DG UNOG Tatiana Valovaya Press conference 25 March 2021

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for being with us this morning for the annual press conference of the Director General of the UN Geneva, Mrs Tatiana Valovaya.

As a customary, we will have the introductory remarks from the Director General and then we will take questions from the room and on the platform.

Thank you very much.

And I give the floor to Missus Valovaya.

Good morning everybody.

It's a real pleasure to be with you today.

Of course, I would have preferred to have more of you here in this room, but you are well aware that we still can't have more than five people participating in meetings in the Palais then I assume.

But it's nevertheless a pleasure that the modern technologies, which we really used very, very actively during the whole year, the year which passed since the beginning of the pandemic, are working and they're allowing us to carry on with our activities.

And speaking to you today and having this exchange of views, I would like to say that from our part, there are three very important messages which I would like to share with you, because for us it's crucial.

First message is that United Nations, and United Nations in Geneva in particular are relevant.

And our work these days is as relevant as before the pandemic.

But I really think they can say it's more relevant than it was before.

The second message is that we can all be safe going on with our activities as long as we follow the necessary regulations, precautions.

And I think that's really, really important.

And I will stress these points a little bit later.

And the third message is that we understand that the world is going to be different once the pandemic is over.

And we understand that we have to lead the change, the change for the world, more equal, more just the world where sustainable development goals really become the mainstream, become our key actions.

And we in Geneva are really leading and participating in this change.

And we're again very happy to exchange with you how we could be better, more effective and have better results reaching our goals.

At the beginning, I would like to recall some of the activities of the years 2020 and the recent months exactly confirming that United Nations as a system are very, very relevant.

Maybe I would start with the fact that last year we marked 75th anniversary of the United Nations and we decided to have a global wide conversation.

And this conversation about the future we want, about the United Nations, we need resulted in a very practically total support of ordinary citizens for multilateralism, for multilateralism, for the United Nations, and of course, for the necessity to have more inclusive, more networking and effective multilateralism.

And really the results of the 20/20 showed how really we need this multilateralism.

Even in, during the midst of the pandemic, we, the United Nations office here in Geneva, were able to resume our activities, practically the first duty stations within our system.

And at the request of the Member States, we started our activities in June, Human Rights Council started meeting, Conference on Disarmament started meeting and they managed to carry out all their activities.

That was possible because we used the short period when the pallet was practically closed to majority of our staff to prepare it for the safe return or the staff or the delegates of your journalists.

During this.

In April and May, we prepared this huge parlay, which is 164,000 square metres for your safe return and that allowed us to start having conferencing.

And we're very pleased that we know and our medical teams are confirming that we did not have a case of transmission here in the Palais.

We did not have a cluster of caveat here in the Palais, because that proves that as long as we are following all the necessary rules, all the guidance we are receiving from the host country, from World Health Organisation, from our colleagues in New York and also from our local medical doctors network, we are saying to go on with our meeting meetings.

Also, we saw last year the necessity and the role of Geneva, relevance of Geneva as a place where we really have very important political, sometimes very informal talks which really lead to necessary results.

You know, we're very proud that last year we had here a successful 2020 Afghanistan conference which resulted in pledges of $3.3 billion to develop assistance for Afghanistan.

We're very proud that here in Paladin as you Amidst the pandemic, the Libyan Joint Military Commission signed a complete and permanent ceasefire agreement.

And the that led to a further discussions on between political groups, economic groups, and all of them were leaving Paladinacion with certain positive results.

And that really proves how during pandemic, United Nations is really answering the needs to act as mediator to lead the work of finding peaceful solutions to existing conflicts.

Of course, you also know that we went on with inter Syrian talks here in the Paladinacion with Geneva international discussions.

And by the way, coming here, I just saw there the floor our colleagues from international Geneva discussions going on.

You know that Secretary General intends to convene informal talks on Cyprus at the end of April.

So that really shows the relevance of Geneva as a place for this very **** level and very important activities for us.

It was also very important that not only conducted these activities here in Geneva.

