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.

Good afternoon.

**Secretary-General at Economic and Social Council Integration Segment

The Secretary-General this morning spoke at the first-ever Integration Segment of the Economic and Social Council.  This is an effort to integrate the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development.  The Secretary-General said that harnessing the power of urbanization for sustainable development is central to achieve three interlinked UN priorities for 2015:  the Millennium Development Goals, shaping an ambitious long-term vision for development, and the adopting of meaningful new global climate agreement.  His full remarks are available online and in my office.

**Secretary-General’s Travel

The Secretary-General will travel to Toronto on Thursday, this week to attend a Global Summit in support of the “Every woman, every child” initiative on maternal, newborn and child health.  The Summit will provide global leaders and experts with the opportunities to build consensus on the focus of future international efforts in maternal, newborn and child health.

Specifically, will focus on the critical issues of strengthening health systems and building civil registration and vital statistics systems; reducing the burden of diseases on developing countries; scaling up nutrition as a foundation for healthy lives; and building new partnerships with the private sector.  The Secretary-General will also meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and other officials gathered for the Summit.  He will back here on Friday.

**Secretary-General’s Statements

As you may have noticed, over the weekend, we issued a number of statements.

On Sunday, the Secretary-General voiced his concern at recent developments in Libya, in particular the growing military mobilization in and around the capital Tripoli.  The Secretary-General called on all parties and leaders of military formations to abide by their moral and legal obligations to safeguard and protect civilians.

And on the elections in Malawi, the Secretary-General reiterates his call to the candidates and their supporters to respect the ongoing tallying process, follow existing legal procedures to resolve any electoral challenges or complaints, and uphold the spirit of the Lilongwe Peace Declaration of 10 May.  He also urged all political leaders to call on their supporters to refrain from any violence or disruption of the electoral process, whose successful completion is essential for the consolidation of democracy in the country.

And the Secretary-General also expressed his shock at the 24 May shooting in the Jewish Museum of Brussels, which reportedly left two Israelis and one French citizen dead.  The Secretary-General noted that, while the investigation is ongoing, the location of the attack points to a possible anti-Semitic motivation behind it.

And we also issued statements on the attack in Somalia, the death of Diego Cordovez, the killing of a UNAMID peacekeeper.

And all those statements are online.

** Lebanon

From Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, the UN Special Coordinator in that country, met yesterday with the members of the International Support Group for Lebanon, and then issued a statement on their behalf, which, among other things, paid tribute to President Michel Sleiman’s leadership during six critical years and to his commitment to Lebanon’s unity and stability.

The International Support Group called on Lebanon’s leaders to ensure that the Government is able in this new circumstance to act effectively, as it has to date, to address economic, security and humanitarian challenges facing the country and to meet Lebanon’s international obligations.

In a statement on Sunday, the Secretary-General regretted that the Lebanese Parliament was unable to elect a new President within the timeframe set by the constitution, and he called on the country's leaders to engage intensively to ensure the election of a new President without delay.  And the statement and Mr. Plumbly’s are available in my office.

** Syria

From Syria, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, expressed outrage at the deliberate attack on Saturday on a humanitarian warehouse in Douma.  That attack happened as aid workers were preparing to distribute urgently needed supplies from an aid convoy to hundreds of families in the besieged Syrian city.

Ms. Amos said that the targeting of the warehouse, which reportedly killed several people and wounded one Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteer, is evidence of the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.  And we have her statement available, as well.

**South Sudan

From South Sudan, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a press briefing today that, since it opened its gates last 15 December, between 75,000 and 80,000 civilians have sought safety in nine of the Mission’s main protection sites.  The Mission has always been clear that the space provided to civilians was not meant to be a durable solution.

With the rains now well under way, stagnant waters, clogged drains and congestion have turned these sites into breeding grounds for water-borne diseases, including cholera.  On 15 May, South Sudan’s Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak after a lab confirmed one case in the capital, Juba.  More than 514 cases have been reported, so far.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are working closely with the Ministry to respond to the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.  For its part, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) spotlighted the need for the participation of all members of communities, as well as additional funding, to address cholera.

Also on South Sudan, three weeks after a truce was reached, continuing fighting has forced nearly 70,000 people to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere in the country, according to UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).  The number of people uprooted within the country has topped 1 million, according to UNHCR.

