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. Apologies for being slightly late.
**Mali
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, as you know, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Mali via video conference from Bamako earlier today.
He expressed his concern at the rate of attacks against the UN Mission in Mali in the last months as well as the number of peacekeepers killed and wounded in these attacks. He said that the recent number of victims in the Mission was one of the highest seen in peacekeeping operations.
Mr. Ladsous added that MINUSMA, the UN Mission, was the main international presence in Northern Mali, making it a target. But he said that the UN was working on a number of measures designed to increase the protection of the Mission’s staff, equipment and bases.
The Under-Secretary-General said that all parties had to commit to the Malian peace process.
And as you will have seen in the statement we issued yesterday in which the Secretary-General expressed his outrage on the attack yesterday on MINUSMA’s camp in Kidal. The attack, as you will recall, killed one Senegalese peacekeeper and injured another. The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their responsibility to prevent attacks against United Nations peacekeepers.
**Ebola
A couple of Ebola updates. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched today a new programme to urgently assist 90,000 vulnerable households in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone whose food supplies and livelihoods are threatened by the epidemic.
Activities include awareness campaigns; boosting food and cash crops, livestock and fisheries production, introducing microfinance strategies to safeguard rural incomes; and setting up early warning response systems. FAO is urgently calling for $30 million to support activities linked to the programme over the next 12 months.
The World Food Programme (WFP) also says that it requires $179 million for its global Ebola emergency operations until February 2015. Only $48 million so far have been received.
Besides assistance to meet the basic food needs of over 1 million people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the World Food Programme is providing transport and logistics support in the fight against the outbreak.
In Liberia, in Monrovia, the Logistics Cluster, through WFP, is building four Ebola treatment centres and has set up a dedicated storage hub for the humanitarian community.
And also in terms of donations, Japan just announced a $22 million emergency contribution to the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the UN Children’s Fund’s operations against Ebola.
And we say thank you and very much welcome this announcement. And we continue to encourage other countries to also intensify their support to the international response.
As you may have seen earlier today, the Head of the UN Mission in Liberia, Karin Landgren, announced today that an international staff member who works for UNMIL, UN Mission, Medical team has tested positive for Ebola.
This is the second case of Ebola within the Mission. You will recall that an earlier probable case resulted in the death of a staff member on 25 September.
Ms. Landgren says that the Mission has taken all necessary measures to prevent any possible further transmission within or outside the mission.
In line with World Health Organization protocols, the UNMIL Medical team has conducted an immediate and robust contact tracing to ensure all people that came into contact with both staff members while they were symptomatic are assessed and quarantined. All UNMIL staff considered at risk have been isolated, and ambulances and other locations have been decontaminated.
**Ukraine
From Geneva, the latest UN human rights report on Ukraine was released earlier today.
In it, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that despite a fragile ceasefire in the east of Ukraine, the protracted conflict continues to kill and wound civilians, depriving more of the millions of residents in areas affected by the violence of their basic human rights.
Though there have been no large-scale offensive actions since September 5th when the ceasefire was announced, in some cases, artillery, tank and small arms exchanges have continued almost daily.
The report says that between October 6th [and mid-April], at least 3,660 people were killed and more than 8,700 people wounded in eastern Ukraine.
The High Commissioner stressed that all violations of international human rights and humanitarian law must be scrupulously investigated and prosecuted. These include indiscriminate shelling of civilians, killings, and allegations of sexual violence.
And the full report is online.
**Syria
Speaking from Geneva, Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, warned yesterday that the international community needs to defend the Kurds who are fighting to protect the city of Kobane, also known as Ayn al-Arab, on Syria’s northern border.
Mr. de Mistura said that the international community cannot sustain another city falling under the control of ISIL. He added that Turkey has been very generous in receiving more than 200,000 Kobane inhabitants but what is needed now is concrete action.
The Special Envoy said that the world will regret deeply if ISIL is able to take over a city which has defended itself with courage. We need to act now, he said.
**Libya
Turning to Libya, the humanitarian country team in that country has launched a new appeal, seeking $35.25 million to help hundreds of thousands of people affected by the crisis in Libya.
Aid organizations estimate that more than 331,000 people are in need of assistance, including an estimated 287,000 people who are internally displaced within and around Tripoli and Benghazi. Another 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries.
The funding will help aid organizations reach affected communities with food, health care and other life-saving support.
**South Sudan
And just a quick update from South Sudan, the Mission there, reports that relative calm has returned to Chukudum town in Eastern Equatoria State following violence that erupted between Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers and residents on Monday.
The UNMISS [United Nations Mission in the Sudan] military patrol left for Chukudum earlier today to gather more information.