I am very grateful to all of you for covering our activities here in Geneva.

So thank you very much all of you working under these unusual circumstances and covering our activities because you really are providing us a very important support and we will able to organise a special platform for you.

We had 250 press conferences and briefings last year.

We were also very active in social media and our total following now has reached 1,350,000 follows.

And we're especially proud of the new account in Twitter in French because it allows us to reach both the local audience here in this part of Switzerland, but also worldwide.

And it really shows our attachment to multi languages, which is very **** on our gender here in Geneva.

Also, last year, we, you and Geneva were leading the local response to Kavit.

We have a special group which discusses the issues of response to Kavit and we have all the UN agencies and programmes located here.

But we also have observers, other international organisations like CERN for example.

And we were very happy that that allowed very smooth interaction with the host country, also with neighbouring France at we were always aware of the changes and the guidance and the recommendations of the host country of the situation here.

And again, thank you very much for support you provided us covering these activities.

Well, speaking about the year 2021, it's still a very challenging year.

The pandemic is already more than a year with us and we think that we already see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We know the situation can be developing in a positive way.

It will really show solidarity if we work very, very active together, if we do not allow vaccine nationalism, if we really work very hard for fair distribution of vaccines, that would really allow us to see the light at the end of the tunnel pretty soon.

But apart from the fight with the pandemic, there are quite a number of very important challenges.

And you know that Secretary General at the beginning of the year named 10 priorities of the organisations for the 2021.

I'm sure you are absolutely aware of these priorities.

And for, for us, it's exactly our road map for this year, but not only for this year, it's for the years to come, because all these priorities, logical priorities, which are really the key allies the United Nations are going these days.

And speaking about these priorities, maybe I would start with a priority which on the list of Secretary General was devoted to a building multilateralism, integrated and inclusive multilateral.

We really see here in Geneva how important it is and how possible it is to work together because Geneva, and while this repeating this, it's a unique ecosystem, It's absolutely unique because here we have international organisations, more than 40 international organisations.

We have more than 180 permanent missions which represent the member states of the United Nations.

We have other international organisations not only belonging to the United Nations system, we have non governmental organisations working very closely with us.

[Other language spoken]

And so it's exactly the place where we can show how this integrated multilateralism which in embraces not only the member states but also the international organisations, private sector, non governmental organisations can work together to find solutions for the existing global challenges.

And having said that, I would say that of course, number one priority is Sustainable Development Goals agenda, where in the Decade of Action we want to be back on track to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 20-30.

And we really think that here in Geneva there are opportunity for us exactly is this concept of international actors to work together in order to reach Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

And of course, we always think that reaching sustainable development goals, it's not only about reaching certain social and economic indicators, however important they are.

[Other language spoken]

And we really feel that working together, we can send our mindset and we really can start developing in a very sustainable way, which is needed by the world, which is needed by peoples all around the world.

Sustainable Development goals include of course, everything, but I would like to make a stress on certain issues which have a particularly importance here in Geneva.

Peace and disarmament, you know, Conference on Disarmament myths here in Geneva.

As I have already said, it was one of the first bodies which resumed its activities last year.

You know that we are really fighting very hard to go back on very important substantive work.

It's not difficult, it's not easy, It needs lots of efforts on the side of the Member States.

But I really would like to share with you that this year we had unusual **** level segment of Conference of Disarmament.

Of course, it was virtual and what was very interesting that we had as many speakers on **** Level week as we never had before, because this new method allowed many countries to participate in **** level week on the level of ministers.

And it was very important to see that all the members of the conference of December are speaking about the importance of this body, which is remains the only multilateral body in this sphere.

And we really hope that these efforts will provide results and we will see the developments in this sphere.

It is our priority.

As announced by Secretary General, I also would like to draw your attention especially on human rights.

Human Rights Council, another body which was the first to resume its activities.

I would say it's maybe the the only body which managed to carry out 100% of its agenda of its session last year.

And we in the United Nations Office in Disarmament were very happy to support our colleagues and provide the opportunity for their activities.

