UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : UN Geneva Press Briefing: UNOG Director-General

[Other language spoken]

Welcome to the press briefing of the Information Service here in Geneva.

Today is Tuesday, 16th of December.

And as you have seen in our correspondence, we are starting this press briefing earlier because we have the the great pleasure to welcome the Director General of the UN Office at Geneva, Mrs Tatiana Bellavia, who is going to talk to you as you had requested that Kenwood requested in particular.

And we thank them for that by giving you, she will start by giving you a little introductory speech statement and then we will open the floor to questions.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much and it's a pleasure to be here.

And see all of you, we meet regularly during different events, but it's a really pleasure to be here and brief you upon the developments here in Unoch and about our plans for the future.

Because the year slowly but steadily goes to the end.

And at the end of the year, we always look backwards and forwards.

And I would like to share with you certain things, certain milestones of this year, 2025 and our plans for 2026.

Of course, you are well aware that the year 2025 has been a very challenging year.

It has been testing our resilience and our liquidity situation of our UN system has been rather challenging.

So there were many, many issues we had to address.

But I would like to say that nevertheless, taking into account the situation where really under these difficult conditions we have, I think, delivered rather tangible results.

Quite often we forget how important and strong international Geneva is.

And when you look at the figures, for example, and compare them with the progress, you can see that we're getting stronger.

For example, in the year 2024 we had facilitated 8500 meetings, but in the year 2025, which has not yet finished, we have facilitated 808,700 meetings.

That means the Geneva remains a very important place for meetings, for multilateral dialogue, for very important events taking place here.

And apart from our regular events of which you of course well aware of our sessions of your Human Rights Council, of conference on the summit of World Health Assembly, of ILO governing bodies meeting this year we also had a summit of speakers organised by Inter Parliamentary Union.

We had a plastic conference in August.

And for me this really symbolises the growing important of Geneva as a meeting place for the world to discuss very important and topics which really have priority for the world.

At the same time, very interesting figure even for me was to check how many visitors we had over this year and from January to November, December is not included.

We have welcomed practically 900 visitors.

Just think practically about a million of people are visiting them 900.

[Other language spoken]

800 OK, No 800,000 yeah, thousand, yes.

800,000 well, practically a million, well 880,000 practically 1,000,000 of people are visiting parley every year.

These are of course delegates, these are staff members, these are permanent missions, these are visitors.

But that's a lot of people who come to the parley and work here.

And I think that's a very important a thing for us to remember.

Speaking just about visitors, again, it's a very important part of our outreach activities.

And again, comparing 2024, we had 37,000 of visitors.

This year, we already had 46,000 of visitors.

Taking into account that half of the parley is still under renovation, I think that really shows the growing interest of citizens, people who are serving to come to the parade to learn more about the United Nations and speaking about reconstruction there.

2025 was a very important year for us.

We have reopened Building A, the Assembly Hall, and we are now using it's very, very regularly.

We have reopened Building AB with its conference rooms.

We closed the library for renovation and had, I think, the greatest migration of books in history of our library.

We have more than 43 kilometres of books and all these 3043 kilometres have been transitioned to the storage.

The library is open for work.

We have found other places for reading rooms and for their offices and they provide services online and offline.

But this great migration, I think that's something which is very, very important because it shows how important our, our library is, which contains also the archives of League of Nations, Archives of Human Rights Declaration and many, many other important documents.

And of course, all of us have moved to the building S, those who were supposed to move to the building S And that's very, very important.

Also, of course, it's very important that in the year 2025, UN 80 initiative was launched by Secretary general.

Yesterday we had a very good meeting with Under Secretary Guy Ryder to discuss the updates on the UN80 initiative.

And I think that's very, very important to say that all parts of the United Nations systems you never included are actively participated in discussions within this initiative and are preparing the ideas.

Well, you're well aware that there are three parts to this initiative, 3 dimensions.

One, it's about efficiencies.

It's about making us more fit, more resilient and more efficient in the modern world.

And part of this decisions is a reviewed budget which is now with a fifth committee, the budget which is smaller then the budget we had in 2024 and 2025.

The budget.

The budget has been proposed.

The cuts to the budget are about 15% and the cuts to the number of posts is about 18%.

This was offered exactly as a result of our interaction with the Member States Who really want to see the system slimmer but more efficient.

That's one dimension.