Meanwhile, on the humanitarian front, OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] says that 2.2 million people now face emergency or crisis levels of food insecurity in the country. It’s a reduction since May — when the figure was more than 3.5 million.
But they say that projections indicate that this progress is temporary and fragile, and that the food security situation could be extremely serious at the beginning of next year.
In addition, they say that Kala-azar, a parasitic infection caused by the bite of the sand-fly, is on the rise. As of October 2nd, more than 4,600 cases were reported, as opposed to 1,614 cases by the same week last year. The rise is due to displacement of people and lack of access to food and water.
**Secretary-General’s Appointment
We have an appointment today. On 5 September, the Secretary-General Ban Ki‑moon designated Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, as the Secretary-General for the third International Conference on Financing for Development.
The Conference will be held in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, from July 13-16 next year. It will seek the adoption of a comprehensive financing framework to support the implementation of the post-2015 agenda. If you are interested, more information is in the office.
**Mexico
Yesterday, I think you, Mathew, asked about the situation in Mexico. In a statement available in my office, the UN System in Mexico condemns these disappearances and calls for a prompt and vigorous response by the authorities.
It takes notes of the actions taken and urges them to conduct a thorough investigation.
The Mexican office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented the cases, has deployed staff in the field and has contacted directly with families of victims, as well as with state and local officials.
**Press Conferences
Jean Victor [Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly] is in the front row here and is here to talk to you after this and he will brief you right after me.
And tomorrow, we will be joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Management, Mr. Takasu. He will brief on the financial situation of the Organization.
And following that briefing, Jean Victor [Nkolo] will again be briefing you. And I’ll stop here.
**Questions and Answers
Jean Victor, do you want to come up since there are no questions.
(Laughter)
I tried. Go ahead, Matthew.
Question: Sure, I wanted to ask you on Ebola, the reports that burial teams in Sierra Leone went on strike due to lack of hazard pay. I wanted to know one, is the UN aware of that? And two, is this the kind of thing that the UNMEER mission or the UN is trying to do to resolve the non-burial—
Spokesman: Burial teams are critical to fight against the outbreak. What we have seen in some of the impacted countries is now a shortening of the gap between the death and the burial, which is very important. One of the many — we've talked about the Ebola crisis is more than a health crisis. It is also — can be a socioeconomic impact. It is critical that those frontline health workers get paid, and I know that our colleagues at the World Bank and with UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] are working in a number of the impacted countries to help facilitate those payments. So we'll try to get a bit more information on that.
Question: What's the size of the UNMEER team both currently and projected in Sierra Leone?
Spokesman: Projected — I don't have the numbers with me, but I think they're in the document — the Fifth Committee document that you have. The staffing is ongoing. [inaudible] and then Nazir.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The next week will be new meeting between Iran and P5+1 in Vienna. What's the UN perspective about this meeting?
Spokesman: Well, I think the UN perspective remains the same, is that they very much hope that the Iranians and the counterparts, the P5+1 or E3+3, reach an agreement that allows this situation that has I think taken up a lot of time to be resolved diplomatically. Nizar, yes.
Question: Okay. Well, obviously, there are many reports showing that the Turkish authorities are cracking down heavily on the Kurds who are protesting. Fifteen were killed in the last 24 hours. And there are dozens of people who have been arrested according to the Kurdish sources. Many of them are civilians including children and women. How is the United Nations watching that and are there any mediations with the authorities there to release the jailed people?
Spokesman: I'm not aware of any mediation. We've obviously seen those reports, and I think it's important that people's right to free and peaceful demonstration be respected.
Question: How about the crackdown on the protestors —
Spokesman: I just — that I just answered. Hannah?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. I have two questions with your permission.
Spokesman: Please.
Question: Thank you.
Spokesman: Thank you for asking for my permission.
Question: So the first one is about — it's sort of a follow-up question to the one that I asked yesterday about the city of Kobane. The Kurds who are under siege basically there by ISIS forces, they reported if ISIS is permitted to take the city, there would be literally a blood bath. Meanwhile, Turkish forces are watching over the border, basically not doing much. And there were reports that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said if you put pressure on Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria and then Turkey would act in a different manner, like meaning Turkey would send troops at least to help these people. But while Turkey is trying to have what it looks like a political barter with the United States, people might die and are dying on a daily basis —
Spokesman: I'm happy to listen to you but I need to hear a question mark.
Question: The question is UN — shouldn’t it be more proactive and we have this humanitarian intervention for a reason. So my question is, if not now, then when? This is the first one.