You remember that practically a year ago, Secretary General participated here in the **** level week.

And I would like to recall his call for action on human rights.

And really during this year, during the pandemic, we saw how important the work on human rights is concerned, because of course, pandemic always touches those who are most vulnerable.

And really it showed how important is to protect human rights, especially in such challenging times.

Another issue to which I would like to draw your attention is gender equality.

Again, it's a part of Sustainable Development Goals agenda.

And nevertheless, I would like to draw a special attention on this issue for us.

It's very important here in Geneva to implement the Secretary General's gender parity strategy.

For me, it's very important as a Director General of UNOC.

We're very pleased that now in UNOC at the end of 2020, gender parity stood at 48% of females against 52% males.

It's much better than it was at the yen end of 2015 when it was only 44%.

But of course it's not only about statistics, it's more about non discrimination, about giving equal access to jobs, about giving equal access to promotion and what's important to organisations like the United Nations, we really have to have a balanced representation of men and women because when we have a balanced representation we have balanced decisions.

So for us, it's a **** priority.

Second issue which I already raised is the safeness of Geneva and the COVID-19 impact on our activities.

Once again, I would like to say that we really feel that here in the palatination, as long as we're following all our guidelines, we're receiving from the host country, from the Medical Doctors network, from our colleagues in New York, we're safe.

Well, we're reasonably safe.

And once again, I would like to say that the statistics for the last year proves that these rules and regulations are working.

I understand that, of course, it's very difficult for you as journalists to work in a virtual way.

It's difficult for us international civil servants, it's difficult for the member states, but maybe for you it's even more difficult because you rely on human touch, on informal discussions.

But I would like to thank you once again for using these new methods and going on with covering our activities.

But we really hope that as soon as situation allows, we will welcome all of you back to the Paladinacio and we will be able to go on with our activities.

Also speaking about COVID, I would like to draw your attention and to use this opportunity to remind you about a new global campaign only Together, that the United Nations has launched on the 11th of March to support its call for fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world.

I already said at the beginning how important it is to have equal and fairly distribution of vaccine.

And we really think that it's a crucial issue today, these days to fight the pandemic.

And of course it's another, it's a very important opportunity for the world, for the humanity to show that, to show solidarity and to show that if we're together, we really can find solutions to all the global challenges.

And finally, the third part of the third message, it's about.

That we're not only embracing the changes, we're leading these changes.

We're really, as I said, are sure that the vote of multilaterals will be more different as a result of the pandemic.

It was already changing and we were speaking a lot about inclusivity, about possibility for everybody to participate in discussions on the international issues.

And it's always important to look for Silver Linings whenever you have a crisis.

You really have also to look for the possibilities and one possibility, 1 silver lining of this crisis that were really switched practically overnight to this new hybrid way of work.

And that means that everybody, even he is, if he is not in Geneva, can participate in our activities.

And during this year of working virtually or in a hybrid way, we saw involvement of many new actors.

Many small states participated in quite a number of activities in which previously they couldn't participate because they couldn't send their delegates, their delegations here to Geneva.

Now they've been participating in spite of time differences, in spite of many challenges.

Lots of small states, small island states, by the way, participated in many, many activities.

And of course we hope that that's going to go on.

Many non governmental organisations could participate in activities.

Exactly.

They couldn't travel physically and sometimes you can't fit everybody into a room even as big as Assembly Hall, but you can participate virtually.

So we really think that as a result of the pandemic, the world of conferencing of multilateral activities is going to change.

And we think that the future really means there will be quite a number of hybrid events.

Of course we all want to meet in person and I absolutely sure that international diplomacy, international legislations can't that exist without in person meetings where people can really build trust, confidence in each other, have informal discussions.

But at the same time we understand that they will be always demand to have additional involvement of other actors.

And that's exactly about inclusive and integrated multilateralism.

So we want to be a centre of excellence in the providing such type of conference.

What we have to do for this first of all, strategic heritage project, it's very timely because we made a significant progress last year in spite of the caveat, in spite of the necessity to close down the construction in March last year for the period till end of April, we made a significant progress.

