DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
| Press Briefing |
Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Marie Okabe, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman on Zimbabwe
“The Secretary-General is increasingly concerned by the human rights and humanitarian impact of the recent demolitions of what the Government of Zimbabwe has called illegal settlements. He appointed on the 20th of June Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, as his Special Envoy and asked her to visit the country and investigate the situation.
“Mrs. Tibaijuka visited the country and, with the cooperation of the Government of Zimbabwe, conducted an exhaustive examination. The Secretary-General will receive her report in the coming days and will study its contents to determine the next steps for the United Nations. The report will be made public after the Government of Zimbabwe has received an advance copy.”
**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman on Aceh Peace Talks
“The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the agreement reached in principle yesterday between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement, intended to bring peace after thirty years of conflict in the province. He looks forward to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on 15 August 2005 and hopes this breakthrough heralds a new and brighter future for the people of Aceh.
“The Secretary-General commends both sides for their determination to reach a lasting and sustainable peace in Aceh and strongly urges them to demonstrate continued resolve and commitment throughout the implementation of the agreed terms. He also applauds the crucial role played by Martti Ahtsaari as the mediator in these negotiations.
“The Secretary-General is encouraged to learn of the readiness of the European Union, and possibly Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), to provide a monitoring team in Aceh once the Memorandum of Understanding is official.”
**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman on Violence in Iraq
“The Secretary-General continues to be dismayed by the unrelenting wave of suicide bombings in Iraq that have killed large numbers of civilians, including at least 80 people in Musayyib on Saturday.
“The Secretary-General emphatically condemns those heinous attacks, perpetrated in an apparent effort to undermine Iraq’s political transition, and extends his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims.
“The Secretary-General urges all Iraqis to set violence aside and to join together, through peaceful means, in building a united, democratic and prosperous Iraq.”
**Iraq
Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Iraq, today told a reconstruction conference in Amman, Jordan, that the international community must be more responsive to Iraq’s needs as the Iraqis see them. There has to be flexibility in the use of funds to tackle emerging priorities. We have copies of that statement upstairs.
**Security Council
Here at UN Headquarters, the Security Council: Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; and Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), briefed the Council on progress made in implementing a resolution on the subject of AIDS, resolution 1308.
That resolution, which was adopted five years ago, called on the United Nations and MemberStates to develop effective AIDS education, prevention, testing and treatment strategies for peacekeepers and national uniformed services.
In his remarks to the Council, Guéhenno said that, five years ago, the Peacekeeping Department barely crossed paths with agencies like UNAIDS. Now, however, the two groups had undertaken joint missions to Haiti and Sudan to establish AIDS programmes in advance of major troop deployments. And, in the last two years, the number of AIDS advisers in major peacekeeping operations had risen.
Speaking after Guéhenno, Piot told the Council that AIDS-focused actions for each and every mission include the promotion and provision of condoms, voluntary counselling and testing services. In addition, some 1 million AIDS awareness cards, in 13 languages, had been distributed among peacekeepers and national security forces.
But Piot also said that, despite achievements, there was still a long way to go, a fact made evident by recent reports of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. He also highlighted key challenges, saying that troops and civilians must have unrestricted access to HIV testing and counselling during deployment, and that the consistent implementation of programmes must be ensured, especially during conflicts when vulnerability increased.
Following the open meeting, Piot will go to the stakeout to take your questions. And copies of both their statements are upstairs. We also have upstairs a UNAIDS press release on the agency’s new progress report, entitled “On the Front Lines”, which is available on its website.
And finally, the Council is expected to adopt a presidential statement at the end of today’s meeting.
**Middle East
Over the weekend, we issued a statement expressing the Secretary-General’s alarm at the renewed violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the past fortnight. The Secretary-General strongly believes that, at this critical moment, a glimmer of a better future with two States living side-by-side in peace still exists. It is, therefore, essential that all committed to a negotiated settlement remain focused on that goal.
**Lebanon
At the invitation of the Presidency of the European Union, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Terje Roed-Larsen, briefed today the Foreign Ministers of the European Union, in Brussels, at the General Affairs Council on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559. That meeting was chaired by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
Roed-Larsen discussed with the Foreign Ministers the following issues: the withdrawal of Syrian military and intelligence apparatus from Lebanon; the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Lebanon, in particular the results of the recent parliamentary elections and the ongoing conflict-ridden efforts to form a new Government; and the disarming and disbanding of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, in the context of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all its territory, as called for by this resolution. We have more on this upstairs in a press release.
