Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon, everyone.

**Guest at Noon Briefing

In a short while, I will be joined by our guest, John Ging, the Operations Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and he will brief you on his recent visit to the Central African Republic.

First, I’ll give you some other news and take your questions, and then after that, hopefully our guest will be here and will start on the second part of our briefing. 

**Trip Announcement

The Secretary-General will depart New York tomorrow, 2 May, in the evening for a trip which will take him to the United Arab Emirates and to Italy.  The Secretary-General’s first stop will be Abu Dhabi, where he will co-host the Abu Dhabi Ascent, which aims to prepare for and build momentum ahead of his Climate Summit on 23 September in New York.

The two-day Ascent, which begins on Sunday, 4 May, will bring together Governments, the private sector, civil society and other partners to discuss how to take concrete action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience to climate change.  While in the UAE’s capital, the Secretary-General will hold talks with Government officials and representatives from a wide range of groups, such as business, finance and civil society.  The Secretary-General will also visit the Shams solar power plant.

The Secretary-General will then travel to Italy, where he will chair in Rome the twice-yearly meeting of the UN System Chief Executives Board (CEB), which brings together top officials from across the UN system.  The meeting will be hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with strong support from the City of Rome.  Together with the members of the Chief Executives Board, the Secretary-General will have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with top Italian officials, including the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano; the President of the Council of Ministers, Matteo Renzi; and the President of the Senate, Pietro Grasso.

The Secretary-General will also address the Committee on Food Security in Rome, and meet with the heads and representatives of the Rome-based United Nations specialized agencies and funds — the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

The Secretary-General will return to New York on Saturday, 10 May.

**Press Freedom Day

This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at an event commemorating World Press Freedom Day, which falls on Saturday this year.  The Secretary-General said that the fundamental freedom to receive and impart information and ideas through any media is under assault, to the detriment of us all.

He said that journalists are singled out for speaking or writing uncomfortable truths — kidnapped, detained, beaten and sometimes murdered.  The Secretary-General noted that such treatment is completely unacceptable in a world ever more reliant on global news outlets and the journalists who serve them.

Last year, 70 journalists were killed, with 14 more having suffered the same fate this year.  The Secretary-General said that there must be no impunity for those who target journalists for violence, intimidation or distorted uses of legal procedures to disrupt or impede their work.  He said that media freedoms must continue to be at the centre of our work to promote security, dignity and prosperity for all.

The Secretary-General’s full remarks, as well as his message for World Press Freedom Day, are available online and in our office.

**Post-2015 Development Agenda

The Secretary-General spoke at the President of the General Assembly’s interactive dialogue on an accountability framework, in which he said that the contours of the new post-2015 development agenda are coming into view.

He said that, in order to succeed, it is necessary to have actions that can turn commitments into results and to monitor, review, and evaluate those results and make them accessible to policymakers and the public.  And he underscored that accountability is essential to assess progress and achieve results; that the vision of the world’s people must be taken into account; and that the accountability system must be universal.  We have his remarks online.

** Iraq

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, has congratulated all Iraqis for showing incredible resilience by turning out in significant numbers on Election Day to vote.  He also commended the efforts made by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), as well as the dedication of security personnel across the country.

As the vote counting begins, Mr. Mladenov strongly encourages the Electoral Commission to provide the results to the party agents, which will only increase the credibility and transparency of the process.

Mr. Mladenov also welcomed the well-managed Governorate Council elections that took place yesterday in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

And you will have seen the press statement issued yesterday by the Security Council members, in which they welcomed the elections and called on all political entities to work together in an inclusive and timely political process.

**Central African Republic

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, has now arrived in the Central African Republic to meet with local authorities and UN staff of our newest peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA.

As part of his efforts to develop regional dialogue and to build support for MINUSCA, Mr. Ladsous was also in Brazzaville, Congo, yesterday, where he met with President Denis Sassou Nguesso and other Government officials.  And earlier this morning, he was in N’Djamena, Chad, where he had an audience with President Idriss Déby and senior officials.

**South Sudan

Yesterday, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported firing in the vicinity of its compound in Bor, Jonglei State.