We opened new conference temporary building temples and we use it now very, very actively.

We made a progress with the new building edge building and we plan to have a transition to this new building later this year.

We started their construction here in the historical Palais and if you come here to the Palais, you will see that parts of the Palais are already closed to public because the works have started.

And we really think that the realisation of this project would build up Geneva as a really modern, very safe conference centre which will be able to provide and support to Member States in carrying out many types of activities, including in the hybrid and virtual way.

Of course, I understand that these construction works can create certain problems for journalists as well, but I would like to assure you that we are always looking to try to find the best possible solutions.

We have been discussing with Miss Velucci how we can better suit your needs.

At the same time, I would like to be patient because all of us, of course, will have certain problems with their construction, including noise, etc.

But Please be patient.

We are really hoping that as a result of this construction, we will have better facilities also for you as a journalist also.

But when we're speaking about building up into the centre of excellence for new World of Conferences, it's not only about infrastructure, the infrastructure, it's important, It's very important to build up our capacity.

And during this year, well overnight, we had to find the technical solutions to provide webcasting for many events, technical solutions to provide virtual interpretation in six official languages to test and try a new platforms.

Many of us had to learn new skills to become moderators, technical moderators.

And we really used this year to build up this capacity because we really feel it's not temporary.

We'll be using these skills in the years to come.

And at the end, I would like to say that, well, all of us realise that the world is at the crossroads.

It's a very challenging period.

But at the same time, as I said, we already see the light at the end of the town with the vaccination.

We need the fair access to the vaccination to reach this goal.

But we also understand that during this pandemic we realised many things.

We realised how interconnected we are, how global we are already, how dependent on each other and how necessary it's to show, to support and solidarity, to address all the global challenges, be it's pandemic or the climate crisis or inequality or the work for preserving and human rights, the work for peace and disarmament.

So we really think that as a result of this crisis, we will have a better understanding of the necessity of multilateralism and the necessity of the United Nations.

And the results of the survey or the discussions last year around the 75th anniversary confirmed People, citizens, peoples around the world really want more multilaterals, more inclusive multilateralism and more integrated multilateralism.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Director General, for this extensive brief on what happened last year and our priority for this year.

I'll open now the floor to the question and I'll start by giving the floor to body.

Hagar, who is the correspondent of Phoenix TV and the President of the Association of Accredited Journalists to the UN in Geneva.

Body thank you, General, I appreciate that your your.

Coming and.

Emphasise that the importance of a physical meeting on behalf of Akani.

[Other language spoken]

Questions of administration we just noted about the access.

You just mentioned the Access 5.

Persons to get in the room.

[Other language spoken]

Access and a bigger room.

[Other language spoken]

Press press events and about SHP construction.

We wonder if you earn let a hand or more to help journalists moving.

[Other language spoken]

We have to be solidarity that we wondered if.

Journalists can get more discount for Bureau rental this year.

That's all for instance, but.

[Other language spoken]

That's your support.

[Other language spoken]

Achieve any success without your support and we hope that we can get as normal.

As before, all the.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, buddy.

DG as you know this in press conferences we do question and answer.

So if you want to answer about these questions and behalf of I can thank you.

I will answer after every question.

So access to the rooms or more than five people?

[Other language spoken]

And it does not depend on me.

It depends on our host country.

It depends on the decisions of the Federal Council or on the Canton de Geneva.

If in Canton of Geneva they have more restrictive views, even if we give a bigger room.

You know when Human Rights Council is meeting these days in the Assembly hall.

We gave to the Human Rights Council last summer, the Assembly hall.

It was a period when we could have for meetings up to 300 people and Human Rights Council moved to the Assembly Hall from their room 20 because more space and they could have distance of two metres between them and all the necessary preconditions.

But the day it was, I think at the beginning of November, our host country decided to minimise the meetings up to five people, not including the secretariat.

The Assembly Hall is now welcoming Human Rights Council with just five people, 5 delegates.