**Nepal
And turning to Nepal, Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, and his team have completed a six-day visit to Nepal, and issued a statement last Friday before leaving the country. The visit is part of the Secretary-General’s continuing effort to help find a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nepal.
Brahimi said Nepal is facing a very serious crisis, but added that a solution is not beyond reach. That solution, he said, rests on three critical elements: a return to constitutional order and multiparty democracy, an end to hostilities, and an inclusive national dialogue towards a negotiated solution to the underlying causes of conflict.
Brahimi said he will now report to the Secretary-General on his findings. The United Nations will continue to take a keen interest in the situation in Nepal and stay closely engaged. It will remain available to provide its assistance in whatever form it may be needed.
**Sudan
And on Sudan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, is on his way to The Hague, where he will meet with the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, to discuss the situation in Darfur. Then he’ll travel to New York to brief the Security Council on Darfur and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement’s implementation. And that briefing here is scheduled for Friday.
Late last week, Pronk travelled to Asmara, Eritrea, and returned convinced that the Eastern Front is prepared to start serious negotiations with the Government with the aim of finding a lasting solution to the problems of eastern Sudan.
The Secretary-General, as you’ll recall, told the new Government of Sudan, earlier this month, that the peace process between north and south must be made irreversible -- which it will not be, unless it takes root in the east, as well as the west.
**General Assembly
And on the General Assembly, we have a note from the General Assembly Spokesman’s office. The AU, the African Union draft resolution -- the General Assembly will hold a plenary meeting this afternoon, at 3 pm, to discuss that draft resolution submitted by the African Union on Security Council reform. The countries inscribed on the speakers’ list so far are: Nigeria (introducing that resolution), Egypt and Algeria.
As already announced, later in the week, on Friday, the 22nd of July, General Assembly President Jean Ping will submit to the General Assembly a revised draft outcome document for the September Summit. Mr. Ping will travel tonight to Gabon and will be away through Thursday.
And, then, next week, on the 27th and 28th, the General Assembly will hold closed informal consultations on the revised draft outcome document.
And the next planned item on the General Assembly calendar is the submission by Mr. Ping of a further revised draft outcome document on the 5th of August. If you have any questions on this, you can follow up with the General Assembly spokesman in the briefing room.
**UN Reform
And on UN reform, just to note that the Group of Four nations -- Brazil, Germany, India and Japan -- their Foreign Ministers called on the Secretary-General on Sunday to brief him on the state of play and to reassure him that they are interested in broader UN reform, as well as Security Council reform.
**UN Reform – Iran Meeting
And on reform again, in a message to a two-day Conference on Reform that began in Tehran, Iran, yesterday, the Secretary-General said he believes the World Summit of 2005 will be an occasion for States to embrace the concept of the responsibility to protect, and to renew commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation. He also said that a culture of full respect for human rights must be built, and on terrorism, he said that a definition must be agreed on, and a comprehensive convention outlawing it must be adopted. He asserted that his proposals must be seen in the broader reform context, in which development has pride of place, and reiterated the need for an all-out global effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals. And we have copies of that message upstairs.
**Press Releases
And a few press releases upstairs to flag -- one from the Humanitarian Affairs Office on the urgent need for assistance to flooding victims in Tajikistan and a press release from the Food and Agricultural Organization on the food crisis in Niger. And we have a UNICEF press release on supplying Grenada to help prevent the spread of disease among people hit by hurricane Emily.
**Civil Society
And finally, tomorrow at 9:30, there will be hundreds of civil society activists beginning a three-day conference to launch a new international movement to prevent armed conflict. This meeting is the culmination of a process that began in 2002, when the Secretary-General urged civil society to meet and define its position on conflict prevention.
Steven Stedman, who is a Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the Report of the High-Level Panel, will deliver a statement on the Secretary-General’s behalf, and Under-Secretaries-General Ibrahim Gambari and Jan Egeland will also address the conference.
And that’s all I have for you today. Any questions for me? Over there.
**Questions and Answers
Question: For the agreement between Indonesia and Aceh, is there any possibility for the United Nations to taking part in monitoring of the agreement?
