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.
In a short while, I will be joined by Robert Piper, the UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel. And after the Sahel, Jean-Victor Nkolo, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, will be here to brief you.
**Ebola
On Ebola, you will have seen that the Secretary-General just called for the international community to step up its efforts and turn pledges into action. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a continuously deteriorating situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. An increase in new cases in Guinea is being driven by a spike in cases in the capital, Conakry, and the nearby district of Coyah. In Liberia, there is almost certainly significant under-reporting of cases from the capital, Monrovia, while in Sierra Leone, intense transmission is still occurring in the capital, Freetown, and its surroundings. The latest figures from WHO report a total of 8,997 cases in seven countries, and 4,493 deaths. Health-care workers have been paying a heavy price in the fight against Ebola, with 427 infected and 236 dead. The total number of operational laboratories in the three countries will increase in the coming weeks, as a Russian Mobile Laboratory becomes operational in Guinea, and a Public Health England laboratory begins to provide diagnostic testing in the Western rural area of Sierra Leone. The full situation report is available on the World Health Organization website.
Also today, the UN Population Fund (UNFPPA) warns today that Ebola is wiping out gains in safe motherhood made in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. An estimated 800,000 women in these three countries should give birth in the next 12 months. But many pregnant women are afraid to visit or are turned away from overstretched health facilities. The UN Population Fund says that $64.5 million is needed to provide reproductive and maternal health services in the next three months. Also tomorrow, Sarah Crowe, the Crisis Communications Chief at UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund], will be here in this room to brief you at 11 a.m. on her recent five-week mission to Liberia about the role of social mobilization and UNICEF’s work with communities.
**Syria
Turning to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Representative for Syria, met today in Beirut with Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam. He told reporters that, during his second tour of the region, he will also visit Iran, Turkey and Russia. Among the things he was discussing, he said, was the rise of new factors in the region, including Da’esh, also known as ISIL/ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham]. He said that the international community remains concerned about the effects of the Syrian conflict on Lebanon’s stability and he added that the international community stands firmly with Lebanon. His press remarks are online.
**Human Rights
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein, said today that his Office was stretched to its limit, at a time when the UN human rights system is increasingly asked to intervene, investigate, press for accountability and prevent further violations. At a press conference in Geneva, he said that one of his priorities was to resolve the extraordinary disconnect between what the Office was asked to do and what it was given to do it with. Mr. Zeid noted that his Office receives around 3 per cent of the UN regular budget, which covers a third of its total expenditures, and that most of its funding depends on voluntary contributions, which are currently insufficient to cover the level of activity. He called on the Office of Human Rights to be put on a more stable footing if it is to do justice to its extensive and visionary mandate. He added that States created the international human rights system and should ensure the necessary funding and resources for it. His full remarks are available online.
**World Food Day
In addition to Spirit Day, as you will have seen from the Secretary-General’s purple tie, it is also World Food Day. In his message, the Secretary-General highlights the importance of family farmers, who are the cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food systems. He adds that, although family farmers are key to unlocking global progress, they are at a disadvantage when it comes to access to technology, services and markets. He calls for equal access to productive resources for the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers to help eradicate global poverty. This year also marks the International Year of Family Farming. Commemorating the Year and World Food Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a report, noting that since the majority of the world’s farms are managed by families, family farms can be crucial agents of change in achieving sustainable food security and eradicating hunger.
**Noon Briefing Guests
Tomorrow, my guests will be the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, and those co-chairs are Mansur Muhtar, World Bank Executive Director for Nigeria, Angola and South Africa, and Pertti Majanen of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
**Question and Answers
Spokesman: That’s it. Matthew and then Joe?
Question: Sure, I wanted to ask the Secretary-General if he has any comment on the election of Venezuela, Malaysia, Angola and New Zealand for seats on the Security Council and the runoff now between Spain and Turkey. And I, just procedurally, I wanted to ask you: what was the thinking in the middle of the vote and particularly run-off as results were being announced, of having the stakeout? What is the higher kind of protocol in the UN between GA [General Assembly] and SG [the Secretary-General]?
Spokesman: I think, as we have often said, the UN building is sometimes akin to a Ringling Barnum Brothers Three-Ring Circus. A lot of things are happening at a different time. And the Secretary-General's schedule was such this was the only time he could do it. I was keen to have him speak to the press upon return. And I'm aware of the challenges, but that is why things are webcast and stored. And I know it doesn't make it easier for journalists who cover the UN to have these things done simultaneously, but that’s it.
Question: I'm asking, there were actually some diplomats that said there is kind of an unstated protocol of the various organs. What about commenting on the actual result and his new partners on the Security Council?