So that's going to stay as long as this is a decision of the host, a country.

You know that the situation in Switzerland, unfortunately, is still very, very sensitive.

You know that our host country decided not to lift any restrictions in place apart from certain district restrictions for private meetings around Easter.

So we have to stay, unfortunately with five people, but and it does not depend on the size of the room.

Once again, even if even in the our biggest room Assembly hall, we still have only 5 people.

But when the decision is changed by the host country, of course, there will be more possibilities to invite you to to the room.

Speaking about SHP, as I said, we're really hoping that the premises we're going to provide you for this.

Good that they would allow you to work very, very effectively.

And of course, we want to support you in every way.

And speaking about discounts, we discussed it with our administration and they are going to provide you 50% discount for the month at the end of the lockdown.

So that's a very, I think, positive gesture because we really value your work here and we want really to support you also financially.

Though once again, I should have said maybe the my main introduction, financial situation of the United Nations remain very, very sensitive.

We're still having liquidity crisis and we have last year we had to carry out our mandates and all this work within a very tight financial conditions situation is a little bit cautiously more optimistic this year.

But still it's very, very difficult.

And so quite a lot of measures which are destined to minimise the impact of liquidity crisis on our work are being enforced.

Thank you very much, DG.

Thank you also for this good news for the journalist about their rental reduction and we will follow up at the information service with the journalist concerned.

I now have a question from Xiao Yang NI from Shinwa.

Thank you very.

[Other language spoken]

We can hear you very well.

[Other language spoken]

Looking back to the previous year of time, what makes you feel?

[Other language spoken]

Most important, to achieve the goal of the.

UN and also.

Looking forward to the coming year, what makes you feel like you still have hope?

You still have the.

The work.

Will become better not only in terms of the, also in terms of long.

Term Authority.

Peace and development.

[Other language spoken]

Well, you know, last year was very, very difficult because we really saw how overnight we can face a global challenge because for example, before when the United Nations Secretary General, all of us were saying about climate emergency that we have to mobilise the climate emergency, really sometimes we saw that people as well.

It's long term, we still have time, we can postpone making decisions so we can end with a pandemic.

That was another global challenge which really showed how catastrophic can global challenge be for the whole world.

Practically.

Maybe the year 2020 is the first time when it was really well, global catastrophe, global challenge.

Because before even pandemic 100 years ago, it was more in Europe.

So well, the world was not that interconnected.

Now we're very interconnected.

And last year saw the problems with a realisation of all strategic, of all sustainable development goals.

We had rising poverty, we had less access to jobs.

[Other language spoken]

We had suffered on gender issues because women were the first to lose their jobs to go back to hunger and poverty.

We had problems on all the tracks, of course, on the health and social issues as well.

But for me, what's really important is that we're really sure.

So how independent we are and how necessary it is to mobilise our forces in order to reach sustainable development goals and to address these challenges.

And I'm, you know, I'm very optimistic.

I really hope that as a result of this difficult year, we will have certain reassessment of our priorities.

We will understand that certain issues which we considered long term challenges like climate crisis already there and we have addressed them now and we have addressed them all together because these are global problems, poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change, etcetera, etcetera.

And I also think that as a result of this experience, we will find more unified solutions.

I'm always saying that history teaches us that after tragedies, after global conflicts like the First World War or Second World War, peoples around the world realise the necessity of international cooperation.

After the First World War, League of Nations was organised and we are now in the Paledinacion.

After the Second World War, United Nations were born.

After this pandemic, I hope the United Nations will be strengthened and multilateralism will be strengthened.

Thank you very much, DG.

We have Laurent Sierra from the Swiss news Agency.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Director General, for the press conference.

[Other language spoken]

To see you again, a question on that they're working.

For the UN employees.

[Other language spoken]

In the city that are working.

Are they constrained to work from?

[Other language spoken]

Could could some of them go?

Back to the the whole country for for that work and what kind.

Of So what kind of?

[Other language spoken]

Do you see with that and?

