Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– World Press Freedom Day
– International Days
– Secretary-General/Peacekeeping
– Syria
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– UNIFIL
– Ukraine
– Haiti
– Myanmar
– Somalia
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Tomorrow is World Press Freedom Day. It is a constant reminder that free and independent journalism is an essential public good.
In his message, the Secretary-General says that when journalists are unable to work, we all lose. Tragically, this is becoming more difficult every year.
“We are seeing a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed in conflict areas — particularly in Gaza,” he said.
And this year’s theme is “the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom” – The Secretary-General added that artificial intelligence can support freedom of expression — or stifle it.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is World Tuna Day. Tuna is rich in Omega-3, and it also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12, among other advantages. Unfortunately, though, its popularity has led to overfishing in so many parts of the world.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/PEACEKEEPING
This morning, the Secretary-General took part in a dialogue with peacekeeping troop-contributing countries.
This was a closed meeting, so we won’t be sharing the Secretary-General’s full remarks. But I can tell you that, as you can imagine, he thanked the troop-contributing countries.
Peacekeeping is multilateralism in action, he said, a direct, collective and tangible commitment to peace.
He added that peacekeeping is also a partnership that depends on global political support as well as on the ideas, insights and continued commitment of Member States in the face of a range of increasingly complex risks and challenges, financing for peacekeeping is one of those challenges.
The Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, in two weeks, the Secretary-General said, will be an opportunity to build on this important work.
SYRIA
The Secretary-General has been monitoring with alarm the reports of violence in the Druze-majority suburbs of Damascus and in the south of Syria, including reports of civilian casualties and assassination of local administration figures. He condemns all violence against civilians, including acts which could risk inflaming sectarian tensions.
In this context, he also condemns Israel’s violation of Syria’s sovereignty, including the latest airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus. It is essential that these attacks stop and that Israel respect Syria’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.
The Secretary-General unequivocally calls on all concerned to cease all hostilities, exercise utmost restraint and avoid further escalation.
He is encouraged by intra-Syrian efforts to de-escalate the violence and maintain security and stability.
He takes note of the statement by interim President al-Sharaa, prioritizing “dialogue and cooperation within the framework of national unity,” and appeals to the interim authorities to transparently and openly investigate all violations.
The Secretary-General further underscores that it is imperative to support a credible, orderly and inclusive political transition in Syria, in line with the key principles of resolution 2254 (2015).
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=02%20May%202025