The second dimension is about the mandates and the mandate review is underway and there are for Co facilitators from New Zealand and Jamaica who are leading this work and they will be coming to Geneva in January again to discuss with the Geneva community how the work is going on and to have interaction and to seek the input.

And the third dimension is structure shifting priorities.

So this was launched in May 2025, but of course the year 2026 will be also the year when we will be really implementing all these decisions, all these ideas and also thinking about further steps.

So speaking about the year 2026, we really absolutely sure that you know and international Geneva will continue to play a very important role in global diplomacy.

And one of the thing which is very important and I really would like to draw your attention to the fact it's there belief or the member states that really this place is very important.

Why I am so sure there is belief because last year when we asked to increase the budget for SHP project, we received their support because you know the budget was approved in the year well 2015 and of course since 2015 there was a growing inflation etcetera.

So SHP project asked for a increase in budget, even less than the inflation here in Switzerland over these ten years, and we receive the support.

So that shows that the member states really believe that we need Paladinacion as a modern, comfortable International Centre where the countries are meeting and discussing and making decisions.

So then this year, 2026, I will see the next stages of our project, our plan in spring to reopen Building C, That means the Council Chamber, the traditional room where conference on disarmament meets, a new room which was supported by our colleagues from China, which will be also conference room.

And of course, the last but not the least, we will have a press bar reopen and it will be bigger than before.

And I think it will be even more attractive to visitors, to journalists than it was before.

We will also go with the renovation or the E building.

You know we closed it in August in no mid-september, closed east building mid-september.

Now the process is going on already.

Now it's the part when the asbestos is taken off and then it will be slowly demolished step by step because we are preserving of course the basis the four floors from this east building where there are conference rooms.

So it's a very gentle process of demolishing the top with preserving and of course renovating the the basics.

So SHP project will go on, but it's not the only construction we are having there where you see just at the entrance to the our compound, the building or the parte de nation.

Then you visit the centre which is the generous donation of Geneva based foundation, Parte Donation Foundation.

So this will be the building which will reopen next year, which will be able to welcome up to 180,000 visitors per year, which will be a dedicated place for entry for the visitors.

And we're of course looking forward to have more opportunities to tell people about activities or the United Nation.

Also, we have started another construction and also not with the money from the UN regular budget, but another very generous donation from another Geneva based foundation.

We started construction over new archives building.

[Other language spoken]

The library has been growing since the time when it was constructed, but in the 30s we need new storage, storage for our physical archive, storage for our digital archives is a very important project.

We really need for our system and we are very happy that we have secured this generous donation which allows us to start this project.

So we have many projects to work on sustainable development with our Beyond lab.

We work a lot with our partners in other UN family here.

But of course, the key issue for us for the year 2025 really to become stronger, maybe we will be less numerous, but I am absolutely sure that Geneva echo system will remain a very important echo system in the world.

Very, very stronger UN entities are remaining here in Geneva.

Although, as I had, we have to make certain changes to the number of people.

And I am absolutely sure, well, that the next year will bring more events here to Geneva, events about which you will be writing.

And I'm very grateful to you really, that you are writing about Geneva, raising issues and really drawing attention to the situation here.

Without you, of course, international Geneva wouldn't be the same.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very.

Much I try to be as quick as possible.

Thank you very much, DG.

Thank you for this introductory remarks and I see a lot of hands up.

I'll start with Kathryn Khan, Francois and President of Akano.

So thank you, Madam DG for being here this morning.

And I'd like to come back on what you mentioned regarding the UN80 initiative.

First of all, as you you said, Geneva press score is very important, but we can't live without Eunice.

And we've heard that Eunice will be highly affected by funding cuts.

And this is really problematic for us because we have less and less access to information.

So is there and and we know that in fact the majority of the news is produced by Geneva before New York.

So is there anything that you could in any information that you could provide us regarding Eunice and the access for the Geneva Press Corps to information?

And my second question is regarding the meeting that took place yesterday afternoon with Mr Guy Ryder in the Palais at the Assembly Hall.

[Other language spoken]

Because also the Geneva Press Corps would like to to know more about the decisions that are affecting, as you mentioned, all of us.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Catherine.

Speaking about Eunice, Well, well, of course Eunice is affected by the cuts like everybody else.

I said that unfortunately it's unavoidable.

Of course, the Eunice is also affected by the early retirement programme.