So speaking about telework, well, we follow the host country recommendations, obligatory telework.

This recommendation were received at the beginning of November.

So all our staff is required telework.

Only those who are necessary on premises or those who can't work from home come here.

So we're teleworking apart from those who can do their job like, well, people who are participating in organising this event, for example, on the premises.

Well, a year ago when pandemic started, it was a period when some of the staff was in their native countries.

So they went on teleworking from their capitals.

But then during the year, all our staff all around the world will return to their duty stations.

[Other language spoken]

And I really think that in order to have a team, permanent team, of course, you have to, to be able not only to telework, but periodically see each other, not during the time of the pandemic, of course in, but in the time of the pandemic.

What we're doing now, we're using, we've worked closely together before we know each other.

And even if the teams have been changing, practically all the people each now know each other and we can tell a work.

It's practically very difficult to tell a work if people never met.

It can be done on a certain project and it will be done, I'm sure, on certain project when we can unite forces now to reach certain goal.

But I really think that.

As a result of the pandemic, we will go back to our premises.

We will use, if we wish, flexible working arrangements.

We have the system in the United Nations which provide opportunity for our staff if their managers agree to telework up to three days per week and that creates additional opportunities for young families, for families with children or some other issues.

But in principle, we think that we will be back to work in person, in teams and of course, at the same time use the opportunity of telework when necessary.

Thank you, very.

Thank you very much.

The gene.

The next question comes from Catherine Fiancon, Francois Katra.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for being.

With us this morning, as you just mentioned.

In your speech you said that UN Geneva is more relevant and I would even ask that at the work of UN agencies are more relevant than ever and that is the reason why journalists.

Correspondence needs to have access to information to work properly.

And to fight misinformation and fake.

[Other language spoken]

But we have problems to access information.

Certain UN agencies are taking the advantage of the College 19 pandemic not give.

US access to experts not give us access.

To information.

So what is your reaction to that?

[Other language spoken]

Well, I know about this problem and you're absolutely right.

It's very difficult to obtain access to people, to experts in the time of the pandemic.

That's why we're really trying to support you on this.

We're having discussions on the level of the heads of agencies.

I raise this issue with some of my colleagues and ask them to find ways to be.

[Other language spoken]

Open during the time of the pandemic, my team in units are working very hard.

So we're raising these issues and periodically it gives the results.

I remember there was a meeting here with Secretary general with Akanu, which raised the same issue and Secretary General asked me to talk to heads of agencies about it and I did and I saw certain results.

So I understand the issue of I hope that we will try to go on communicating with our colleagues and providing you with more access.

At the same time, we're trying to use all the existing opportunities when it is really to provide some in person meetings as soon as it is possible.

We hope that we will be able to resume our traditional activities.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for taking my.

[Other language spoken]

You have had in your remarks the left of the virtual platforms that allow people from around the world to participate in meetings.

And I was wondering though if for an expensive city like this isn't a danger for having physical presence in the city because the.

Asian person will see it as our agencies will see they don't really need.

People based here to participate and I think the same goes for the media because we're seeing in.

Particular is also more other.

Agencies opening up their press conferences to you, which obviously can be seen as a disincentive to actually have people being here.

Is this something that you're concerned about and is there anything that you think you can sort of?

[Other language spoken]

This thanks.

You know, that's something we've been thinking about since the very beginning of the pandemic.

I said during my presentation that we have not only to embrace the changes which are taking place, but we have to lead them.

I would say that from the very beginning of the pandemic, it was clear that of course, once we get accustomed to this virtual way, we will obviously see certain benefits and of course, that can have certain results for us here in Geneva.

That's why for us, we see the situation from different angles.

First, I would like to confirm that, well, all our interaction with the Member States without the organisations that everybody wants to resume activities in person.

And I am absolutely sure that we will resume these activities and here in the Paladin Nation and that will be very important.

But but of course, as I said, we will have many activities not only in presence but also in hybrid way because that's an additional thing.

We will still have maybe 200 or 300 people in the room, but we will have 500 online participating in the same event.