** Mali

And from Mali, an update from that country where the ceasefire is reportedly holding in the north.  As you’ll recall, a ceasefire agreement was signed last Friday between the Malian authorities and three groups involved in fighting in Kidal — MNLA, HCUA and MAA — after a mediation led by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Mali, Albert Koenders, as well as the President of Mauritania and current chairman of the African Union, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

By this agreement, the signing parties accepted to return to the Preliminary Agreement of Ouagadougou and to start negotiations as soon as possible.  The ceasefire includes important components such as the liberation of prisoners, the facilitation of humanitarian access and the launch of an international commission of inquiry on the incidents in Kidal.  Over the last few days, the UN Mission in the country (MINUSMA) has significantly increased the number of police and military patrols.

And on the humanitarian side, our colleagues report that organizations have started redeploying their staff and aid supplies to northern Mali.  Kidal airport has now reopened, with nine WFP trucks carrying 194 tons of food also on their way.  The recent fighting left an estimated 4,000 people displaced in the northern regions of Kidal and Gao, and people in Kidal are urgently need to access to food, water and electricity.

** Somalia

And from Somalia, UNICEF said today that, without urgent funding, it will have to suspend essential life-saving health services for 3 million people in central and southern Somalia within one month.  UNICEF provides 70 per cent of health services in the country, including drugs, vaccinations and training for health workers.  It vaccinates 620,000 children under the age of five for free and provides antenatal checkups for nearly 280,000 pregnant women.

There are also 200,000 children in Somalia under the age of 5 at risk of death until the end of this year from severe malnutrition if they do not receive life-saving assistance.  UNICEF’s budget for this year is only 10 per cent funded for the Somalia operation, and it needs $12.5 million to continue very basic services until the end of the year.

**Democratic Republic of Congo — Congo

Over the weekend, several senior UN officials urged the Government of the Republic of the Congo to immediately stop expelling citizens from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.  According to the UN [Organization Stabilization] Mission in the [ Democratic Republic of the Congo] (MONUSCO), since April, more than 130,000 DRC ( Democratic Republic of the Congo) nationals have been expelled from Brazzaville to Kinshasa, directly across the river.  The Head of the UN Mission in DRC, Martin Kobler, said he was shocked after visiting the transit camp in Maluku and hearing testimonies of victims of gross human rights abuses and cruel treatment.

Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for sexual violence in armed conflict, also called for an investigation into allegations of sexual violence and other human rights violations.  The full text of their joint press release is upstairs.

**International Labour Organization

And the ILO (International Labour Organization) issued its flagship report today, called World of Work 2014:  developing with jobs.  The report provides an in-depth analysis for 140 developing and emerging nations.  It shows, for the first time, that investing in quality jobs, reducing vulnerable employment and tackling work poverty leads to higher economic growth and lower income inequalities.  And that report is available online.

That’s it for me, happy to take some questions.  Matthew?

**Questions and Answers

Correspondent:  Sure, thanks a lot.  Stéphane, I wanted to know what, if the UN has any position on the jets bombing and strafing around Donetsk in Ukraine and the ultimatum to surrender or be killed that’s been issued by Government, as well as the death of an Italian and Russian journalist over the weekend.

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General is alarmed by the continuing violence that we’ve seen in the east over the weekend where clashes in Donetsk, as you said, left dozens dead.  The Secretary-General urged that the restoration of State control over Government facilities be achieved through exclusively peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue.  And obviously, we very much regret the deaths of the journalists who were killed covering the story.

Question:  Does that mean that surrender or die is something that the… the UN is saying is that this is a… by the Government or either the new President or the President waiting for the… the Government waiting for the new President, that this is something that the UN doesn’t support?

Spokesman:  I think what I’ve just said is that the Secretary-General urged that restoration of State control over Government facilities be achieved through exclusively peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue.  Madame Edie?

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Does the United Nations have any information on the attack on these investigators from the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) who are going to look at this city where there was an alleged chlorine gas attack?

Spokesman:  I mean, what we have and what we can share, obviously, it’s a delicate situation.  The security of our staff, of OPCW staff, is critical especially as they go about a very important mission in a conflict zone.  OPCW, which is leading this mission with some UN support, said that the staff was travelling to a site of an alleged chlorine in, when it come under attack.  We are happy to report that all team members are back safe.  What we can say is that this happened in an area where there was no clear control, but I will leave it at that and I would urge you to talk to OPCW for further details.  Yes?