Some people plan to leave earlier than we hope so, but I will always support Eunice in order, well really to bring new people if we can.

And we know that we have the support also in New York.

Whatever can be done will try to do so for us, Eunice is a very important part of our activities here.

So there will be challenges, but we really hope to work together with you in order to find the solutions.

Speaking about yesterday's meeting, as I said, we had yesterday briefing for Mr Guy Ryder.

It was a virtual meeting for him.

He was in New York and physically the Member states were in the Assembly Hall.

It was our initiative to bring him here, well, if not personally, but on the screen exactly, to listen to the latest development of UN80 initiative and give him an opportunity to listen to the position of the member states.

It was a very, very fruitful meeting and he really well send a message that everybody holds that Geneva will become stronger which remain remain as a very important ecosystem or the United Nations family.

He was very attentively listening to all their presentations through the Member States.

We will understand that of course the Member States are the same in New York and in Geneva, but here there are additional angles and here the Member states are talking a lot about necessity to support humanitarian sector, to support human rights dimension.

They speak a lot about sustainable development, including support for least developed nations.

So these were issues which were really very, very important and that allowed us to bring this again because we had Mr Ryder here during this year several times to have this exchange and to understand that the next big exchange will be exactly as I said in in January when 2 Co facilitators of mandate review dimension will come to Geneva.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Sorry, Jamie, I've I've got Christian on this side.

Christian Enrique is the German news agency.

[Other language spoken]

We are seeing a diplomatic flurry in many different countries to try and end the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Although this is a violation of the UN Charter, the UN hasn't been seem to be very active.

Of course, this is a New York issue, I understand that.

But Geneva is also a diplomatic capital and UN Geneva has facilitated many peace negotiations in in many different contexts, contexts.

I wonder whether you think the UN has missed an opportunity here to step in and be helpful to end this situation.

[Other language spoken]

Well, as you said, it's of course the issue for New York, for our colleagues in New York, and of course, when our colleagues in New York, when the Member States ask us for the meditation mediation, when they ask us to support the talks, we're always very happy and very proud to do so.

It was not the case up till now.

We were never approached.

So, well, we stand still and as I said, whenever we can take any conflict, when the parties want to come to the Geneva, when they want to their mediation of the United Nations, our doors are always open.

[Other language spoken]

DG Associated Press Jamie Keaton.

Thank you, Madame Valavaya for coming to see us.

I'm over to your left if you don't see me.

You mentioned, you mentioned Guy Ryder and obviously we would have liked to hear from him if you could.

[Other language spoken]

Obviously we're not Privy to what was said, but you were.

So can you tell us what he said about moving jobs positions out of Geneva to other UN offices, whether it be in Vienna, Nairobi or elsewhere, if there are any specifics there?

You mentioned the facility facilitators agree meeting next month.

Could you tell us when that is exactly please?

And and finally pulling up on Christiana's question, what have you said to your home country leaders in your home country about UN Geneva possibly hosting peace talks or any other efforts with regard to the Ukraine war?

[Other language spoken]

So speaking about moving jobs, there was the question raised to Guy Ryder.

And of course, he said that, well, the importance of Geneva is that it's really a place where we have practically universal representation of the member states.

We have 188 missions here.

And one of the member states yesterday exactly raised the issue that they have made a rather difficult and financially costly decision for them to open the mission here because they knew that they can interact here with, well, many organisations.

And Mr Ryder confirmed that that that's the jobs which need interaction with the Member States.

The jobs which need really everyday contact, of course will not be moved from here.

When we talk about moving jobs to less costly destinations, it's more about the jobs which do not require the contact between the person who is delivering this job and the Member States.

It's more our internal administrative jobs which can be done elsewhere at a less cost.

So that was a very good, I think confirmation his part that the jobs which are here exactly because of Geneva ecosystem and quite often also some member states are telling us because it's a very good location, they can also work with UNESCO in Paris, they can work with flowers Rome and that makes this work with.

So everything is going to remain as it was.

Speaking about the visit of facilitators, you know, I think the date is somewhere mid January, but we will be informing.

I'm not so sure they are planning to talk to, to the press.

[Other language spoken]

But we, we, we can explore with them.

I, I don't know what is their agenda, but as far as I'm concerned, I, I will suggest if there are well, time would allow, but they plan to talk to the member states, they plan to talk, I think to the non governmental organisations, but the programme is still underway.

