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.

**Secretary-General

Today is the last day of the general debate, and the Secretary-General will wrap up his series of bilateral meetings this afternoon with a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu.  We will, of course, issue a readout of that meeting.  And as I mentioned yesterday, the Secretary-General will leave for Geneva and will be back in the office on Friday.

**Security Council

Back here, Valerie Amos, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Security Council this morning on Syria, telling the members that people there continue to be subjected to further displacement and deprivation on a daily basis.  She said that over the past two weeks, ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] forces have advanced in northern Aleppo and more than 160,000 people fled into Turkey just in a few days.  She added that the other parties to the conflict also continue to show an utter disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, with barrel bombs, car bombs and mortars continuing to cause civilian deaths and injuries.  Ms. Amos said that, despite the dangers they have faced, the United Nations and its partners continue to reach millions of people in need.  Last month, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners delivered aid to 4.1 million people.  UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] and its partners, meanwhile, also provided access to clean water to 16.5 million people.  We have her full remarks in my office.

** Afghanistan

Earlier today, the Secretary-General spoke by phone to Dr. Ashraf Ghani, the new President of Afghanistan, and in a separate phone call, to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who will be the Chief Executive Officer of the Government of National Unity.  He congratulated them on their appointments and called for the new government to be formed quickly.  Late yesterday, the Security Council also issued a press statement, calling on the new Government to effectively address the issues facing the country, including security, good governance, human rights and economic recovery.

**Ebola

The advance team of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) continues to establish the headquarters of its operations in Accra, Ghana, while the Head of the Mission, Anthony Banbury, will be leaving for a visit to Liberia tomorrow.  Mr. Banbury will travel to the affected countries this week to see first-hand where the greatest needs are and discuss with the Governments and other partners the priorities for filling the gaps.  Mr. Banbury is just wrapping up a press conference in Accra now, and we will see what we can get you out of that.

Today, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, also reveals that at least 3,700 children have lost one or both parents to Ebola since the start of the outbreak in West Africa.  Many are also being rejected by their surviving relatives for fear of infection.  UNICEF says that the number of children orphaned by Ebola is likely to double by mid-October.

**South Sudan

From South Sudan, the UN Mission [in South Sudan] (UNMISS) says that more than 9,000 displaced civilians have moved voluntarily from the Tomping Compound in the capital, Juba, to a protection-of-civilians site adjacent to the UN House since it opened in June.  The number of uprooted still living in the Tomping site now falls under 4,000.  Overall, the Mission is protecting some 97,000 civilians across the country.  Yesterday, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ellen Loj, visited Bor, the capital of Jonglei State.  She met with Government officials, including the caretaker, governor and community leaders, representing some 2,700 displaced people living in UNMISS protection sites outside Bor Town.  This was her third visit to a state capital outside Juba since she took up her position earlier this month.

Also from South Sudan, the World Food Programme and UNICEF are wrapping up their twenty-fifth joint emergency mission to deliver life-saving supplies and services in the most remote and conflict-hit regions of South Sudan.  The joint teams are composed of experts in food, health, nutrition, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, and education.  They bring assistance by plane and helicopter and have now reached more than 500,000 people, including 100,000 children under the age of five.  With support from logistics and telecommunications specialists, they provide a lifeline to desperate communities in the three conflict-affected areas — Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity States.  More information is available online.

** Myanmar

In response to a question yesterday on Myanmar, I think by you, Matthew, the office of the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the country notes that a status verification exercise has recently commenced in Rakhine, as part of the implementation of the Rakhine Committee Action Plan.  This process is ongoing, and it is hoped that a significant number of the members of the Rohingya community currently inside the IDP [internally displaced persons] camps, as well as those outside, will become eligible for citizenship following this verification exercise.  Meanwhile, in respect of those persons who may not be deemed qualified for citizenship, it is hoped that they will continue to be treated fully in accordance with established international humanitarian and human rights principles.

**Press Encounters

We are winding down our press conferences schedule.  This evening, at 6 p.m., there will be a press encounter at the Security Council stakeout, following the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting.  Speakers will include members of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chair of the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė.

And tomorrow, besides my briefing at 12 p.m., at 12:30 p.m., there will be a briefing by the President of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, to mark the end of the General Debate.  And then, at 1 p.m., a press conference following the African Regional Economic Communities High-level briefing to Member States and the UN system entities on:  “The role of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities in consolidating peace, security, governance and development in the context of Agenda 2063”. Mr. Abbadi?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Among his talking points, what are the most important ideas that the Secretary-General would like to convey at the meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

Spokesman:  I think the Secretary-General's positions on the Middle East peace process are clear.  Obviously, what he would like to see is a renewed peace process and a settlement of many of the issues that we have before them; and of course, an increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza.  But, we will give you a full readout afterwards.  Mr. Carpenter, then Mr. Lee, and Mr. Abbadi?