Deputy Spokesperson: As I just mentioned to you in that statement, the Secretary-General does say that he is encouraged to learn of the readiness of the European Union, and possibly ASEAN, to provide the monitoring team in Aceh.
Yes, James.
Question: The Habitat report on Zimbabwe, when will it be out?
Deputy Spokesperson: We expect the report to be submitted in the next couple of days, and then we, as I mentioned, the Government of Zimbabwe will be given 48 hours to look at the report. But the report will be given to them in the final form. And, then, we hope, upon receipt of their comments, to make it public. So, as I mentioned, it will be Friday or Monday. And we hope to get Mrs. Tibaijuka to talk to you.
Question: You’re going to release it to the Security Council in a couple of days?
Deputy Spokesperson: No, we’ll make it public.
Question: So when are you giving it to the Zimbabwe Government?
Deputy Spokesperson: We’re hoping to receive it in the next day or two. Once we receive it, it will be given to the Government of Zimbabwe for 48 hours, and, then, we will make it public, and with the hopes of getting Mrs. Tibaijuka to brief you on it.
Question: Is it going to the Security Council?
Deputy Spokesperson: That I don’t know. I’ll have to check.
Question: Do you have any plans if Zimbabwe decides to brief on it a day early, which is probably a good bet that they will to try to spin it their way, that you will release it early?
Deputy Spokesperson: This is the plan as of now. So, if there are any alterations in it, I’ll keep you informed.
Question: You said that they were going to have a look at it but they can’t make any changes. Will their comments, will Zimbabwe’s comments, be included in the report?
Deputy Spokesperson: My understanding is that they will be made public, but let me look into the exact format as to how it’s going to be done.
Go ahead, Edie.
Question: Does that mean that Mrs. Tibaijuka is going to be here in New York to personally deliver the report to the Secretary-General? And when you say Friday or Monday, that’s when you’re expecting to make it public?
Deputy Spokesperson: That’s correct. That’s correct on when we’re making it public. Yes, Miss Tibaijuka’s expected here early this week, I mean in the next day or two, together with her report, delivering it to the Secretary-General. As you know, the Secretary-General is at home following his shoulder surgery. So his workplan, as of now, I can’t confirm to you. But, yes, she is coming to Headquarters.
Yes.
Question: There’s been a lot of discussion and debate at the UN over the Security Council. I’m just wondering, has there been or are there any plans in the works to look hard at the Commission on Human Rights. And, then, I had a couple of follow-up questions about Benon Sevan.
Deputy Spokesperson: I’m sorry. What about—
Question: We’re getting a lot of discussion about Security Council reform. I’m just wondering if there’s anything in the plans or in the works regarding specifically the Commission on Human Rights.
Deputy Spokesperson: I have nothing specific to add. As you know, the Secretary-General in his vision does spell out the need for reform in the human rights area, and this is one of the areas where the Member States are also looking at very closely, in addition to Security Council reform and other areas.
Question: Will there be anything concrete perhaps around the time of the Zimbabwe report?
Deputy Spokesperson: I don’t see any linkage between the reform mechanism for the human rights machinery and this report. The proposals for the overhaul of the human rights machinery is part of the overall report that the Secretary-General put forward. My understanding is that it will be part of whatever is decided in September.
Question: On Benon Sevan, an update on where things stand with diplomatic immunity and the Secretary-General’s position, has he been approached by any of the legal organizations asking that he lift immunity? And also there was a report in, I think it was in the New York Post, about the various bank accounts that Sevan has and some investigation into those accounts. Do UN personnel in general have to supply their banking details -- because they are public servants and there is the possibility that there could be some exploitation of those accounts. Where is the sort of catch or the follow-up on that type of thing to ensure that there’s no sort of criminal activity or pay-offs that can be clandestinely organized?
Deputy Spokesperson: I’m not going to have anything to say on Benon Sevan, as long as the investigation is going on.
Question: Where is Benon Sevan? He is on a UN salary, does the UN know where he is?
Deputy Spokesperson: I personally do not know where he is.
Question: Does the Secretary-General know where he is? Or does anybody in the Secretariat, for whom you’re the Spokeswoman, know where he is?
Deputy Spokesperson: I can try to find that out for you.
Question: It would be nice to find out where he is. We understand he might have been in Cyprus for quite a long time.