Well, talking to the heads of States and governments.

Well, we don't talk to heads of states of governments here.

We don't have such an opportunity for this discussion.

So, well, that's our colleagues who do the talks.

As I said, we here in Geneva are always open and welcoming all the negotiations who are willing to come to Geneva.

We have our parlay which is always open for any events.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Very quickly, please, because we.

Thank you very much.

Can you specify the number of jobs that were specified in terms of being moved out of Geneva?

Why it's I don't have this information exactly because it's not only about UN aid initiative because and it was very clear message yesterday from Mr Guy Ryder, because some of our agencies here in Geneva are experiencing really serious financial cuts because many of them are are functioning or the basis of voluntary contributions.

So when there are no voluntary contributions or not enough agencies are cutting positions or sometimes they're moving positions to other places.

So in principle, I would like to say that within your age initiative, we are not moving jobs which have to be a here in Geneva, only some jobs and it is too early to say exact number might be moved elsewhere.

The jobs which are, as I said, more of internal work, internal administrative matters, which can be done elsewhere without, without any negative impact on activities here in Geneva.

Thank you DG Reuters, MFRS.

[Other language spoken]

I had a question on the budget.

I know this is more New York, but I also know that you're plugged into this.

Are there any initiatives on a decision that might change this seemingly absurd rule whereby Member States pay their fees late and then because the UN can't spend it quickly enough, it is then rebated back to them?

Is there any initiative on that?

And how helpful would it be for UN finances and for you in Geneva?

And two Pele questions.

Pele Wilson on the banks of Lake Geneva is supposed to be vacated.

They're supposed to be served notice by the end of the year according to the UN budget.

Is this the plan?

And where would they go next year?

And and finally, just outside this door, it looks like Woodrow Wilson's celestial sphere is in pretty good shape.

I was just wondering when will that be functional again?

[Other language spoken]

Maybe I'll start with the easiest question about Celestial Sphere, because again that's the result.

As I said, we're periodically receiving very general donations from Geneva based Foundation and as a part of the donation to digitise the library or the United Nations, we had some money left and we used it to make Celestial Sphere new and more modern and functional again.

And at the beginning of the next year we'll reopen it because the sphere is already done.

Now there is a small now pool pond, small pond which is being created around it.

So it depends on the weather conditions.

Once it's OK, it will be reopened and I think it will be next year.

Speaking about budget, yes, there is this very bizarre rule which makes us to return to the member states the money which we have not received.

And Secretary General and our colleagues have been raising this issue for many, many, many years.

Well, the suggestions, the proposals are with the General Assembly.

Well, it's up for them to make a decision, but really we are grateful to you when you are writing about this really strange situation when the organisation has to return to the Member States, the money which he hasn't received and that could make our situation for the year 2026 even more difficult.

Speaking about Paula Wilson, well, it was the plan from the very beginning back I would say in the year 2013, our colleagues from Office of Higher or the Van High Commissioner asked to explore the possibility within SHP project to move their office here to the Palais and to reunite their staff.

You know that the staff was the Office of High Commissioner has been located in Palais Wilson in the motor building, but they of course had to do lots of activities here during the Human Rights Council sessions.

So this was the part of the project SHP project from the very beginning.

That's why when the Building H, which is our new office building has been constructed, is it has been constructed exactly in mind to host all the staff from the Palais Wilson and from the motor building.

We've already moved everybody from motor building, They're already working here in the Palais.

The next step will be with the staff working in the Palais Wilson.

So it has been the part of the SHP project from the very beginning.

Thank you very.

[Other language spoken]

Regarding the cuts in international aid, a High Commissioner Grandy said yesterday that they were irresponsible.

We'd like to know if you shared that view.

And more specifically concerning UNUG, you mentioned an 18% reduction of positions.

Can you tell us how many people these cuts represent?

And lastly, the Secretary General mentioned last week upcoming technical discussions with the Sudanese warring parties.

Do you have any information to share with us on on this please?

[Other language spoken]

You know, these are, I would say different types of cuts because when we're talking about cuts in age, that's a very significant cuts in international contribution, which are mostly voluntary contributions to provide humanitarian support, to provide support for refugees.

When we are talking about 18% cuts to you know this is our regular budget discussions within UN80 initiative when we are suggesting to cut 18% of the post in general within the system.

