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.

**Ebola

The Security Council will meet this afternoon on Ebola and the Secretary-General will outline the international action plan against the virus, including the creation of a UN mission to respond to the epidemic and its consequences.  On the ground, the situation remains extremely serious.  According to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the total number of cases in West Africa is 5,335, with 2,622 deaths.  In Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, increases in demand for Ebola treatment centre beds are continuing to outstrip capacity.  In Monrovia alone, 1,210 beds are required and the current capacity stands at only 240 beds.  In Sierra Leone, there are currently 165 beds for patients with Ebola, meeting just 25 per cent of the actual national demand. More details are available on the World Health Organization’s website.

Also today, on a related note, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it will receive $21.7 million from the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to support the increasing need for food assistance in the three countries most affected by the epidemic.  And the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has just deployed a Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team to Liberia for an initial period of four weeks, to provide support to national authorities and to the humanitarian system working in the country.

** Afghanistan

Also related to the Security Council, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for  Afghanistan, Ján Kubiš, briefed the Security Council via [video teleconference] from Kabul this morning.  Mr. Kubiš said that the current political deadlock is deepening a crisis which has already taken a heavy political, security and economic toll in the country.  He added that the better way forward would be to form a Government of national unity led by an elected President, as certified by the Independent Election Commission.  Mr. Kubiš stressed that, in a Government of national unity, there will be no losers, only partners.  Mr. Kubiš told the Council that this will be his last briefing as Special Representative in Afghanistan, where he has served since January 2012.  His full remarks are available online.

** Syria

The World Food Programme is warning that it is running out of funds to provide food for almost 6 million Syrians receiving its life-saving assistance.  In Syria, the size of next month’s food ration will be reduced, and in neighbouring countries, the number of refugees receiving food or vouchers will be cut.  WFP requires $352 million for its worldwide operations until the end of the year, including $95 million for its work inside Syria and $257million to support refugees in neighbouring countries.  Starting in October, the World Food Programme will continue to provide food to more than 4 million people in Syria, but the food parcel will be smaller, providing less than 60 per cent of the nutritional value recommended in emergencies in October.  The agency will have to cut parcels even more in November if it doesn’t have the funds.  And for December, WFP has no funding available for programmes in Syria.

** Yemen

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that continued fighting in Al Jawf, Yemen, has displaced about 1,500 families since late July, and humanitarian assistance is covering the needs of about 1,200 families.  Very limited new displacement has been reported in Al Jawf this week despite continued fighting, because nearly all civilians have already left the areas of conflict, which are sparsely populated.  In Marib, where clashes continued yesterday and today, humanitarian partners estimate that about 300 families have been displaced by recent fighting, and no humanitarian assistance has reached these families to date.  International organizations are wary of working in Marib due to serious security risks.

**Secretary-General Appointments

A couple of appointments today related to the UN Development Programme (UNDP).  The Secretary-General has appointed Magdy Martinez-Soliman of Spain as Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support in UNDP.  Mr. Martinez-Soliman is currently Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director, Bureau for Development Policy in UNDP. 

The Secretary-General also appointed Izumi Nakamitsu of Japan as Assistant Administrator and Director of the Crisis Response Unit in UNDP.  Ms. Nakamitsu most recently served as Director, Asia and the Middle East Division of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  We have more details available in my office.

** Sri Lanka

And Matthew, in response to your question yesterday on Sri Lanka, the Department of Political Affairs provides technical expertise to Member States upon their request.  United Nations assistance to Member States is determined on the basis of consultation within the system.  The Department has not received any request from Sri Lanka to provide assistance to their reconciliation bureau.

**Press Conferences

Tomorrow, at 11 a.m., there will be an advanced press briefing here on population issues to be considered at a General Assembly Special Session.  And at 12:30, there will be a briefing by Santiago Villalpando, Chief of the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs, and Masa Nagai, Deputy Director of the Division of Environmental Law and Conventions of UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme].  They will brief on the 2014 Treaty Event and the highlighted Minamata Convention on Mercury.

I will stop here and be delighted to take some of your questions.  Yes, Ivan?

**Questions & Answers

Question:  Thank you.  Do you have any comment on the statement of the Defence Minister of Ukraine that the country can change its non-nuclear status and become a nuclear power?

Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General's position on nuclear non-proliferation is very clear and has been very clear, and I think he encourages those countries who are not nuclear powers to remain so.  Yes, sir?