Question:  Can I follow up on that?  Is it true that the Syrian authorities warned the group that they are entering in a very difficult, in a dangerous area, and they might be attacked?

Spokesman:  I don’t know.  You would have to ask OPCW, as it was their mission with some UN support, but I have no information.

Question:  Well, I have another question.  Has Jabhat al-Nusra been listed as a terrorist organization?

Spokesman:  Well, I think you would know what the Security Council has put on its list.

Question:  Okay then… then… my question is here.  Why is it, in the report about the implementation of [resolution] 2139 (2013), it’s mentioned as an opposition group?  I mean, this is a terrorist organization…

Spokesman:  I think you know the… the… the official listing of organizations is done by the Security Council.  I think the report focuses on humanitarian aid and how we can get that aid to all those who need it in Syria.  Yes, Erol?

Question:  But, is it right to mention to… as an opposition group… categorizing it as an opposition group?

Spokesman:  I think you know the focus of the report, as I said, was on our ability to report back to Security Council on delivery of humanitarian aid.  Yes, Erol?

Question:  Thanks Stéphane, couple of Balkan questions.  Today, the President of Serbia, Nikolić, is here, he is meeting Secretary-General.  Are they going to, do they have any plan to discuss the possibility of organizing the donors conference for the Serbia and presumably Bosnia and Herzegovina, since the floods are still…?

Spokesman:  You know, obviously, the meeting is going on now.  I’m not getting any live tweets from the meeting, so we’ll wait for the… for the readout.  The President’s visit was scheduled having to do with the Kosovo issues.  It was a prescheduled visit, but I have no doubt that the issue of the floods and the UN support will come up.

[In a readout issued in the afternoon, the Secretary-General expressed his condolences to President Nikolić regarding the Serbian victims of the recent floods and reiterated the UN’s readiness to support the Government’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to President Nikolić for Serbia’s important contribution to UN peacekeeping, particularly in Lebanon and Syria.

He underscored the importance of all countries in the region continuing on the path of European integration.  The Secretary-General said he trusted that the Government of Serbia would continue its constructive engagement in the European Union-facilitated dialogue with Kosovo.]

Question:  Just one more follow-up.  What would be… what is the ratio, actually, in delivering the aid in the percentage?  How much do you deliver to Bosnia?  How much to do you deliver to Serbia, and how do you categorize…?

Spokesman:  We are working with, closely with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of Serbia.  They’re telling us what they need.  We’re delivering in as much as we can to meet those needs.  So, obviously, it’s all proportional to the needs expressed by the Government and the needs on the ground.  But we can get you from OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) some detailed facts and figures.  Evelyn, and then we’ll go to George.

Question:  Yes, do you have any… do you have any complete analysis of the journalism situation in the Ukraine?  The Ukrainian Government has held the two Russians, forbid other Russians to come in.  Crimea, they’re being beaten up like crazy, and the thugs in the east have abducted at least five others, but I’m not sure what’s happened to them all now.

Spokesman:  No, I think I don’t have an update from what I said on Friday from OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) colleagues regarding live news.  The issue of media and media being able to go about its work covering the current, current events in Ukraine is an important one in terms of human rights, in terms of access to information, and I know it’s something that our colleagues… our human rights… will report… I’m sure it will be part of our report back.  Joe, and then George, and then we’ll go this way.

Correspondent:  Yes, first I just want to again ask as a follow-up on the Ukraine matter…

Spokesman:  As soon as I have something I will share with you.

Correspondent:  Okay, okay, then I’m going to ask two related to that and then… then my regular question which is…

Spokesman:  Scheduled questions.

Correspondent:  I scheduled it because I sent you a couple of…

Spokesman:  I know, I know, I know.

Question:  A… could you tell me whether the Secretariat has received any communication from any Member State, particularly Russia, providing its input into the thinking of the Secretariat on the issue of implementing the General Assembly resolution on Crimea?  And secondly, if there is no change in the current documentation or maps, I mean, could that be inferred as saying that at least for the time the Secretariat is ratifying the status quo?  And my other question, on Nigeria, is simply whether the UN has been able to, or is trying to, confirm the report by the Nigerian Government that it has sighted the kidnapped girls?

