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 Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All right, good afternoon and happy Monday.

**Security Council

At 3 p.m. this afternoon, the Secretary-General will brief the Security Council, first in an open meeting and then in consultations, regarding the situation in South Sudan, which, as you know, the Secretary-General visited last week.  Just after that, we expect the Secretary-General to come out to the Security Council stakeout and to take your questions.  And that will be at approximately 4:45 p.m.

Earlier today, the Security Council has been meeting on Central Africa to hear from Abou Moussa, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa.  This is his last briefing to the Council in that position, and he stressed that Central Africa remains fragile and continues to require support from the international community, particularly the United Nations.

And we expect Mr. Moussa to speak to reporters as soon as the meeting is done.  In fact, I think he is already speaking, from what I see.

**South Sudan

From South Sudan, the UN Mission in that country (UNMISS) reports incidents of fighting between Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and opposition forces in parts of Unity and Upper Nile States over the weekend, in violation of the Agreement signed by President [Salva] Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar on Friday in Addis Ababa.  As you know, we issued a statement welcoming that agreement on Friday night.

The Mission reports that both sides clashed west of Bentiu in Unity State yesterday.  The Mission also reports small arms fire, as well as several explosions close to the Mission’s compound in Bentiu, where upwards of 23,000 civilians are being protected.  The UN Mission condemns the fighting and asks the parties to immediately implement the commitments that they have signed into action on the ground, and to cease all hostilities.

Also, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, issued a statement on Saturday, emphasizing that UN agencies and non-governmental organizations need to continue scaling up operations to meet the needs of food insecure communities, people displaced by the conflict and refugees cut off from assistance.  And based on a new analysis that the conflict in South Sudan is pushing the country towards a hunger catastrophe, the World Food Programme (WFP) plans to expand its emergency programmes to reach 3.2 million people this year with urgently needed food assistance.  And that is in a press release from WFP on their website.

** Syria

UN humanitarian agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent reached men, women and children in six hard-to-access towns in over two days last week.  UN and Red Crescent humanitarian workers delivered food, nutrition and hygiene assistance, first on 8 May to Kfar Hamra, Maaret Elartiq, Hariten and Hayyan, and then on 9 May to Nabul and Zahraa.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Yacoub el Hillo, said that efforts by the United Nations and its partners to get access to civilians, wherever they are, will continue.  Every affected civilian in Syria has the right to a dignified life where their basic humanitarian needs are met, said Mr. el Hillo.  UN humanitarian agencies continue to call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate access to affected civilians and ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers.

** Iraq

Nickolay Mladenov, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, remains concerned at reports of increased armed activities in Fallujah and particularly its effects on civilians.  He said that all efforts must be made to ensure that fighting ends, people return to their homes and reconstruction begins.  It is vital that those affected by the fighting are able to receive humanitarian support.  Since the outbreak of the violence, the United Nations has delivered more than 15,000 food parcels, blankets and tents; and nearly 38,000 water and sanitation supplies, as well as hygiene kits reaching a total of more than 233,000 internally displaced people who have been impacted by fighting in Anbar and floods in Abu Ghraib.

** Nigeria

Also, on Nigeria, following the designation by the Secretary-General of his Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, as his high-level representative to Nigeria, Mr. Djinnit has arrived today in Abuja, where he is scheduled to meet with senior Government officials.  He is scheduled to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and other senior Government officials over the next few days.  Mr. Djinnit will discuss how the UN can best support the authorities' efforts in the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls, who were abducted in northern Nigeria.

** Lebanon

From Lebanon, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, today met with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri.  They discussed developments in Lebanon and issues related to resolution 1701 (2006).  Speaking to the press afterward, Mr. Plumbly said that the presidential election process is now entering a crucial phase, with less than two weeks remaining until 25 May.  He emphasized that the electoral process is an entirely Lebanese one, which should remain free of foreign interference.  And he stressed that Lebanon’s friends in the international community have a keen interest in the successful completion of the process, on time and in accordance with constitutional practice.  We have his remarks available in my office.