The Mission was informed that it was a case of friendly fire between the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and auxiliary police.  As a result of the firing, some internally displaced persons fled into the adjoining UNMISS compound.  The Mission reports that its peacekeepers calmed the situation and also provided medical treatment to one displaced person who was wounded in the crossfire.  Currently the Mission is protecting some 4,800 displaced persons at its site in Bor.

The Mission has received reports of fighting yesterday between Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and opposition forces in Panyagor and Wanyar Payam, also in Jonglei State.  And in Unity State, a Mission patrol in Bentiu observed opposition forces occupying Lich University.  The Mission has raised this issue with opposition authorities, reminding them that the use of educational institutions for military purposes is a violation of international humanitarian law.

The Mission also continues to report violations to the status-of-forces agreement — including harassment and detention of its staff as well as restrictions on movement in various parts of the country — which is preventing the Mission from carrying out its activities as mandated.  The Mission calls on all parties to respect the life-saving work of the United Nations.

** Sudan

On Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that fighting in parts of South Kordofan and Blue Nile States over the past two weeks has displaced or affected an estimated 16,500 people, according to the Sudanese Government.

In response, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have already distributed one-month emergency food rations to 8,500 people.

And the Sudanese Red Crescent Society — supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) — has established two emergency health clinics in Rashad town.  In addition, the UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization supported the South Kordofan Health Ministry with emergency medicine and equipment, including basic health kits to cover 10,000 people for three months, nutritional supplements and water and sanitation services.

And the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Ali Al-Za’tari, expressed his concern today about the increasing number of people from South Sudan seeking refuge in Abyei.  Over the past few days, at least 3,000 people have arrived in Abyei, fleeing violence in South Sudan’s Unity State and bringing the total number of South Sudanese in the area to 6,000.  The influx is stretching the existing resources to people in need. 

**Darfur

A peacekeeper from the African Union–United Nations mission in Darfur, who had been abducted in Nyala on 9 March, was freed today after 54 days in captivity.  The Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed the mission’s gratitude to the Government of Sudan, the Wali of South Darfur, and the Government of Nigeria for their valuable assistance in securing the safe release of Sergeant Awesu Soleiman.

**Secretary-General’s Appointment

I have an appointment to announce:  The Secretary-General has appointed Ms. Hiroute Guebre Sellassie of Ethiopia as his new Special Envoy for the Sahel and Head of Office.  Ms. Guebre Sellassie most recently served as Director of the Political Affairs Division and Head of the Goma Regional Office in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

She succeeds Mr. Romano Prodi of Italy, who completed his assignment on 31 January this year.  The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Prodi’s accomplishments in developing the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and in mobilizing the international community in support of the region.  We have more information on this appointment in our office.

**Press Conference

I just mentioned that Mr. Ging will be here as the noon briefing guest, and then tomorrow, at 12:30 p.m., there will be a press conference here by Ambassador Oh Joon, the President of the Security Council for the month of May and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, and he will brief you on the Council’s programme of work for the month.

Any questions for me?  Yes, Sherwin?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thanks, Farhan.  Any update on the attack against MINUSCA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) in the eastern DRC, in which three South African soldiers were injured?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, I was trying to get some further details.  I believe we provided some of the information on this incident yesterday.  We’ll try to get something further about this, but you’re aware of the actions that MINUSCA took in support of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the injuries sustained at that time.

Question:  Well, there was a counter-attack, apparently.  What’s the update on that?

Deputy Spokesman:  We’re trying to get some updates from our colleagues in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  Yes, Nizar?

Question: The Secretary-General said today, in the media event, or the Press Freedom Day event, that media watchdog function is essential for holding Governments, businesses and all other accountable… and others to account.  Does this apply also to international tribunals who seek to indict distinguished journalists or editors, such as the two who are indicted in Lebanon?

Deputy Spokesman:  Yes, Nizar, I believe you’re aware of the press release that the Special Tribunal of Lebanon has issued about this.  It’s a contempt of court case and I believe they’ve explained the reasoning.  Beyond that, as Stéphane [Dujarric] told you earlier this week, this is an independent body and we don’t comment on their prosecutorial decisions.  

Correspondent:  But definitely this is a matter of freedom of press because these people published something which was published already.

Deputy Spokesman:  Again, as you’re aware, this is about a contempt of court case.  It’s not about media freedom per se, but I’ll leave you to deal with the officials of the Special Tribunal of Lebanon, who can explain this for themselves.  They’re independent of us.  Joe?

