Very interesting and important statement and Q&A with @antonioguterres held on Friday, initially addressing a "Global Common Agenda" document, and then answering a wider range of questions including one on Tigray. unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/asse…
The Tigray question comes 19 minutes into the press briefing. Answering the question the UNSG Guterres repeats his previous formula:
1. Cessation of Hostilities
2. Full humanitarian Access
3. Ethiopian led dialogue to address underlying issues.
1. Cessation of Hostilities
2. Full humanitarian Access
3. Ethiopian led dialogue to address underlying issues.
"For the most part both sides have not yet understood that there is no military solution. There have been terrible violations of human rights apparently now from both sides [i.e. from Tigray]
NOTE: Reference to #ChenaMassacre was in the question albeit not named. Q from @AP.
NOTE: Reference to #ChenaMassacre was in the question albeit not named. Q from @AP.
"It is heartbreaking to see the Ethiopian people suffering so much. In Tigray and also in other areas." - @antonioguterres 
"We need to recognise that the stability and unity of Ethiopia is a very important pillar of regional stability and unity, and we are very concerned that this conflict might have an impact that goes beyond the borders." - UNSG @antonioguterres
Later in the press conference when asked about Climate change in context of COP26, UNSG Guterres answered several question related to North/South equity related issues.
"I am very worried. I feel there is a lack of trust between developed and developing countries," he said.
"I am very worried. I feel there is a lack of trust between developed and developing countries," he said.
UNSG Guterres went on to say there is a need for adequate financing to be provided to assist the developing world in this area, singling out the U.S. for special mention.
"We need a breakthrough [financing for] in adaptation and resilience for developing countries," he said.
The UNSG also addressed a question about terrorists being emboldened by what has happened in Afghanistan, singling out the Sahel as an area of particular concern.
"We do not have today an effective mechanism to address the security challenge [in the Sahel]. We need an African force with a strong mandate. There is currently not enough to address the threat," he said, then linked the climate change issue as being related.
He went on to talk about the problem of highly motivated terrorists who are willing to die, vs less motivated Govt. forces who at times - e.g. in Mosul (Iraq) and Mozambique - who are not ready and motivated enough to fight terror threats.
And finally for this thread - he addressed the issue of vaccine inequality, saying that he has been working closely with the G7, G20, WHO, IMF and World Bank to develop a global strategy to get all vaccine manufacturing capacity deployed with a target of vaccinating....
.. of vaccinating 70% of the global population by the middle of next year.
"But this requires there to be cooperation on a global vaccination plan," he said.
"But this requires there to be cooperation on a global vaccination plan," he said.
The Q&A followed a stark warning from UNSG @antonioguterres to the world that numerous coinciding challenges facing the world - particularly Covid, Climate Change and the threat of nuclear war and new autonomous weapons systems - are not being adequately addressed.
His press conference was a scene setting moment for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) which is about to begin. His "Common Global Agenda" is intended to serve it seems as an inspiration for the speeches and discussions which will take place during the UNGA.
His proposal to the GA includes a number of initiatives including a global "Summit Of The Future" to be held in two years time, and greater involvement of youth in UN discussions. passblue.com/2021/09/13/uns…
/ENDS
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