Spokesman: I think I would refer you to what Mr. de Mistura said yesterday. I think it was a very heartfelt appeal for action, for concrete action, to be taken to prevent the town of Kobane from falling to the hands of the extremists. I think the Secretary-General has spoken out earlier in the day. He says concrete action needs to be taken. We can't afford to see this town fall. Those who have the means should take action.
Question: Thank you. And the second question.
Spokesman: Yes.
Question: That you permitted me to ask. So it's about Ukraine. It was reported that four drones were sent by Europe. Two of those were confirmed to be Austrian to the east of Ukraine they will be deployed along the Russian border, and I think France and Germany also promised to send more drones in support of the peacekeeping operations. And this was all done under the auspices of OSCE, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe — which associates…
Spokesman: Question, please.
Question: With cold war. So my question basically is this: wouldn't it be more appropriate that a global, more unbiased organization like United Nations would take it under their auspices? Thank you.
Spokesman: I think a couple of things. One, obviously, the UN would not involve itself in that sort of operation without a direct mandate from the Security Council. Second, I think the OSCE is one of the many regional organizations that the UN works with. I think there are different solutions for different problems. The UN has been very supportive of the OSCE process and of the observers they've sent and will continue to be supportive of them. Edie?
Question: Stéphane, I don't recall, though I'm sure it possibly has happened, a special envoy of the Secretary-General directly calling for military intervention in a conflict on the ground. And I'm wondering if this is a new UN tactic, method? And you seem to indicate that this is supported by the Secretary-General. I listened to Mr. de Mistura on the radio and he was specifically calling for military intervention by Turkey.
Spokesman: I think the — if you look at what the Secretary-General said in his statement, and I'll quote, he says he urgently calls on all those with the means do so to take immediate action to protect the beleaguered civilians of the population of Ayn al-Arab. I think we are facing a critical situation. The clock is ticking and there are many thousands if not more people who are facing a very uncertain future in the hands of ISIL. One second. Nizar, one second. Linda and then Iftikhar.
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. Following up on Edie's question, we know that Mr. de Mistura asked for this concrete action, and that he was alluding to military action. Do you think he's referring to more bombing by the West and those who are doing it? Greater weapons, I know that the Kurds have said that they have very simple weapons. They're fighting against ISIL which has very complicated weapons. Is this something you're also pressing? And finally, the troops, are — is there an illusion just to Turkish troops or again Western troop?
Spokesman: I think we're not going to get into military tactics here. I think there are a number of countries in the region and more globally and we've seen a coalition formed who have the means to protect the people of Kobane. And I think both the Secretary-General and his special envoy feel they should do so. Mr. Ali. I'll come back to you.
Question: Thank you, Steph. Have observers from UNMOGIP [United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan] made a visit to the line of control in disputed region of Kashmir following what Pakistan says are incidents of fighting from across the border into Pakistan's side of Kashmir?
Spokesman: No, I don't have an update from UNMOGIP but we will ask. Evelyn?
Question: (off mic).
Spokesman: Use your mic.
Question: Sorry. It's the Secretary-General who's saying he urgently calls on all those with means to do so to take immediate action to present the —
Spokesman: I just quoted that. I just read that.
Question: Yeah, well, that follow-up to Edie's question that is — Edie's question that it's unusual for a Secretary-General to ask for military intervention.
Spokesman: We're facing a — you know, we're facing a very dire situation. We're seeing a city potentially fall in front of our very eyes into the hands of a group which has a track record of atrocities against — in northern Iraq and Syria. Pam?
Question: I know we're following up on follow-ups, but on this is the Secretary-General in any way inclined to ask the Security Council to act on this since he's asked the national governments and there may not be a response?
Spokesman: I think the — you know, the Security Council is fairly well seized of the situation in both Syria and Iraq. Nizar and then Stefano.
Question: On the same subject, Iran offered to help if the Syrian authorities asked in the case of Kobane. Does the Secretary-General view that Iran is a candidate or potential —
Spokesman: I think — you know, I will stick to the broad message of the statements which is, all those who have the potential to act should act. Stefano?
Question: Yes. If the call to act by the Secretary-General or — you can hear me?
Spokesman: Yeah, go ahead.
Question: If they call to act by the Secretary-General or de Mistura, is on the responsibility to protect the civilians can we expect that these will — is going to happen every time in same situation will occur? Not so in Syria but other similar situations when the population is at risk of an attack?
Spokesman: We're facing a whole different sort of situations this year than we've had — we've had in the past. And I'll just say it again, we're seeing almost live these combats and the potential fall of a city and the fall into the hands of a group like ISIS of large number of civilians with tragic consequences that we know will happen.