Question:  Yes, the President of Ukraine was quoted as saying that the vast parts of the eastern part of Ukraine are effectively under the control of the pro-Russian militants.  And I’m wondering, in light of that statement and also the, I assume, the continued detention of the OSCE- (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) related military monitors, can you give us any update on how much freedom of movement the UN human rights monitors are having in the eastern portion of Ukraine, and what they have been finding in terms of human rights violations?  Thank you.  

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, as you’re aware, the human rights monitors have been able to go about their work in the various parts of the country.  And there was a report that was issued a couple of weeks back which was their evaluation of the human rights situation at the time.  They will be providing another update, which should have their further information in some more weeks’ time, and we’ll try to share the results of that with you.  As you’re aware, at the time that the report was released, Mr. [Ivan] Šimonović also talked about the work that was done.

Question:  I understand that, but rather than necessarily have to wait for that final report, there must be some interim information coming in, on a real time basis, as to the amount of freedom they now have in moving about the eastern portion of Ukraine?  Hopefully you can share with us, because the situation has deteriorated rapidly in the east since the last report. 

Deputy Spokesman:  Yes, as far as I’m aware, the UN monitors are going about their work, including in the eastern part of the Ukraine.  We don’t provide day to day updates on their work.  What they do is prepare information for periodic reports that go out, and so we would await the next report after that — after the initial one that came out in April.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  Do you think that the freedom of expression and freedom of the press are linked to international peace and security?

Deputy Spokesman:  I believe the Secretary-General has made that clear.  He’s talked about the invaluable role that journalists do by bringing basic facts to life, by allowing the public to become more aware of the functions and the workings of their Governments.  They have a role to play in ensuring that peace and security is stabilized and, of course, we’ve made clear many times the importance of media in terms of being able to convey messages of peace and security.  You saw an example of this just a week ago, when the Secretary-General recorded a radio message in Sango so that the people of the Central African Republic could hear his appeal for peace directly.

Question:  Then can you explain why the Security Council has not adopted the resolution on the subject?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don’t speak for the members of the Security Council.  Obviously, this matter is in their hands and they are free to deal with matters in media if they so choose, but that’s their call.  Yes?

Question:  Sure, Farhan.  I wanted to ask… sorry about this, I wanted to ask you about Burundi.  Particularly in light of that UN cable dated 3 April.  Today, the opposition leader Alexis Sinduhije was arrested in Brussels on a complaint filed by the Burundian authorities for organizing an insurrectional movement, which most people call political opposition.  So I’m wondering, does the UN, given particularly the alert or “Rights up front” kind of interest caused by this cable, do you they have any comment on the arrest of the opposition leader?  And do they yet have any comment on journalists being prosecuted for publishing the UN’s own cable?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don’t have any specific comments on either of them at this stage.  We’ve made our concerns known and you’ve seen what we’ve had to say about our concerns, about the reports of the arming of a youth wing in Burundi.  And we continue to call for this to be investigated thoroughly.

Question:  Do you think… do you think that the arrest, the Government going forward and arresting opposition leaders, does it seem to you that the calls are getting through?  Is it… are things getting better or worse?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, we’ll have to study the specific cases of this particular arrest and what the occasions were leading to this.  We’ve made very clear our concerns about Burundi and the political situation in Burundi as a whole.  You’ve seen the reports; they have being issued by our mission on the ground, where we make that clear.  But regarding the specific incident, we need to get further information about the particular details.  Asma?

Question: I want to ask about the resigning of Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi… I know that he’s supposed to come tomorrow, but is there any… because today, I read many reports about it.  Thank you.  Maybe he resigned after the briefing Security Council…? 

Deputy Spokesman: Well, no.  What I can say about that is the Secretary-General very much appreciates the ongoing, that is to say, the continuing role that Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi plays in trying to end the appalling violence in Syria.  Beyond that, as you’re aware, Mr. Brahimi will meet with the Secretary-General tomorrow.  We do anticipate that some time in the coming weeks, he will also brief the Security Council, and so you’ll be able to talk to him yourself after one of these occasions, presumably after he briefs the Security Council; we’ll try to bring him to the press and you can ask him the question yourself.  Yes, Iftikhar?