These cuts and it's also very important and it was mentioned yesterday during the meeting with Mr Ryder, they are not linear.

For example, there are practically no significant cuts for the offices which are dealing with least developed countries, providing some crucial support to Africa etcetera.

There in the offices there are no cut.

All of this, it's about 18%.

For example, you know, is a very complicated body.

We have a budget for administration.

My office and the library, they are within this part of, you know, we have cuts about 59 people, but we also have, for example, units, you have your own cuts.

We have now our division of Conference Management.

They have more cuts and they are bigger.

We have security.

All these cuts are not always real people leaving the positions because there are vacancies which are of course taken into account.

And there is this early retirement voluntary programme which was now launched by United Nations exactly to minimise the number of unvoluntary separation, to keep young people in the system, to meet really to allow those who would like or who has the possibility now to leave the system, to leave the system, but to preserve really the core body of the system.

So it's, as I said, different for different organisations.

As I said, it's 18% more, mostly for all our divisions here.

And the Sudan?

[Other language spoken]

And speaking about Sudan question, we have not yet any information.

Once we have information, we will share it with you.

[Other language spoken]

And sorry, Alex, just to to remind that this, as the DG said very clearly, these are proposal made to member states.

So if on the 31st of December you're still up to that, we'll probably send you a press release with the decision of the member states.

It's very, it has to be clear that these are proposals made by the SGN, they're in the hands of this of the member states as the DG said very clearly.

So I will go to the platform now because I'm also conscious of the time I see that Stefan Boussard has been waiting patiently the tone.

Yes, thank you very much indeed.

Thank you, Director General.

I have a question about the SHP.

Could you give us an update about where we stand in terms of of timing as a timeline?

When do you think the SHP will be finished?

And as far as the costs are concerned, I know we are up to 900.

I think the last latest figures was 960 million francs for the renovation.

Is this cost as this cost gone up?

And my last question is a follow up about the Pally Wilson story.

I know that the Office of the High Commissioner has been worried about the fact that the H building would not provide with privacy needed with with human rights defenders.

Is that something that you can guarantee that we would have if they had to move to the H building?

[Other language spoken]

So speaking about SHP, well, as I said this year the General Assembly has made in June a very important decision for us.

It agreed to increase the budget.

Initial budget was 836 million.

We asked for the increase.

Well, the the figures might be verified, but I think we asked for 100, 18 and we received 88 million.

So that's less when we asked for, but that's a very, very important thing.

And also the General Assembly has given us a clear timeline saying that the project should be substantially over by the 31st December 2027.

That's a realistic timeline.

As I said, with the historical Palais, we have Building C, which has to be reopened hopefully in spring.

We have smaller building S2, which was just closed.

We have a library which as I said, has had a great migration and we have the E building which has to be renovated and the tower of the building has to be demolished.

So we think that's a realistic timeline and we're working on it.

As I said, this year and the last year we had very significant milestones which really show the Member States that the SHP is well underway.

[Other language spoken]

So Paula Wilson as I said is has been decided and included into the project from the very beginning.

That's why when the Building H has been constructed, they were consultations with the Office of High Commissioner.

Want to show how the project is going to develop?

Yes, each building is a open space building, but there are possibilities there for modifications which are always done for purposes of different organisations.

So I think that it's quite possible to take into account all the issues which our colleagues are raising and to find solutions in this building.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, if you have time, yes.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, DG for the press briefing.

I'd like to come back to the oh, figure that we don't hear you.

Laurent, you're you're disappearing.

Oh, is it better now?

[Other language spoken]

Try.

[Other language spoken]

So I'd like to come back to the figure of 59 cuts that you mentioned for administration and and archives.

So is that within the proposal that has still to be considered by the member State or is that the figure that of the position that well lost this year already?

And then I understand that there are different divisions, but everything is under the umbrella of of UNOCH.

So do you have a consolidated figure of the number of positions that were cut this year already and that might be cut in the proposal for next year?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, that's the figure in the proposal or the budget.

That's what were proposed in our Budget 59 from the budget for which were responsible here in Geneva, its administration library and my office.

There are also proposals and of course, I know the figures and I've discussed it with our colleagues.

There are proposal from units, there are proposals from a division of conference management, There are proposals for security.

I know the figures.

Of course, we have been discussing.

As I said, it's approximately 18% from all the organisations, but once the Member States make the decision, I will be able well to give you all these figures because other proposals from the global divisions there, apart from the proposals which are offered by my colleagues who are responsible for global divisions in New York.