Question: We are talking about the attacks in Mali, Nigeria, Boko Haram, Libya and the rise of extremists and jihadists in Tunisia and Libya. So I have the sentiment that the United Nations is on defence. So why don't the United Nations establish an international summit in the region to avoid the outbreak of terrorism and to prevent it?
Spokesman: I think the scourge of terrorism needs to be fought on a number of different levels by the international community as a whole, not just on obviously in global terms on military and police tactics but also to address the underlying problems, socioeconomic problems, political problems, and these are things that the Secretary-General has been calling for quite a while.
Question: In the meantime, Turkey went sailing yesterday into waters that Cyprus considers its own development area, and what is the reaction to the United Nations to this in regard to the effect — the chilling effect — it's had on relations or on the dialogue that's supposed to take place between Turkey and Cyprus? Thank you.
Spokesman: I think in terms of Cyprus, as I mentioned yesterday, Mr. [Espen Barth] Eide, his Special Adviser, is now in Cyprus. He met separately with both President [and leader of the Greek Cypriot community] — with Nicos Anastasiades and Dervis Eroglu, the leader of the Turkish [Cypriot] community, and President Nicos Anastasiades as I mentioned. Mr. Eide said he continues to talk to both sides on ideas for finding a solution and he said that while he recognizes that this is a tense moment given developments at sea, he stressed the need to work as hard as possible to reach a settlement. To add that he feels it's very important that everybody acts responsibly and avoids further escalation. Matthew, and then Nizar.
Question: Sure. I want to ask about Haiti and also about Ukraine. In Haiti, it's a — a court hearing has been set for October 23rd on the case against Ban Ki‑moon, Edmond Mulet and the UN, the cholera case. And there have been oral arguments set. Is the UN's position it will appear for that oral argument. And there's a PRI story about sexual abuse by peacekeepers in Haiti, unnamed UN — senior UN officials in Haiti saying the abuse did take place and immunity was not waived and the victims were never even told the name or what happened to —
Spokesman: I haven't seen the PRI story. I'll happily take a look at it. As for the legal case, our position is unchanged.
Question: And on Ukraine is there any comment from the Secretariat on the newly released monitoring group's report on Eastern Ukraine with the raised numbers and accusations of violations not only on the side of the separatists but also on the side —
Spokesman: You mean on the human rights report?
Question: Yes.
Spokesman: The Secretary-General was the one who pushed for the sending of human rights monitors and the creation of this mission so obviously he's pleased to see this work goes on and he continues to appeal to all parties to stop the escalation and follow up on the commitments that they signed in Minsk.
Question: Does he believe the Government should assert greater control over these quote Government —
Spokesman: I think we've always upheld the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but that any action also needs to be in full respect of international human rights law and humanitarian law.
Question: I'm sure you have seen this — these reports from the British media about sending children and women from Iraq and Syria to other groups via Turkey. Well, of course, there are a lot of organized criminals in this respect and the terrorists that the people that — how does the United Nations monitor such things? And why haven't we seen anything in the reports of the Secretary-General on the situation in Syria or Human Rights Council with regard to such abuses?
Spokesman: I think we've clearly condemned the abuses that we have been informed of, that we've been able to monitor, including, if you'll remember, the wholesale selling of women and children from Yazidi communities when towns fell earlier this year, and it's something we continue to condemn. I think the Secretary-General's special representatives on sexual violence and children in conflict have condemned it. And we will continue to condemn it.
Question: How about how — organ harvesting as well and these criminals which are operating from Turkey.
Spokesman: I have no particular information on where they're operating from but obviously all these abuses are — need to be condemned and are condemned. Mr. Lee and then we'll leave it to Mr. Jean Victor to take you home.
Question: Yeah, I wanted to ask you about sanctions and also on South Korea. On sanctions, a letter has emerged in which one of the members of the Somalia Eritrea monitoring group basically wrote to Member States urging that they grant asylum to particular Eritrean former Government official and basically implying that he would be a good leader of the country in the future. So Eritrea has complained and said this is inappropriate behaviour for a member of a UN monitoring group. So I wanted to know, without obviously getting into the — generally, is this appropriate behaviour for someone hired by Security Council affairs to monitor sanctions to advocate for a potential future leader of a country?
Spokesman: No. And we were made aware of the letter. The person — the member — I'm sorry — the member of the monitoring group was shown the letter and he resigned. So —
Question: And just one free press question. You were asked this question in South Korea in which a Japanese reporter. Asahi has reported today that he's been indicted for having reported — for having reported on the President of South Korea. Before he was under investigation, I guess you had no comment. Now he's been indicted. What's the position of the Secretary-General?
Spokesman: I haven't seen the particulars of that case, but I think we did respond in which we said we obviously stand for press freedom as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thank you. Jean Victor, all yours.