**Forum on Indigenous Issues

The Secretary General spoke just a few minutes ago at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth session of the Forum on Indigenous Issues.  He said the Permanent Forum is a vital mechanism to ensure that the international community listens to the voices and concerns, the hopes and aspirations, of indigenous peoples in every corner of the world.  He added that forging win-win solutions for all was the responsibility and challenges of all involved.  The Secretary-General also urged Member States to recognize the central role of indigenous peoples in meeting climate change issues, saying that their traditional knowledge and practices could help to close the emissions gap and lead us to a more sustainable path. 

**Alcohol

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched today its "Global status report on alcohol and health".  This report estimates that worldwide, 3.3 million deaths were due to harmful uses of alcohol in 2012.  The report stresses that alcohol consumption can not only lead to dependence but also increases people’s risk of developing more than 200 diseases, including liver cirrhosis and some cancers.

Globally, Europe is the region with the highest consumption of alcohol per capita, with some of its countries having particularly high consumption rates.  The trend analysis shows that the consumption level is stable over the last five years in the region, as well as in Africa and the Americas, though increases have been reported in the South-East Asia and the Western Pacific regions.  And that report is available online.

**Aviation

Also, from Montreal today, I wanted to flag a special meeting that is being convened for the next two days by the International Civil Aviation Organization on the global tracking of airline flights.  States will be joined by industry groups to consider the need for a global airline flight tracking capability.  The results of that meeting will be presented at a press conference tomorrow afternoon in Montreal.  More details are available on [the International Civil Aviation Organization’s] website.

**Senior Appointments

Two appointments today from DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations).  The Secretary-General has appointed Major General Kristin Lund of Norway, who will take command of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in August.  She is replacing Major General Chao Liu of China, to whom the Secretary-General pays tribute for his dedication, professionalism and leadership.  And we have more information on that appointment in my office.  And also just to note that Major General Lund will become the first-ever female Force Commander in UN history, and there will be a photo op in the Secretary-General’s office, where he will have a few remarks, but not take questions, at 1:00 p.m.

Also, the Secretary-General is also appointing Kim Bolduc of Canada as his Special Representative for Western Sahara.  Ms. Bolduc succeeds Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber of Germany, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his strong leadership and dedicated service.

**Press Conference Today

At 1:30 p.m., here, you will have a press conference here by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on good governance.

And tomorrow, at 12:45 pm, there will be a press conference by Souleymane Diabaté, the UNICEF Representative in the Central African Republic.  And he will brief you on the humanitarian situation in that country and the impact on children.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane, two questions:  One on Lebanon, there was an Israeli violation to the Lebanese waters and land; generally, sovereignty of Lebanon is always breached by Israel.  I wondered whether you have any comment on that.  And my other question is on Syria.  I know the Secretary-General has been calling for accountability for the gross violation of the human rights and international law in Syria, but I wonder whether he would support referring Syria, the situation in Syria to the ICC (International Criminal Court).  Thank you.

Spokesman:  On Lebanon, I did receive an update from our colleagues in UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) on the land violation on the reports alleging Israeli violations of the Blue Line.

They tell me there have been a number of media reports alleging Israeli violation of the Blue Line during maintenance works undertaken by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) along the Ras Naqoura-Labouneh stretch of the Israeli technical fence yesterday.  In this regard, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon would like to clarify the following facts:  Yesterday morning, with short notice, the IDF informed UNIFIL about its plan to undertake the maintenance works along the technical fence in the area south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side.  UNIFIL, in turn, conveyed this information to the Lebanese Armed Forces, in line with the established liaison and coordination arrangements.  UNIFIL patrols were deployed at the location to observe the works carried out by the IDF.  In light of the concerns raised within Lebanon in this context, the UN Force Commander, Major General Paolo Serra, has decided to launch an investigation to confirm the facts and circumstances of yesterday’s developments.  The situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations and along the Blue Line remains calm and UNIFIL is continuing regular operations in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

On the second part of your question, I think we will let Mr. [Lakhdar] Brahimi speak; he will be speaking next later this week to the Security Council at the stakeout and you can ask him.  Yes, sir, and then we’ll go here.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  There have been a number of events in Ukraine these days.   Lugansk Republic has voted for independence from Ukraine and also they said that they want the UN to recognize it.  Can you please say if the UN has reaction to this and what is the due process to get this recognized?

