Secretary Blinken’s Opening Remarks at a UN Security Council Open Debate On Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The Nine Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety-Second Meeting of the Security Council is called to order.  (Gavel.)

The Provisional Agenda for this meeting is Maintenance of International Peace and Security, Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity.  The Agenda is adopted.  (Gavel.)

First, I wish to warmly welcome the distinguished ministers and other high-level representatives.  Your presence here today underscores the importance of the subject matter that is under discussion.

In according with Rule 37 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lichtenstein, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen to participate in this meeting.

It is so decided.  (Gavel.)

In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting:  Ms. Reena Ghelani, United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator; Mr. David Miliband, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Rescue Committee; and Ms. Navyn Salem, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Edesia.

It is so decided.  (Gavel.)

In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I also invite the following to participate in the meeting:  His Excellency, Mr. Thibault Camelli, Chargé d’affaires of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations; and His Excellency, Mr. Paul Beresford-Hill, Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations.

It is so decided.  (Gavel.)

I propose that the Council invite the Permanent Observer of the Observer State of the Holy See to the United Nations to participate in this meeting in accordance with the Provisional Rules of Procedure and the previous practice in this regard.

There being no objection, is it so decided.  (Gavel.)

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of Item 2 of the Agenda.  I wish to draw the attention of Council members to Document S/2023/560, a letter dated 26 July 2023 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration.

The Council has before it the text of a statement by the president on behalf of the Council on the subject of today’s meeting.  I thank the Council members for their valuable contributions to this statement.  In accordance with the understanding reached among the members of the Council, I shall take it that the members of the Security Council agree to the statement, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2023/4.

I now give the floor to Ms. Reena Ghelani.  Ms. Ghelani, over to you.