Question: Femi Akonde.  The Secretary‑General, during his last press briefing, announced that generous contributions been announced every day to help prevent and treat Ebola cases in West Africa.  How to find out:  Will the Security Council also consider putting in place measures to ensure that these financial and medical aid that has been sent to Africa don't become a kind of conduit for corrupt Government officials to enrich themselves?

Spokesman: I think it's a very good question.  I'm not sure it's an issue the Security Council will take up.  Obviously, I don't want to get ahead of the Secretary‑General's announcement this afternoon, but he will talk about the establishment of a mission.  A lot of that will work on… the focus will be on supporting the efforts of national Governments, but also to coordinate the aid, aid that will come through the UN, as it always is, is tracked.  Obviously, there may be some bilateral aid, but for the work… the aid that the UN receives, it will be tracked and audited as it always is.  And obviously, in any situation, corruption can be… can have a very negative impact on the work that the money is intended to make.  Yes, sir?  Sorry, you need the microphone.  Thank you.  Your colleague here will tell you how to use the microphone.  I can actually hear you, but we want those on the webcast to hear you.

Question: This is Emal [inaudible] from IRNA.  My question is in regards to the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's current meeting with the Secretary‑General, and I was wondering if you have any specifics on that meeting, on the discussion on the agenda and if there's anything going on…?

Spokesman:  We do expect a readout.  We just need to make sure the meeting is over before we issue the readout.  So, as soon as it's over, we'll announce it and distribute it online.

Question: What about the meeting with Mr. [Jan] Eliasson, do you have anything about that?

Spokesman: We'll see if there's anything else to add, but we'll focus on the meeting with the Secretary‑General.  Stefano and then Matthew and then Evelyn.

Correspondent: Thank you, Stéphane.  This is about the Ebola and ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Shams], put it together.  When the…

Spokesman: As if we didn't have enough problems.  Yes.  [Laughter]  Go ahead.

Question: I wanted to ask this before.  The Secretary‑General, two days ago, he talked this was a main… the main problem discussed will be terrorists and also Ebola.  Now, there is any discussion on the eventuality that some terrorists could somehow, some way use himself as a kind of a human… I don't know what you call it?

Spokesman: Stefano, we've seen… it's… we've seen reports… I think there was an article not long ago in one of the major newspapers here on that very issue.  All these things remain… are of concern.  I think, as the Secretary‑General has outlined, the Ebola crisis is not just a health crisis.  It has development sides.  It has humanitarian issues, but it can also impact the political stability of a country and lack of political stability can breed other problems.  So, this is why I think the Secretary‑General is focused on getting the UN system to work together in ways… in the most efficient way possible to stop the virus from spreading and to support national Governments.  Evelyn?

Question: Thank you, Steph.  Does that mean the [Secretary-General’s] coordination project, does that mean they're not the end to silos and every UN agency bidding for money against the other?  We can see it in our press releases.

Spokesman: The Secretary‑General's general message is to heads of funds and programmes and his discussions with specialized agencies, that this is going to be a new way of doing business, that there will not always be time for consultations, for lengthy inter-agency consultations, that the focus needs to be on action, on delivering the assistance we need to deliver and on supporting national governments.  Mr. Lee?

Question: Sure.  I'm going to go Ebola and Syria, but keep them separate.  On Ebola, Sierra Leone has announced a shutdown… three‑day shutdown, which people can't leave their homes and many people are saying they don't [have] food and how they're going to work.  What's the UN's position on that type of shutdown?  In Syria, there was a vote yesterday in Congress for the US [ United States] to begin arming and training “moderate” opposition inside Syria, and I wanted to knowm, given the Secretary‑General's statements previously about no military solution, what's his view of that?

Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General's position against the flow of arms in Syria stands.

Question: He's critical of that?

Spokesman: I think I've answered the question.

Correspondent: Okay.

Spokesman: On the other issue, I haven't seen the reports.  Let me take a look and I will get back to you.  Yes?

Question: Is there any expectation that the Iranian Foreign Minister will give any kind of press briefing or…?

Spokesman: I think maybe you should ask your Iranian colleagues, but I don't know.  Yes.  Sara, go ahead.  Okay.  Sorry.  Go ahead, Sara.

Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  My question is:  if Scotland winds up becoming independent, will they have to apply to the UN for membership?  And if so, will they be able to run for a seat on the Security Council?

Spokesman:  I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves here.  The vote is going on right now.  And I'm not going to speculate in what may or may not happen.  The issue of membership, on how to become a member of the UN is outlined in the Charter and is clear.  Sherwin?