It's part of their budget and I would prefer well to give you their figures once it's approved.

But as I said, is generally well away.

It's within 18%.

Of course it's going to be difficult and we understand that there will be a certain input, but we will try to do our best.

He has something else, but I can't remember that.

[Other language spoken]

You had the second point.

[Other language spoken]

And then last question, Gabriela Sotomayor.

[Other language spoken]

She was a bit of you.

May, may should be there.

[Other language spoken]

Gabriela Sotomayor, Processor.

Yes, process of Mexico.

Thank you very much for the briefing.

I really appreciate it that you are here.

My question is in, in the talking about the renovation of the Palais in, in the case that you have all the money that the renovation could be earlier, not until 2027.

The issue is that being far away from each other is, is harming us.

Is is, is, you know, it's not good for us.

We have to be together.

We have to see each other to talk in the, in the cafe, whatever.

So my question is if you have the money, if you could do it faster.

[Other language spoken]

Well, you see, renovation is a very complicated process.

It's practically like a puzzle because all these years we had to finalise one stage before going to another, because, for example, we had to construct building H to move stuff to building H, and then we could close this historical parlay building S, so people could go, so could have continuity.

Before we could close the building E, we had to receive part of the historical palace, so we could send people from the building H to this part of the historical palace and then we could close it.

So it's a very, even if we have all the money now, immediately, of course, it's not possible to overcome this schedule, this interconnection.

But speaking about your concrete question, I understand that all the issues will be resolved once we reopen Building C and the Building C we hope to reopen in spring and that will create better conditions for your work as journalists.

And as the DG said, we will have a big better and nicer and and more functional press bar and we will be be able to be together that in front of a coffee.

[Other language spoken]

the United Nations is in a financial crisis today.

In your view, should the United Nations have managed its finances differently in previous years when there was more money available?

I'm referring to the large salaries and 1st class travel etcetera, etcetera.

[Other language spoken]

I don't think that's the right.

Well, I would say the finances are managed in a way the member states want us to manage this finances.

We have very strict rules and regulations.

That's not the secretary general notes the managers of the United Nations who approve this rules and regulations.

There is a special independent commissions which approves this salaries or the staff, the special Commission which approves all the other use of financial resources.

And as I said, there was this question about the return of the money.

Once the budget is approved by the member States, we have to spend the money.

We can't save the money for the next year because if we do not spend the money this year, we have returned it to the member States.

So that means and I would say we were managing our money very, very prudently well.

I personally know it very, very, very well because every year, this year and the last year, for example, at the beginning of the year, we were told the situation is rather sensitive.

So you can count just on approximately 83% of your budget.

If there is more money coming at the end of the year, be prepared to spend it, but please work within.

For example, this year we're working within practically 85% of our budget.

For several years we have not been investing in some kind of a renovating the premises unless it's part of the SHP, it's a different budget or something urgent.

We have not been replacing the equipment, which has to be because we do have money for this, but we don't use it exactly to spend it.

So for example, if we talk about the whole UN system this year, I think we minimised our spending by 600,000,600 millions dollars.

That's what we are not spending which we could have spent, which is part of our budget.

Nevertheless, we might be at the deficit at the end of the year, but we have been making really significant saving.

So I would say on the one hand, the rules and financial regulations are with the Member States, They make all the provisions which we have to follow.

On the other hand, when it comes to having economy and you've seen here in the Palais the size of this economy, well shortening opening hours to the Palais, which of course you quite often don't like that, but that's part of the saving measures.

Quite often we do not have all the necessary interpretation for all the events.

[Other language spoken]

These are exactly part of our saving money, saving liquidity.

If we have not had these measures over the last years, we would have been in much with situation.

Did you say Emma, please, we have to quickly.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for your indulgence.

Just on this, this rebate for unspent funds, you said it's up to the GA to decide, but is there something actually on the table on that?

Has someone proposed changing that?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, there is, there is a proposal, OK.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you so very much for this end of year press conference.

I, I really thank you for this exercise.

I hope that our journalist happy with your presence and I thank you very much for, for, for being here.

We'll take two minutes of suspension to let the DG go and we will continue with the regular budget regular.

Budget with.

The regular briefing.

UN Geneva Press Briefing: UNOG Director-General - 16 December 2025