During a recent government meeting, key discussions focused on international relations and humanitarian issues, particularly concerning Syria and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

One significant topic was the phone conversation between the Secretary-General and Turkish President Erdogan. Questions arose about why the Secretary-General chose to engage Turkey instead of the Arab nations regarding the situation in Syria. The Secretary-General's representative clarified that this was just the first of many calls. He emphasized the importance of engaging influential actors in the region. The Secretary-General is scheduled to attend the Doha Forum, where he will meet with various foreign ministers from the Arab world and beyond.

Concerns were raised about the sensitivity of the Syrian people towards Turkish involvement in their affairs. The representative assured that the Secretary-General would engage with a wide range of leaders during his visit to Doha, including those from the Syrian Arab Republic and other Arab nations.

Another topic discussed was the Office for the Prevention of Genocide. It was confirmed that the office would be filled soon, with Virginia Gamba currently managing it. The recruitment process is underway, although specific timelines were not provided.

The meeting also touched on the ongoing unrest in Gaza. A journalist questioned a recent statement from Israel, which claimed that the UN was part of a disinformation campaign. The representative explained that the statement referred to advertisements in New York City that depicted individuals in a negative light. The discussion highlighted the complexities of labeling actions as hate speech and the need for clarity in such accusations.

Additionally, the Secretary-General's remarks about the situation in Syria were noted. He mentioned that certain groups are under UN sanctions but did not label them as terrorist organizations. This led to questions about potential changes in policy, which were denied by the representative.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the violence in Gaza, where the deaths of 50 Palestinians were reported. The representative reiterated the UN's condemnation of civilian killings and violations of international law, emphasizing the organization's commitment to addressing these humanitarian crises.