Question: Stéphane, are you able to provide some clarity on the numbers when it comes to Ebola?  I asked you this question before.  There was an initial appeal for $600 million.  We saw Valerie Amos talk about $1 billion in Geneva.  The US is talking about $500 million being redirected from the defence department.  It's all becoming a bit confusing.  How much is needed?  How much is outstanding?  Where do we… you know, where are we at?

Spokesman: I think it's more than a valid question.  I think we are seeing different parts of the system put out appeals, very valid appeals for what they need to be operational, whether it's WHO or [the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] on a greater level.  One of the things, I think, we aim to do with this mission is bring a little bit of order and clarity on what is needed exactly in terms of numbers.  Ms. Fasulo?

Correspondent: Thank you.

Spokesman: Your mic, please.

Question: Thank you.  Do you any update in terms of the [Secretary-General’s] meetings possibly with leaders involved in major crises like Ukraine or Iran?  Secondly, we know there's a march this weekend in New York, and I was wondering if there's any UN involvement in that.

Spokesman: There is UN involvement, and we may be able to announce something a bit later on that.  Let me see what I can release in terms of bilaterals.  Obviously, it's always a moving target, but he will be… I think you can guess that he will be meeting with leaders of… that represent the countries of issues that are on his desk currently.  Yes?

Question: What does the UN Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon hope to come out from negotiations with Iran, from the P5+1 with Iran?  What is his message to all the parties and particularly to Iran?  Thank you.

Spokesman: I think his message is that they achieve an agreement and that this issue gets solved in the way that makes the P5+1, or the E3+3, however you count it, satisfied with the outcome.  Yes?

Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  My question refers to UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman's visit to Ukraine a while ago.  We never got any report, or there was no press briefing, or we did not hear his valuable opinion about the whole situation there.  Do you think this information would be accessible for us?

Spokesman: The short answer is, yes, of course, would be useful to you.

Question: Accessible?

Spokesman: Sorry, accessible.  I misunderstood you.  It's my understanding that Mr. Feltman will be briefing the Security Council tomorrow on Ukraine.  So, that will be… give you a chance to have more information.  Oleg?

Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  With the situation with measles vaccine in Syria, there were conflicting reports yesterday; Farhan Haq, from your place, told us that the UN understands that the vaccination has stopped; but Ambassador of Syria, [Bashar] Ja’afari, told us yesterday that, actually, it was going on and there are more than 100 children dead already.  What's the current situation?

Spokesman: Let me see… I don't have anything further than what Mr. Haq shared with you.  I will see if I can get an update from UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund].  Yes, in the back?

Correspondent: Abdel Aziz Hali from La Presse de Tunisie.  The kingdom of…

Spokesman: Is your microphone on?

Question: Yes.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is planning to host millions of Muslim pilgrims for the next days.  So, does the United Nations, and the WHO… are preparing a plan to help Riyadh to prevent some contamination?  Thank you.

Spokesman: Let me check with World Health Organization if they have… if they're in contact with Saudi authorities.  We know obviously the hajj is not only the highlight of the Muslim calendar, but also a huge event in terms of human migration, and health issues need to be taken very seriously, especially in this time.  Yes, ma'am?

[The Spokesman later added that WHO does not recommend any restrictions on trade or travel, but under the International Health Regulations, Member States have the right to take additional measures if they believe it is warranted.  To help prepare the health officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, WHO is working closely with the national task force for mass gatherings and has trained health workers on how to detect cases of Ebola as soon as possible, manage the cases with standard infection control measures, isolate the cases properly and take a sample ship it properly for testing, and trace people who might have been exposed to cases.  WHO is doing an awareness-raising campaign specifically targeting health workers, pilgrims and the general public.]

Question:  Could you please confirm the time and date of the high‑level meeting on Ebola during the [General Assembly]?

Spokesman:  My understanding is it will be at 11:00 a.m. on the [25 September].  It's an understanding, which hopefully will work as a confirmation.  Nizar and then Matthew?

Question: The Iraqi army reported three cases of chlorine gas being used by ISIS.  How concerned is the United Nations that these are not used further and what is the OPCW [Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons] doing about that?  Is there any… are there any investigations to these allegations?

Spokesman: I don't know if the OPCW is involved in any way — if they've been notified by the Iraqi authorities.  Obviously, investigating these cases in an active war zone is very challenging, to say the least.  But, I think it goes to… it would… if these cases were actually true, it would lead to… we would condemn them in the harshest possible terms and add them to the long list of unspeakable things that we've seen reported from ISIS and ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant].