Spokesman:  Sure, you know, in general terms, the issue of recognition of Member States is done by the General Assembly by the Member States.  It is not up to the Secretary-General to recognize… to participate in this recognition process.  Obviously, we were following the vote over the weekend.  From our standpoint, the situation in Eastern Ukraine remains extremely, extremely volatile.  Yesterday's event has only served to further stoke tensions.  The grievances of the people should be expressed and addressed through genuine results-based dialogue between the authorities and communities.  And the UN stands ready to support such efforts, if requested.  Yes?

Correspondent:  Thank you, I know that this issue had been raised a number of times before, but today, Wi-Fi connection is terrible, and there’s no access to Wi-Fi and other internet websites; but what I’m going to ask you is Ukraine.

Spokesman:  You referring to here or there?  No, I understand.

Question:  No, it’s just for your reference.  And there’s an idea to include in the number of participants of the Geneva talks on Ukraine, representatives of the Eastern part of Ukraine.  What is your attitude to that?

Spokesman:  I think the Secretary-General has urged that the parties who signed the agreement in Geneva and who were around the table to return to that spirit that allowed them to sign it.  The Geneva document is really the only piece of paper, the only document that we have that was agreed by the parties; and it’s important that people return to that spirit before we start talking about new agreements.  Pam and then Matthew?

Question:  Thank you, two follow-ups.  One is just to weigh in:  there is no… barely any Wi-Fi here.  And the second is just as a follow-up on the Ukraine.  The Secretary-General certainly plays a role in new States’ applications.  I mean when you say the General Assembly, if Lugansk or Donetsk were to come, they would come first and apply for Membership to the Secretary-General.  Is that correct?  But they haven’t, correct?

Spokesman:  What I mean is that the ultimate decision whether or not to bring a country into United Nations to… as a Member State is a decision made by the Member States.

Question:  And there’s been no application clearly to the Secretary-General?

Spokesman:  No.

Question:  Okay, so my question is about Said Djinnit and Nigeria.  Needless to say, if he’s just down there, there won’t be any report back yet, but is… given the video today about a prisoners swap by Boko Haram, is there any sense that the UN might play a mediation role or any kind of role?  Is there any plan, since time is of the essence with these school girls, that the UN has, that it is proposing?  And what’s the role that Gordon Brown plays in this?  He’s trying to keep… trying to get the bigger picture of keeping girls in school and protecting them in this region.  Is he starting that in the middle of all this or…?

Spokesman:  I think you know that Gordon Brown is the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Education for All, so he has something obviously something to say in that regard.  I think there are a number of issues that you raised that we’ll try to unpack.  Mr. Djinnit, as you said, just landed.  He will be meeting with some UN colleagues today, hopefully meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow to see how the UN can help.  Obviously, we are not involved in any — or would be involved in any — military operations that may take place.  We can work with the Nigerian Government on the issues of counter-terrorism as a whole, which have been, resolutions have been approved by the General Assembly programmes that we have, but I think we also have to really focus on the girls.  How once they are released, and we very much hope that they will be released, how do you work with that community to repair the community?  How do you help and give the support to the families and to the girls to survive the trauma?  How do you encourage girls now to stay in school?  How do work with local communities to make sure that what has happened does not have a deterrent effect on other communities?  I don’t have to underscore here the importance of keeping children in school, keeping girls in schools and the critical role that women’s education, girls’ educations plays in development issues.  So, we also have to start thinking about the after.  We obviously all very much hope that this will be resolved and that the girls would be released, set free and how do we then work with those communities to support them as we move forward.

Question:  Does that mean there is no plan?  I mean, that’s all good for after and important.  Is there any plan for helping getting them out?

Spokesman:  As I said, Mr. Djinnit will meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and offer the UN’s help in any way we can.  But, I don’t think people should get things confused here.  The UN does not have the capacity or the mandate to be involved in any military operation if there is going to be one.  Obviously, if there’s support we can bring in other ways in opening up dialogue, in supporting the Government, we will do that.  Matthew?