Question:  Farhan, there are press reports that the United Nations is seeking all $300 million to relocate Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their… back to their homeland.  Do you have anything on it?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, that’s an issue for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which has been dealing with the issue of voluntary returns.  But part of the issue is:  we would only, as a principle, only fund voluntary returns, and so there would have to be large numbers of Afghans choosing to return from Pakistan to Afghanistan.  If that so happens, we would need funding.  But the planning for that would be done by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.  Yes, Nizar?

Question:  Farhan, an update on the human relief in Syria.  How much of the $6.5 billion requested in the Kuwait Conference have been paid so far for the winter, which is already past in the Middle East?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, I believe the website of our humanitarian colleagues, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, updates the amounts that are received in terms of cash.  I’ll try to see what the update is in terms of the amounts.  Of course, we hope that the pledges are transformed into cash as quickly as possible, and that’s always a challenge for us, but we are trying to encourage them and, of course, it was… we were grateful for the large amount of pledges that were received.  Yes?

Question:  Sure, I wanted to ask you, there was a… yesterday there was a high-profile Freedom of Information Act response of documents by the US State Department about the Benghazi incidents, and although obviously that’s something to be looked at by Congress, one of the documents released was an e-mail from Jeffrey Feltman at his UN e-mail address to Salman Ahmed… then a… then an adviser to Susan Rice, saying “thank you for your note on the other system”.  And I just wanted to know… it seemed… because of the issues that came up because of the leak of the Victoria Nuland one, saying, “we’ve spoken to Jeff” that may or may not… which seems clearly it was Jeff Feltman, I wanted to know, is there some other system by which, in this case a US… a former US official, Jeffrey Feltman, communicates with the US Government?

Deputy Spokesman:  There’s any number of reasons why Jeffrey Feltman, as the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, would communicate with the United States Government.  That’s one of the Governments that we deal with.

Question:  Sure, I’m not at all disputing the idea… and this was actually about the… you know, the death in Benghazi, so it’s not… I’m not at all disputing the fact of the communication.  I’m saying that this line — thank you for your note on the system — I’m specifically asking about the words “on the other system”… and there’s no prior…

Deputy Spokesman:  Matthew, I don’t see why I would analyse this precise wording of an email. 

Question:  You don’t see what the… what the issue that it raises?  Doesn’t it ring a bell?

Deputy Spokesman:  As far as I’m aware, all these e-mails are being looked at by other authorities, and we’ll let them do that. 

Correspondent:  Right, but I’m asking a UN question.  They are not looking at it for the… for the propriety of a UN official having another communication system with his or her own Government.  That’s not what they are looking at; I’m asking you about that.

Deputy Spokesman:  Jeffrey Feltman is an international civil servant working for the Secretary-General of the United Nations.  There’s never been any dispute about that and I don’t believe that there’s any conjecture even from the US Government people looking into these e-mails that there is such an issue raised by this e-mail that you’re talking about.  He’s perfectly free to deal with US officials and people at the US Mission.  He has to communicate with people from all the various missions, including, of course, the missions of our permanent Security Council members.

Correspondent:  Right, but in a separate system …that’s my… that’s my… that’s what I’m asking… I’m specifically pointing at that word…

Deputy Spokesman:  I think you’re interpreting the wording in a way that may not necessarily be supported by what it means.

Question:  What does it mean?

Deputy Spokesman:  I have no idea what it means.   I’m not privy to what the wording is, but neither do you.  You’re playing detective over a random series of words and trying to impute meaning to it. 

Correspondent:  I’m saying… I’m saying it raises a question about… about UN practice so I’m asking you… I thought that’s what we do here…

Deputy Spokesman:  Like I said, there’s no doubt, certainly from the Secretary-General’s perspective, that Jeffrey Feltman is continuing faithfully as an international civil servant.  Yes?

Question:  Just a quick question, do you expect any readouts tomorrow with Brahimi, after Brahimi’s meetings?

Deputy Spokesman:  We don’t have readouts of meetings that are internal meetings, so I won’t expect that.  If Mr. Brahimi wants his own views known, he allows us to make his own views known and that’s up to him.  Alright, and with that, let’s bring our guests.  Hold on one second.

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For information media • not an official record