Question: Another question is regarding the participation of Iran in any common action in the region to combat ISIS.  Now that Iran has been excluded from meetings or they did not show enthusiasm for it, does the… will the Secretary‑General try to convey such message to Mr. [Hassan] Rouhani for a different formula for cooperation?  Especially that Saudi Arabia wants to arm and equip the opposition…

Spokesman: I think we would like to see as broad as possible a coalition.  Obviously, there will be a lot… these issues also [will] be discussed in the… these issues among others will be discussed in the Secretary‑General's bilaterals.  Evelyn?

Correspondent: Thanks again, Steph.  On the way you described the [Secretary-General’s] initiative on Ebola, it seems that's what they should be doing right now, or what they're doing is action and…

Spokesman: Right.  But that is what we're trying… we're… we're… it's about mobilizing and leveraging the strengths of the UN system in support of the Government and to ensure that the work, the very important work done by not only national Governments, but also international NGOs [non-governmental organizations] is integrated in the global fight against Ebola.  Now, what I'm doing is not so much describing, but teasing out what the Secretary‑General will say, and as a spokesman, I don't like to get too far ahead of my boss.

Correspondent: No, but people don't have programmes like this unless they want to change what's happening now or improve what's happening now.

Spokesman: Well, I think we're trying… you know, this is a very, very serious health crisis with, as I mentioned, political, security, development dimensions, and it's about getting the UN system to work in the most efficient manner.  Matthew?

Question: Sure.  I wanted to ask… in South Sudan, there's been this controversy about the Government ordering, not only NGOs, but all outside businesses to stop employing the non-South Sudanese.  A lot of humanitarian groups have complained.  I wanted to know, although there's some indications of the Government maybe rolling it back, did the Mission there, UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan], did [the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs], what's the UN say…?

Spokesman: I'm not aware that the… the UN was impacted in any way by this, and I think we have… there were reports of clarifications by the Government, so we're just trying to track down some more details.  Carla?

Question: You said Jeffrey Feltman will be briefing the Security Council on Ukraine tomorrow.  [Is] that in consultations or an open meeting and what time?

Spokesman: I think it's an open meeting, but I'm just thinking about it.

Question: What time will that be?

Spokesman:  I don't… my brain is limited.  I'm not very good past tomorrow… past today.  We'll find out.  We'll find out.  I'm sure… Matthew and then…

Question: Hi, Stéphane.  The President of Poland said in an interview that he intends on calling the United Nations to change the rules to prevent Moscow from vetoing any Security Council action in Eastern Europe.  Do you have a comment on that?

Spokesman: I think the rules… the Security Council members are the masters of their own rules and regulations.  And I'll leave it at that.  Mr. Go?

Question: Thank you.  Will the UN provide us with the time and location of the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1?

Spokesman: That, you have to check with one of the E3+3.  As I said, we will be providing a location, but it is up to them to discuss the press arrangements.  But, you can check with the [European Union] Mission.  I'm sure they'd be happy to help.

Question:  But, you will provide us the location?

Spokesman: No, we're providing the room; let them decide to share whatever information they want to share.  Stefano and then Nizar.

Question:  Do you give any weight that certain news coming out that German newspapers about Poroshenko, President [Petro] Poroshenko, saying to European Union diplomats that… in a conversation with [Russian Federation] President [Vladimir] Putin, he practically said he could have been in two days… he could have been holding Kyiv, many capitals around Eastern Europe.  Is this something that's been given credibility or not?

Spokesman: I haven't seen the reports, and I don't speak German, and I'm not going to comment on these press reports.  Nizar?

Question: Regarding the United Nations' contacts with the countries who have influence on Al-Nusra in the Golan.  Have there been any success regarding returning the equipment, the weapons, the clothes, the insignas and vacating the region?

Spokesman: No.  I can't say there's been any progress on that.  Obviously, the fact there are armed elements with UN uniform and vehicles is of great concern to us.

Question: Does the Secretary‑General support this draft resolution that is being considered by the Security Council on Ebola to lift restriction?  It kind of speaks to his narrative, in terms of countries lifting travel restrictions and airlines and for countries to step up their support.  Would he support something like that?

Spokesman:  I think this is what we've been saying — what I've been saying from here; what Dr. [David] Nabarro, what the Secretary‑General, what all of us have been saying and I think it's an important message that the Security Council can send out.  Thank you, all.  And I don't know if I told you; we're not going to… we're probably not going to do briefings Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week, seeing as everything is going on.  If there's breaking news that we need to announce, we will let you know.  But, obviously, we are open to visitors and e-mails and phone calls and whatever.  But, I think you guys have enough to do.

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