That's an additional possibility and for us, Geneva, it's important exactly to be fit and to become a centre of access to providing this type of activities.

Because if we're able to provide this type of activities, we will be needed here in Geneva because it's very important to build a **** level team which can organise such an event, organise its with the highest possible quality, provide interpretation, provide organisation, everything.

So for me it's a chance to really to lead this change, to understand that certain changes are inevitable and we shouldn't lose time, we should prepare to become one of the best in the world.

In this new type of conferencing, I understand the situation that more and more activities are taking place online and certain press conferences or briefings which are now not only for Geneva based journalists, they are wider that create certain issues for you here in Geneva.

But at the same time, you here in Geneva can have access to other briefings which are organised in other parts of the world.

You can compare notes, you have more material for your analysis.

[Other language spoken]

But at the same time, this was exactly also the issue, the access to experts online.

You can't have access to experts in physical meetings and being here in Geneva is allowing under normal circumstances to meet the experts, to talk to them, to have certain exclusive material.

So, and once again, we understand that the world is going to be different as a result of the pandemic, but we understand that we, if we work very, very actively, we will have a very important role to play in this new world of hybrid conferences or meetings and multilateralism.

Thank you, Director General.

The next question is from Elizabetha Isakova, RIA Novosti.

[Other language spoken]

Can you hear me very well?

Yeah, this is great.

Thank you for taking my question.

Actually I have a.

Question to and Cassidy is the head of the.

Conference in the government, I would like to comment on the recent launch of by the PRP.

It's the first.

Launch since last March, March of last year.

[Other language spoken]

Connect on this and what do you think about this?

[Other language spoken]

Well, you know that the position of United Nations is very persistent, where I really want the peaceful solution for the problem on Korean Peninsula, denuclearisation, denuclearisation of the peninsula and of course we really want the parties or their dialogue to resume their dialogue.

[Other language spoken]

The next question comes from John Zarro Costas.

[Other language spoken]

Director General, can you be there?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, the late.

Russian master diplomat and former director general, you know.

[Other language spoken]

Has to be used with surgical precision.

It was very successful.

When we got 2 historic arms control agreements.

In the centre.

At the public.

That's a very interesting question because when you, for example, listen to the statements during, they have a **** level with all the members of the Conference of Disarmament are stressing the necessity to resume substantive work.

But when you go back to practise, you see lots of problems to find consensus among all the Member States on certain issues, which might be technical, but many countries perceive them as very important, as substantial issues.

And the reason is, I would say the lack of global trust and global confidence, because conference was very successful in the period when the trust between the key players in the military and disarmament sphere were there and what we really need to resume trust to resume confidence.

And you remember that Secretary General, when he was addressing, even before the pandemic, the audience, he spoke about about four Horsemen, and one of them was unprecedented geopolitical tensions.

And what we're really witnessing are unprecedented geopolitical tensions.

And these unprecedented geopolitical tensions are really, I would say the main reason why the Conference on Disarmament can't resume is substantive work.

But having said that, the even fact that Conference on Disarmament is meeting is meeting or when it's necessary, that all the members of the Conference of Disarmament want the work to be going on, that everybody is looking for the solution.

It's a very encouraging sign.

We have never heard anybody saying, well, let's stop trying.

No, As long as we are trying to find the solution as well, as long as we're trying to be back on their way of negotiating, that's a positive sign.

Thank you very much, DG.

And our last question comes from Tamil Abu Alenin from the Kuwait News Agency.

There is another one in the room.

Sorry.

Let's start with Tamir and I come to you for the last one.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much regarding.

This and I wonder if those who are in charge of the.

[Other language spoken]

Account or notes and concerns.

Of course.

And Alessandra is just running to answer the question because it has been discussed many, many times.

Yes, indeed.

I don't know about running, but yes, this is a question that of course has been in our discussion with the SHP as the colleague from Akano.

It's very difficult to change things as you know, after that they had been approved in the plants.

However, we can and we will continue discussing with the SHP team.