Spokesman:  I hope to have some updates for you on Nigeria later today, but just to stress that we’re not involved in the military operations.  Our focus is on the support for the communities and for the girls.  First part of your first question:  not that I’m aware of.  Second part of your first question:  I think it’s important, and to note, I think, almost all the maps that you see are, there is a disclaimer that they are not meant to provide any legal basis to any claim by any Member States or the maps that are produced for working purposes for… by the UN.  And as we’ve said, our position remains guided by the General Assembly resolution.  George?

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  You mentioned that there had been reports of mass deportations or a whole succession of deportations from Republic of Congo across the river from Brazzaville to Kinshasa.  Can you, I didn’t quite catch who was it that reported this or to whom… what UN agency was reported…

Spokesman:  It was the Head of the UN Mission in that… in the DRC, Martin Kobler, who met with people who had been forcibly removed, and then there was also a complaint from the Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict.  Yes, young lady?

Question:  Thank you.  About the situation now in East Sea [inaudible] South China Sea, between China and Viet Nam, the tension in this area remains high [inaudible] after the sinking of the Vietnamese fishing boat before yesterday.  So, have you any comments from United Nations about this tension, this new conflict in this area?

Spokesman:  This is an issue the Secretary-General addressed in Shanghai, both in his bilateral meetings and in his remarks at the Summit meeting in Shanghai, and I think that the message remains that he urges all parties to exercise utmost restraint and resolve their disputes through peaceful manner, through dialogue and in conformity with international law.  Yes, young lady?

Question:  Okay, I’m Micah Luxen from IPS News.  The UN has criticized Canada for their handling of hundreds of missing aboriginal women, which Canada has basically ignored.  At this “Every woman, every child” Summit, will the Secretary-General push Prime Minister Harper for accountability?

Spokesman:  I will see if that’s one of the issues.  The meeting, itself, will be focused on the “Every woman, every child”… and we will get you a readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with the Prime Minister.  I don’t want to preclude what will be raised and not be raised.  Yes, sir?

Question:  [inaudible]

Spokesman:  No, I’ve not seen those reports.  That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

Question:  [inaudible]

Spokesman:  I will look into it that.  Okay?

Question:  Stéphane, back to Syria.  Any word on the new envoy, of course, regarding Geneva II?

Spokesman:  You’ll be the third one to know.  After the envoy, the Secretary-General and then… I don’t mean to joke, but it’s an ongoing discussion.  When there’s something, someone is pushed above the waterline and is introduced, we will announce it.

Question:  And any comment from the Secretary-General on the little tit-for-tat between Jordan and Syria?  On the expulsion of their envoys?

Spokesman:  No.  Matthew, and then Nizar.

Question:  Sure, I wanted to ask you again about Burundi.  Mostly because there have been a lot… various countries, including the [United States], have commented on the jailing of human rights defender Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa.  Basically, he was jailed for talking about the UN cable providing further photographs that the youth wing is being trained in the DRC in a place called Kiliba Ondes.  So, he was going to be released and then the Government said he would only be released if he committed to not speak about it, apologize publically, et cetera.  This is all public there, and I’m wondering… just surprising that countries, that BINUB (United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi), have they… have they had any comment on this case?   What do they think of the Government that they work with and testified with putting such conditions on the release, and has MONUSCO done anything to investigate now photographs of youth wing being trained in DRC?

Spokesman:  I don’t have any update besides what I’ve already said on Burundi.

Question:  So, what’s happening?  I mean, I guess it’s public, all of this is very public…

Spokesman:  I understand.  I understand.  Nizar?

Question:  After the Israeli authorities demolished a Bedouin village, they decided to dig up the graves and expel the dead.  How does the United Nations view such an action?

Spokesman:  I’ll take a look.  I was not aware of the incident, but I can take a look at see what we have.  Thank you.  Go ahead, Matthew, it’s free.

Question:  It’s for something this afternoon.  There’s, there’s a session to… to… to expand the mandate, or limit the mandate anyway, amend the mandate of UNMISS in South Sudan.  So, I wanted to know, there seems… there’s a reference to the human rights due diligence policy and UNMISS working with the South Sudan police.  So, I wanted to know, again, I’ve asked you, this Minova case, after only two convictions for 130 rapes, could we get some description of how this human rights due diligence policy works?  And so, I’ll like to kind of ask that again now as to South Sudan, given reports, human rights reports, about the South Sudan police.  How will… will some units be assisted and not others?  Who’s going to make…?

Spokesman:  I will ask the Mission.  We’ll ask the Mission.  Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record