Question: The question about bank accounts, though, is not specifically about Sevan. In general is there some sort of accountability where personnel, or you yourself, where there’s a disclosure of bank accounts that you have, not necessarily that they be scrutinized all the time, but there would be an easy way for follow-up in case there might be some wrongdoing?
Deputy Spokesperson: I certainly have not submitted my bank account to the United Nations, but I can look into your question for you.
[She later told the correspondent that UN staff at the Assistant Secretary-General level or above are required to file financial disclosure statements, which may include bank information.]
Liz, did you have a question?
Question: My question was back on Zimbabwe, if people want to continue on Benon Sevan.
Deputy Spokesperson: I think we’re done with Benon Sevan.
Question: I think you may have said this, but did you say that the Zimbabweans would be getting a final report or is what they get considered a draft?
Deputy Spokesperson: No, they will get the final report.
Question: On Nepal, when you say that Mr. Brahimi says that the United Nations is ready to help in whatever form, what’s “whatever form”? Does that include anything, Security Council action or what?
Deputy Spokesperson: I think we’d have to find out what Mr. Brahimi is proposing in the report that he says he is now writing for the Secretary-General. But as you know, the Secretary-General did meet with the King of Nepal in April, when he went to the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta. And even there, following that visit, the Secretary-General said that he was open to assisting in any way that we can. So let’s see what that report says and I’ll follow up on that.
Question: A housekeeping question. What’s happened to the Spokesman for the General Assembly? Do we not get that anymore? I’m just wondering where the General Assembly Spokesman is.
Deputy Spokesperson: We do have a very able assistant from the General Assembly who provides us with useful information every day. She’s here in the office. As to where the whereabouts of the Spokesman is, I will find out for you.
Question: ‘Cause I was just wondering whether if it was considered appropriate for the head of the General Assembly to be wandering off to Gabon for a week in the midst of the kind of crunch point on a lot of this stuff.
Deputy Spokesperson: You’d have to pose that to the General Assembly Spokesman. I’ll find out where he is.
Question: On Mr. Brahimi, I thought he was the Adviser on Islamic Affairs. Is that changed now? Why is he going to Nepal?
Deputy Spokesperson: Mr. Brahimi is a Special Adviser. I don’t think he has a special portfolio.
Question: I have another question. In the Sunday Telegraph, there’s a piece about Mark Malloch Brown, an interview with Mark Malloch Brown, in which he cites his salary as $240,000 at UNDP. There’s a lot of figures surfing around. Can you get us a definitive gross and net salary for his salary, both as UNDP and as now Chief of Staff? And also as UNDP Administrator, whether he received a kind of rent allowance?
Deputy Spokesperson: Sure.
Question: When was the last time Kofi Annan spoke with Mugabe? And I mean, I don’t expect you to know exactly when, but perhaps you do. And what did he relay to him? Or what message?
Deputy Spokesperson: He met with him most recently in the African Union Summit in Sirte, Libya on the 4th of July? And the discussion in Zimbabwe was a tête-à-tête. So I don’t have a readout of that meeting.
Question: I don’t know whether or not you covered this, but can you describe what Mr. Brahimi’s assignment is in Nepal?
Deputy Spokesperson: There’s a statement upstairs. Why don’t you take a look at it. We just read it out. If there are more questions, I could follow up. If there are no other questions -- yes, James.
Question: What about the Maurice Strong case? Where do we stand with that now? Is he still the Adviser on Korea? Or has he stood down? Has any progress been made in the investigation into the hiring of his stepdaughter?
Deputy Spokesperson: I don’t have anything new on Mr. Strong. My understanding is that his contract was about to expire, but let me look into that and get back to you.
Question: Could you find out if it’s been renewed or not?
Deputy Spokesperson: I shall.
[In an announcement shortly after the briefing, correspondents were informed that Mr. Strong’s contract expired last week and had not been renewed.]
Question: He keeps on going in and out of his office, that’s what we hear.
Deputy Spokesperson: Okay.
Question: Last week, I asked about Benon’s whereabouts and didn’t get a definitive answer. Now James has asked. Can we find out where he is, somehow?
Deputy Spokesperson: I’ll try to find out for you.
Question: He is a UN employee after all.
Deputy Spokesperson: I’ll try to find out for you. Okay? Have a good afternoon.
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