Correspondent:  Sure, I wanted to ask about South Sudan, but I’m… on this internet issue… Wi-Fi issue, I’ve contacted OICT (Office of Information and Communication Technology) about the area in front of the Security Council and they said, what room number is that and they asked me for my index card number.  I guess I like to, maybe… could your office just make sure that we get…

Spokesman:  I think, in general, I’ve been informed about this about three and a half minutes ago.  I usually have my iPhone with me.  I don’t have it with me, so I can’t send them a message right now.  But, hopefully, somebody is listening, it’s always best to either go through MALU (Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit), you can always bug Walter [Pinn], he’s always around or through my office and to deal with this as a whole so…

Correspondent:  We’ve tried that before.

Spokesman:  I understand, okay.

Question:  On South Sudan, I wanted to know, the Government… you know, in its official Twitter account has said, of the agreement reached in Addis, elections will not take place in 2015, the period has been extended for two or three years.  So, I’m wondering, since the Secretary-General welcomed this agreement, was it his understanding that in fact, part of the agreement would be to put back any type of election for two or three years?

Spokesman:  I think the goal of the agreement was to stop the fighting and stop it as quickly as possible, so that people can live in peace.  The most immediate need is, of course, for farmers to be able to plant to avoid any sort of major food crisis or famine later in the year.  The issue of postponement of election… our position is and has always been that elections and their timeline should be part of a comprehensive political agreement which must be the outcome of a transparent and inclusive dialogue.

Question:  Right, but I guess many people are saying basically that this was kind of, in fact, UN officials have said this was a personality conflict between two individuals and if the result of this agreement is that the two of them stay in power for another two or three years is… do you see that as a positive thing?

Spokesman:  I think I’ve just answered what I’ve told you about the elections:  that we need… that any timeline, the scheduling of elections should be part of a comprehensive political dialogue, a transparent dialogue and an inclusive dialogue.  The Secretary-General has repeatedly stressed the responsibility of these two leaders to sit down and ensure that peace returns to South Sudan and that the political process can continue.  Yes, ma’am?

Question:  Coming back to Nigeria, in terms of the video, the leader of Boko Haram is asking for exchange of the prisoners, would the UN, as Pam was mentioning, would be involved in any possible exchange?

Spokesman:  At this point, I have nothing to say to any UN involvement in any negotiations.  That’s not something that we’re involved in at this point.  Nizar?

Question:  Sorry, I will start with technology before my question.  It’s not about Wi-Fi, it’s more of a radical problem you have here.  EZTV has not been working for a while, it has been intermittent and today it was impossible to follow the Security Council meeting by EZTV in anyway.  There was no audio, the video was jammed and this is comes after the master capital plan or Capital Master Plan, I forgot how to say it… I mean, we’ve been here a year and things have not been better.  I complained before and I complain again, this [is] really hampering the coverage from the United Nations and I hope it will be given some more attention.  People who are far away can watch United Nations more better than us here.  My question is regarding the deprivation of the people of Aleppo from water for nine days now.  Has there been any attempt with those who have some say on the rebels or the armed groups in Aleppo to release their tight grip on the water and especially after 100 people there have caught diseases as a result of drinking contaminated water from local wells?  That’s my question.

Spokesman:  Okay, I don’t have anything specific on Aleppo, but it’s clear that all parties in the conflict have a responsibility to ensure that people have access to basic needs and that clearly, clearly includes water.  The withholding of food, the withholding of water, the intentional withholding of food, the intentional withholding of water is against international humanitarian law.  Nabil and then Joe?

Question:  Thank you.  I second my colleagues, I missed my deadline today and I think many reporters couldn’t file their stories.  Do you have any readout on Mr. Brahimi’s consultations in recent days with Security Council members?  Did he call or talk to any leader or parties in the region and is he going to speak to the press tomorrow?  You said this week, is it tomorrow after the meeting or…?

Spokesman:  I said this week to blur the fact that in my head I don’t have the exact date of the Council meeting, but I think you know what it is.

Correspondent:  It’s tomorrow so…

Spokesman:  Then he will speak tomorrow and we’ll let him speak for himself, since he’s so close and it’s only tomorrow, but I don’t have an update.  Yes, Joe, and then we’ll go down here.

Question:  Yes, again with the regard to Ukraine.  I believe before the Crimean referendum that the Secretary-General had said something to the effect of that he didn’t that would be helpful to the process of bringing about dialogue and de-escalation.  I’m wondering whether you just indicated that his view is that the situation in east Ukraine remains very volatile; would he have the same view of this most recent referendum held yesterday which has been described in some quarters as chaotic and so forth?  I mean, does the Secretary-General view that referendum as in negative terms as not helping the de-escalation process?