Question:  Hi, Stéphane.  This Thursday, Turkey is going to have, the Turkish Parliament is going to have a vote on extending the mandate to allow Turkish forces to operate in both Iraq and Syria.  Does the Secretary-General have a comment on this?

Spokesman:  No.  I think we will wait to see what the vote is.  I don't want to comment before there is… before there is a vote, so we will have to see.  Mr. Lee, I think you were number two?

Question:  Sure.  I wanted to ask two questions about Syria.  One is whether the US [United States]… there are these reports of the US air strikes hitting grain silos, according to the Syrian Observatory of Civilians, in a town called Manbij.  And I wanted to know whether anyone in the UN system is aware of it, is going to look into it and is the UN going to try to be assessing casualties?

Spokesman:  Obviously, it's an active zone where we are seeing a lot of violence.  I'm not sure we have people on the ground to do that kind of checking.  However, the Secretary-General has spoken out a number of times on the need for whatever actions are taking place, that they be done with full protection of civilians and within the confines of international humanitarian law.

Question:  And I wanted to ask, maybe you can get an answer on this, I've heard from, that in today's meeting on Syria aid access, that [the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] has produced a map showing areas of influence of various groups within Syria, one being labeled, you know, “ISIL and ISIL-related groups” and another one being “other groups”.  And so, the question has arisen whether in the UN's mind Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army are both parts of an “other group” designation; and if so, what sense it makes since Al-Nusra is a listed terrorist group under Security Council resolutions?  Can you check that out?

Spokesman:  I'm not aware of any map.  Yes?

Question:  This is regarding Libya here.  Is it permissible for Algeria, for example, to advance into areas in Libya where the Government has no control, for example?  Is that allowed, I mean, by international law?

Spokesman:  I'm not going to make an international law ruling on something that I've not heard.

Correspondent:  But the Secretary-General, a few days ago, said that the areas which are not under the Syrian control, under the Syrian Government control, are allowed, I mean, to have raids on them.

Spokesman:  I understand.  I think what the Secretary-General said is clear.  And I can see where you're trying to lead me.  You may go there, but I will not.

Question:  But, now, in the Turkish incident, I mean, the Parliament is discussing something in principle.  Are they permitted to go and advance in Syria and Iraq?

Spokesman:  You know, I think these situations have to be looked at in terms of the facts on the ground and what actually is happening, instead of hypotheticals.  Yes, ma'am?

Question:  Can you give any sort of assessment as to how the Secretary-General feels after the high-level meeting on Ebola last week?  Even though the Mission is ongoing with UNMEER, does he feel that the international community is certainly heeding his call for action and the [ United States'] work in that regard?

Spokesman:  I think we are very thankful for the level of participation in the Ebola meeting, the level of commitments.  We look forward to receiving the commitments.  I think we have seen a number of nations already live up.  We are also… I think the Secretary-General is extremely pleased to see that, you know, more than 4,000 UN staff applied for a handful of jobs in the UN Mission.  And we do hope that the international solidarity manifests itself very quickly.  Evelyn?

Question:  Yes.  I do this all the time.  Thank you, Stéphane.  The UN seems to report things in silos.  There is Syria, human rights, there will be Syria today, humanitarian needs, and here there is bombing going on.  Is there going to be a report on what the UN thinks of the entire mess there?

Spokesman:  Well, I think, you know, different parts of the UN have different mandates to report back.  And we are living up to those mandates.  And I think, taken as a whole, they paint a pretty clear picture of what is going on.  Yes, sir, and then Richard.  Sorry.

Question:  Thank you.  I'm Tetsuo from The Yomiuri Shimbun, Japanese newspaper, so I want to ask about the protest in Hong Kong.  So, does the Secretary-General have any comment on that, especially I'd like to know his view on the use of tear gas?

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General is, of course, very much aware of the protests, demonstrations that are taking place in Hong Kong.  He understands that this is a domestic matter, but urges all stakeholders to resolve any differences in a manner that is peaceful and safeguards democratic principles.  Mr. Roth? 

Question:  That was going to be my question.  Does he believe they have the right to demonstrate in the streets and to appeal for a more democratic slate, bearing in mind your previous answer?  I'm not trying to lead you anywhere.

Spokesman:  Thank you, Richard.  I would just underscore what I've just said:  it is that the Secretary-General urges all stakeholders to resolve any difference in a manner that is peaceful and safeguards democratic principles.  Nizar then Matthew?