However, I have to say that the issue of the press conference room at the moment has been a little bit pushed back from by the fact that we are now concentrating on the changes, on the move of the journalists into their new space, which as you know will be the building over the SAFI known as Building K or AS2.

And this has been really occupying our work with the SHP in the last weeks, maybe months, because we wanted to ensure you the best possible place to be moved to and the move itself.

But as soon as this phase has gone through and we have now gone into our temporary positions for the next one and a year and a half, we will resume the discussions on the press room.

Thank you very much.

Now I go to the room and then I have DG 4-5 more minutes.

[Other language spoken]

And then Gabriella still has a question.

[Other language spoken]

China is a very important partner of the United Nations.

China is involved in all the activities of the United Nations.

[Other language spoken]

I quite often meet with, you know, Chinese press because we see that there is a constant interest in multilateral activities in China.

And I always say one thing that of course China is the largest populated country in the world.

It's a key player in many, many activities.

But I think what's important, China can play a very important role these days in a Sustainable Development Goals agenda, because really it's economic and social potential, It's experience in finding solution for many economic and social problems over the decades can be very, very useful.

And it's very, very important role in modern multilateralism.

Because I always say that modern multilateralism is not only about, well, the role of the country, it's also the role of the region.

It's the role of private sector, it's the role of academia, of young people, and we all have our voices in this surroundings.

And when a such a large country like China is interested to listen to the voices of others, to have discussions, to find for solutions in common, it's very important for modern multilateralism.

DG, thank you very much.

And the very, very last question we still have a couple of minutes comes from Gabriella Sotomayor, Processor from Mexico.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for coming for.

The reading and there are a lot of.

Positive things, but with the pandemic.

Our space has been invaded a.

Freelance journalists are the hardest hit by the situation.

We sell stories with exclusive point of views and we do not have access to experts as has already sat here so.

What do you intend to do to protect the?

Geneva Press of the virtual innovation that we are having.

Really it's well very important issue and we've already raised it.

Well, virtual invasion, as I said, let's always look for something positive.

It's virtual invasion to Geneva, but all of you can also have these days virtual invasion to New York, Vienna, Bangkok.

And you can use your experience expertise, which you get here in order to find wider topics, different angles.

And I think that's an opportunity when you have multiple sources for your work.

I think that's one part.

But the second part, as I said and me and my team, we're really working very hard in working with our colleagues in many organisations here to provide you with access to experts, to information, to some exclusive materials.

I understand it's very difficult the time of the pandemic and of course, freelance journalists, I among those who are really very, very touched by this situation, like many other professions in the world.

So we're trying to do our best and we're really what we're also trying to do.

Maybe it will be very unusual answer.

We're really trying to keep palace.

Why it's important for me, for example, and I'm always saying that we have to follow all the procedures to follow all the rules.

Because if we're sure that when following the rules we can have physical meetings, be it five people, then maybe tomorrow it will be 15, then it will be 15.

It will be easier to resume these meetings because if people know that it's safe and our previous experience shows it's safe, we will be able to.

Resume this activity.

So for me, keeping the Palace safe, following all the rules means that we will be able to resume in person meetings, maybe again the 1st last year we resume the meetings, physical meetings, practically the first within the UN system.

So for me it's also important to create the opportunity for people to come back to the Palais in safety and for you to have access to them also in safety.

[Other language spoken]

Sorry.

Thank you very much, Director General, for this last answer.

I would also like to thank very, very much all the correspondent that have joined us here in the room or on the platform and thank of course, the Director General for having been with us for this annual press conference.

And I wish you all a very good day.

[Other language spoken]

Geneva in particular are relevant as long as we follow the necessary we knew how we could be better, more effective and to have a global this month elections even during the when there was practically closed the post country from World Country Organisation from our with certain positive results.

So thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Vaccine nationalism if a rarely work organisation for the 2021.

I'm sure importance here in Geneva, peace and disarmament understand that of course it's very difficult for you as journalist to work in a very but today it was I think at the beginning that we're really hoping that the premises were going to provide.