Georgia & other topics - PGA Spokesperson's Briefing…

Wednesday, 7 June 2023

GUAM

Starting with today’s General Assembly schedule.

Today at 3PM ET… Member States will meet in a formal plenary to discuss protracted conflicts in the GUAM area, that’s Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova.

Action is expected on a resolution submitted by Georgia.

It is on the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia.

There are currently 10 Member States inscribed to speak before the vote.

I will include the List of Speakers link in my notes  Live List of Speakers

PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS

Also today, starting at 10AM ET, Member States met in informal consultations to discuss the political declaration for the high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

ECOSOC ELECTION

Tomorrow as you know, at 10AM will be the ECOSOC elections.

First, Member States will fill the seat of the member from the Western European and other States region that is relinquishing its seat before the end of its term. This in accordance with Rule 140 of the rules of procedure.

Monaco is the Chair of this group for May 2023, and in a note verbale, wrote that Greece has communicated its decision to relinquish its seat in favour of Türkiye for the 2024-2025 term. The Group of Western European and other States has endorsed this candidature.

In addition to this by-election, Member States will proceed with the election of the one remaining vacancy for a member from the Eastern European States for the 2023.

This will be the tenth unrestricted ballot… and the 23rd overall round of balloting for this seat.

Unrestricted means that it is open to any candidates from the Eastern European States, except those who are current members of ECOSOC (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Slovakia and Slovenia).

On the ballot paper, the two nominated Member States will appear – so the Russian Federation and North Macedonia, but Member States could nominate or write in other Member States.

In terms of the votes needed, candidate that receives a two-thirds majority of members present and voting and the greatest number of votes will be declared elected.

Once this election is done, the election of 18 members of the Economic and social Council will take place immediately after.

There are 20 candidates:

SAND

Also tomorrow, the Assembly will take a decision on draft resolution A/77/L.72 entitled “International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms”.

BILATERALS

Back to the President’s schedule for today…

Among his bilaterals, he met with the PGA-elect, Ambassador Dennis Francis. This is in the context of the transition from the 77th to the 78th session.

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked what happens in the ECOSOC elections if a Member States doesn’t get the 2/3 majority. The Spokesperson said it would go to the next round.