HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MIROSLAV LAJČÁK

United Nations Headquarters, New York

29 November 2017

This morning the President delivered remarks to a special meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
He said we can show our solidarity through humanitarian assistance. But our responsibility to the Palestinian people extends beyond humanitarian support.
He added that international solidarity must be used to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question.
He stressed that Palestinian people do not need our sympathy – they deserve our solidarity.
Asked whether the President felt that he should issue a separate statement on the 70^th anniversary of General Assembly resolution 181, the Spokesperson responded that the President had already spoken about that exact issue in his statement at today’s observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

This afternoon, the General Assembly plenary will consider four draft resolutions related to the question of Palestine — and two draft resolutions on the situation in the Middle East.
In his remarks to that meeting, the President is expected to say that there can be no alternative to direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators; that there is a continuing need for political support from international, regional and national actors; and that positive momentum must be maintained and increased.

Asked why the President had not attended an award ceremony entitled “Powering the Future We Want/UN DESA Energy Grant” on 21 November, even though he had been invited, the Spokesperson noted that the President regularly received invitations to many different types of events and that his schedule often changed frequently. On the day and time in question, the President had attended a working lunch related to a high-level Caribbean Community (CARICOM) hurricane relief pledging conference.
The Spokesperson was asked whether the President knew that the award ceremony had involved the China Energy Fund Committee, whose head had been linked to corruption allegations and which was accredited to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The journalist also asked whether the President knew about the corruption allegations and what he thought about them. The Spokesperson said that the President was aware of the allegations but that it was not for him to comment on such matters.
Asked to arrange a press briefing featuring the President of ECOSOC, the Spokesperson replied that the General Assembly was a separate organ from ECOSOC; therefore, he would be unable to organize such an encounter. Noting that the journalist had already sent inquiries to ECOSOC, the Spokesperson said it was up to ECOSOC to respond.