Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Javier Perez De Cuellar
– Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
– Syria
– COVID-19
– Turkey/Greece
– Mediterranean
– Women
– AIDS
– Food Price Index
– Financial Contribution
JAVIER PEREZ DE CUELLAR
As you saw in a statement we issued last night, the Secretary-General expressed his sadness at the passing of his predecessor, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, whom the Secretary-General called an accomplished statesman, a committed diplomat and a personal inspiration who left a profound impact on the United Nations and our world.
Mr. Pérez de Cuéllar’s life spanned not only a century but also the entire history of the United Nations, dating back to his participation in the first meeting of the General Assembly in 1946.
His tenure coincided with two distinct eras in international affairs: first, some of the iciest years of the Cold War, and then, with the ideological confrontation at an end, a time when the UN began to play more fully the role envisaged by the founders. Mr. Pérez de Cuéllar played a crucial role in a number of diplomatic successes – including the independence of Namibia, an end to the Iran-Iraq War, the release of American hostages from Lebanon, the peace accord in Cambodia and, in his very last days in office, a historic peace agreement in El Salvador.
The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to Mr. Pérez de Cuéllar’s family, the Peruvian people and so many others around the world and in this building whose lives were touched by a remarkable and compassionate global leader who left our world a better place.
I also want to note that former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has written to the President of Peru, saying that Secretary-General Pérez de Cuéllar, as a protector of peace, believer of human rights and advocate of development, made long-lasting changes that shifted the trajectory of the international community for a better future. And that letter has been shared with you electronically.
And tomorrow, the UN flag – here and at every duty station around the world – will be at half mast in honour of the former Secretary-General.
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
I have a statement on the fiftieth anniversary of the entry-into-force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons:
The Secretary-General congratulates the States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) on the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty’s entry-into-force on 5 March 1970.
Throughout the past half century, the NPT has served as an essential pillar of international peace and security, and the heart of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. It has conferred tangible security benefits on all its States parties. Its unique status is based on its near universal membership, legally-binding obligations on disarmament, verifiable non-proliferation safeguards regime, and commitment to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
At the 2020 Review Conference, States Parties will evaluate the implementation of the Treaty’s provisions since 2015 and identify areas and means through which further progress can be made. The Secretary-General calls on States Parties to make the most of this opportunity to strengthen international peace and security through the promotion of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament, as well as measures to strengthen implementation of the NPT and achieve its universality.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=05%20March%202020