Spokesman:  I think you may have walked in as I said, and I’ll read exactly what I said, which is yesterday’s events, meaning the referendum only served to further stoke tensions.

Nizar, on Aleppo, the UN and partners are scaling up their presence in Aleppo Governorate and plan to reach areas in eastern Aleppo city, and western and northern rural Aleppo, in a series of deliveries through inter-agency convoys and regular agency programmes.  Yes?

Question:  What about the water in Aleppo?

Spokesman:  But, I think I answered about the water, as well.  Yes, sir, yes, you in the white jacket.

Correspondent:  I like to ask you, is there anything that you can say about Egypt… about the death sentences being passed on…

Spokesman:  I think the Secretary-General’s reactions and comments to the mass sentencing, which were relayed not too long ago, stand.

Question:  Because, so far, nothing concrete have happened, in the sense that whether they are going to be re-evaluated, whether it’s going to go through or if this people are going to be killed; we have no…

Spokesman:  I’ve nothing to add to what I’ve said on that.  Yes, ma’am?

Question:  [Inaudible]?

Spokesman:  You’ve got to use your mic.  I heard, I did hear your question, so you don’t need to repeat it.  I think we spoke about that last week and the Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned the violence and has pushed for de-escalation and a return to dialogue.

Question:  Has Navi Pillay said anything?

Spokesman:  I don’t know off the top of my head.  You can check the website because this happened, I think, about a week ago.

Question:  I wanted to ask on Cyprus.  The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Turkey should pay some 123 million dollars in damages for the 1974 “invasion” and the Foreign Minister of Turkey has said this comes at a bad time for the talks.  Does the Secretariat, with Mr. [Jeffrey] Feltman just having visited, and the new UNFICYP Commander coming in, what do you think of the verdict and will it impact those talks? And could we maybe get a question when… at the ceremonial new UNFICYP swearing in?

Spokesman:  No, it’s just a photo op and the General has not yet taken up her… I mean, not yet been on the ground.  The Secretary-General will speak this afternoon, so you can always ask a question then, but I don’t have anything specific on that ruling.

Question:  On Bahrain, there is this teenager from Virginia which is facing trial in Bahrain for matters related to freedom of expression.  Also, I asked this several times before about a position on the jailing of a 10-year-old child in Bahrain for over 10 years.  Recently, one of the senior clerics of Bahrain said there’s apartheid in Bahrain against the majority of the people there, and it seems that Bahrain, which is started the uprising there before Syria is giving very little attention at the United Nations.  We need some explanation why the United Nations is not so concerned about what happens in Bahrain and the Bassiouni report remains dormant, as it looks.

Spokesman:  The what report?

Correspondent:  Bassiouni reports, Judge [Cherif] Bassiouni, when he went and he did his report…his investigation that was over two or three years ago.  Nobody seems to be concerned or following up on implementation of the recommendations.

Spokesman:  I think the High Commissioner of Human Rights spoke out through her spokesman directly earlier this last week on Bahrain and the human rights situation in Bahrain.  Obviously, it’s important to the UN that the rights of people be respected in judicial proceedings especially, the rights of children and minors.  Yes, Matthew?

Question:  What can be done about this girl…  teenager, which is facing trial now before they do that, because once it is goes into jail, it remains like Mr. [Abdulhadi al-]Khawaja for many years, and everybody calls for his release, but nothing happens. 

Spokesman:  I don’t have anything, unfortunately.  Yes, sir?

Question:  Sure, I want to ask you on Sri Lanka their… the coming Sunday is viewed as the fifth anniversary as the end of the conflict and the Government has… is going to celebrate its victory in capital, but they’ve basically outlawed any memorial of those killed in the Northern Province.  And since this is seen as kind of a reconciliation issue and I know that, in fact, the Human Rights Council has called for an inquiry of the killing of those people in the Northern Province, does the UN have any comment on the banning of commemoration of several tens of thousands of people killed?

Spokesman:  I haven’t seen the reports of that banning; we’ll look into it. If I have something to add, I will.  Thank you very much.  And I will look into the Wi-Fi technical issues.

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For information media • not an official record