COUNCIL
Here in New York…
General Assembly Member States today elected Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia as non-permanent Security Council members, for a two-year term starting on 1 January 2024.
Presiding over the elections, President Kőrösi congratulated the Member States.
He also thanked the tellers for their support to the elections.
For those interested, there was one round of elections.
And Member States voted on blue ballot paper.
All the successful candidates then went to the stakeout outside of the General Assembly Hall. You can get their remarks on UN WebTV.
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BILATERALS
Turning to the President’s bilaterals today…
The President will meet this afternoon with Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. They are likely to discuss plans for the SDG Summit, among other issues.
He will also meet with the Group of Friends on Science for Action, comprised of the Permanent Representatives of Belgium, India and South Africa.
You can expect the UN Water Conference to be on the agenda.
The President has been calling for urgent implementation of the gamechangers and the pledges made under the Water Action Agenda.
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BAZAAR
And this hour, the President is at the International Bazaar in the Visitors’ Lobby and outside the 46thnbsp;street doors.
The Bazaar is an opportunity to share traditional goods and cuisine.
And as the President says, it’s easy to make friendships over a table.
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QUESTIONS
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The Spokesperson was asked whether President Kőrösi believes the Kherson events constitute a war crime. The Spokesperson said that it is unclear right now what happened and by whom – as the press heard from Stephane – but if there are “intentional attacks to cause long-term and severe damage to the natural environment” in line with Rome Statute Article 8, then yes, the President would think that would be a war crime.
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The Spokesperson was asked how the UN could go about investigating Kherson. The Spokesperson said that the President of the General Assembly does not have investigative powers.
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