Question:  Yesterday, Sweden called for the opening back the investigation on Dag Hammarskjöld’s assassination, or assumed assassination, in accordance with the revelations which turned out later to be.  Does the Secretary-General support or calls for such opening of the investigation?

Spokesman:  We very much hope that, I think, if I'm not mistaken, there is a report in front of the General Assembly to do just that and we very much hope that the General Assembly will take action on it.  Mr. Lee?

Question:  Sure.  I have two press freedom questions.  One has to do with… in Sri Lanka, there has been a meeting of journalists to meet about digital security and the meeting was broken up, as it has been before, by the Government.  And people say it's connected to… that the Government believes that this attempt to encrypt journalist meetings is in some way related to the UN Human Rights Council probe.  So, does the UN… who is on the ground there to respond?  What is the UN's response to the Government breaking up meetings of journalists in this way?

Spokesman:  There is a UN country team.  I have not seen anything from them; but, obviously, the Secretary-General's position on the need to preserve and guard press freedom has been often stated.

Question:  And this is one, and I actually asked it yesterday, so maybe you will have something on it.  It's a little less… but since it happened in the building, I will ask you about it, the holding up by an Under-Secretary-General of a file folder to block the filming from a totally legitimate stakeout position, what is the UN's position on that?

Spokesman:  I think your linking of the two incidents may be a bit of a stretch.  My understanding is that he was not blocking the UNTV stakeout, the UNTV stakeout camp.

Question:  That is not what I asked.  I'm saying if a correspondent is filming from the stakeout, can an Under-Secretary-General walk over and cover the camera with a file folder?

Spokesman:  I hear you.  I have nothing to add.  Nizar and then Evelyn?

Question:  Do you have any follow-up on the situation in the Golan, the replenishment of those forces which have left?  Also, whether there is any adherence by the armed groups to vacating the area and letting UNDOF [United Nations Disengagement Observer Force] go back?

Spokesman:  No.  I think the situation in UNDOF is being assessed on a daily basis operationally by the Force Commander on the ground in order for him to fulfill the mandate, inasmuch as possible, keeping in mind, obviously, the safety of the peacekeepers.  But, we will see if we can give you a bit more detailed update.  Evelyn?

Question:  On Ebola, are there any reports on how the health systems of the infected countries are functioning in general?  I mean, if you want an aspirin, can you get one?  Or could you get more access if you have Ebola?

Spokesman:  What we are seeing, especially in the three impacted countries, in broad, general terms, is that the stress of the Ebola outbreak is having a knock-on effect on health services in general.  And it is making it even more difficult in what was already a challenging area to get health care.  I mean, I think, as we have said from here, the health-care worker ratio to population was already very low in Sierra Leone and in Liberia.  And this is the stress on… the stress that Ebola is putting on the health-care system is definitely having a very negative knock-on effect.  Mr. Lee and that will be it.

Question:  Since we are on the last day of the general debate, I wanted to ask you about another one of the speeches given because it concerns the Secretariat.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines said, “ St. Vincent and the Grenadines calls on the United Nations to accept its role and offer recompense to the victims of the cholera outbreak.”  Its peacekeepers have been proven to introduce into Haiti.  And the UN continues to dodge its moral and ethical responsibility and its ability to conduct future operations will be irreparably damaged by failure to immediately redress this glaring wrong.  And I wonder, is the Secretariat aware of that statement and how they respond to the logic?

Spokesman:  We are aware of all the statements.  You know, I don't want to go into a play-by-play on each statement; but what I would say is the legal position has not changed.  But, we have seen the great effort put forth by the UN in working in partnership with Haiti in order to help fix the sanitation system, to deal with the families impacted by cholera.  There will be a conference soon in Washington, [D.C.], a resource mobilization conference, in which the UN will participate.  And I think the Secretary-General, in going to Haiti, in meeting with the families and going to the villages, I think showed his solidarity and his personal commitment to help.

Question:  I mean, presumably, the Foreign Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines knows that he went there.  I wanted to know, specifically, he said, I jumped over this part of it, he said that the legitimacy of the body’s conduct in the peacekeeping missions and the legacy of its leadership at the highest level will be damaged.  And I wanted to know, do you think there is any… is this true?  Is the legitimacy of peacekeeping and the legacy of the UN leadership impacted by this situation?

Spokesman:  I think a lot of the issues raised have been addressed, continue to be addressed, and this is very much on the forefront of the Secretary-General's mind.  Mr. Abbadi, how can I not give you the last question?

Question:  Would the Secretary-General, in his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, raise the issue of a two-State solution?

Spokesman:  I think that remains very much on the UN's agenda.  But, I think we just need to be patient and wait about three and a half, four hours for a readout, which will end the speculation and hopefully give you facts.  Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record