Spokesman: He obviously welcomes the elections of the four new members and looks forward to working with them. And we await the decision, the sovereign decision of Member States as to who the fifth member will be. Joe, you had a question?
Question: Yes. You have… okay, I'm not sure…
Spokesman: Well, do you know what, I now have a statement, which I should have read in the beginning, which is a statement on the return to Madagascar of former President Marc Ravalomanana.
The Secretary-General has taken note of the return to Madagascar of former President Marc Ravalomanana on 13 October. He rejects the remarks Mr. Ravalomanana made during a press conference challenging the legitimacy of the institutions born of the country’s recent elections.The Secretary-General stresses the imperative of respecting the legitimacy of the democratically-elected Government and the rule of law. He calls on all political actors and stakeholders to continue working together towards an inclusive national reconciliation process, the full implementation of the SADC [Southern Africa Development Community] Road Map, the deepening of democratic governance and economic recovery for the good of all people in Madagascar.
And the statement is available in my office, also in French. Mr. Klein?
Question: Yes, on Ebola, sort of a two-part question. First of all, has there been any reconsideration of the Secretary-General's apparent and other UN spokespersons’ opposition of the idea of at least a travel ban from the affected countries for commercial air flights, not impeding use of military aircraft, charter planes, et cetera? And secondly, has there been any establishment of a protocol here at Headquarters, as well as other UN sites, regarding the handling of any potential Ebola cases? In other words, what would be the procedures for dealing with such outbreaks?
Spokesman: On your first part, you know, it's not so much the Secretary-General's opinion, but it's the one of the World Health Organization and other ones of our partners. We continue to hold the position that isolating those countries further would deepen the crisis they are already in. And as we said, it's not only a health crisis, it's an economic crisis, and that can often lead to become a political crisis, so that position is unchanged. On your second part, on the protocol, you know, our medical service here is well-trained, is well-versed in dealing with different medical emergencies, should anybody at Headquarters show the symptoms. But, obviously, we would also very much rely on the health and safety resources of our host community here in New York. Oui? And in the back and Evelyn?
Question: Stéphane, two days ago here in this room Professor [Noam] Chomsky said the solution of two States, it's not realistic. By the way, he criticized the United Nations' facility and he say that the United Nations should follow the European Union, who created directive to sanction their association and the organizations who are linked to the colonization in the West Bank. What do you think about this?
Spokesman: Noam Chomsky is a man of global reputation, so I will say this with all due respect: Obviously, he has his own opinion. I think, the Secretary-General's position, as he reiterated today, a few minutes ago, is that the two-State solution is the only way to stop this senseless cycle of war that we have been seeing. As for issues of sanctions, as you know, those are really up to the Security Council and for Member States to take. Yes?
Question: Yes. Thank you, Stéphane. Russian President [Vladimir] Putin just yesterday strongly responded to President [Barack] Obama's remarks at the General Assembly last month, in which Mr. Obama criticized Russia as one of the threats to global security; and in return, Mr. Putin warned that the [United States] should not blackmail Russia over Ukraine. What is the UN's position on this?
Spokesman: We are not going to get in the middle of the back and forth between world leaders. It is obviously very important and critical to the global situation that we find that Russia and the United States work together to deal with a lot of the crises we are seeing, we are seeing in the world, around the world today. Evelyn? Your microphone, please.
Question: Sorry. On Ebola, the plan of 70 per cent in treatment are cured by 1 December is probably not going to work. Is there a Plan B?
Spokesman: Look, you know, our focus, right now, the Secretary-General's focus and UN system’s focus is on getting the resources to the field, getting the support we need to the countries most impacted. And we are working on… there are a lot of predictions out there. We are working towards the best-case scenario to avoid the worst-case scenario. Ken?
Question: Can I ask one more?
Spokesman: Evelyn, please.
Question: Do the diplomats and ministers arriving here get their temperature taken by the United States?
Spokesman: I think you would have to ask the [United States] authorities what measures they are putting in place. Ken?
Question: Stéphane, I've noticed Secretary-General and you called the Islamic State as Da’esh recently. Has the UN decided to call the group by that name, and if so, why? Why not Islamic State?
Spokesman: There are a lot of different names and acronyms floating around. I think what is clear is that this organization, that group is neither Islamic nor a State. So, we will use different… obviously, the Security Council has some language we use. But, I think what is important is that we keep denouncing the actions, the atrocities they are committing on the ground. Yes?
Question: Thank you. Just recently, while you were away with the Secretary-General, a non-governmental organization fighting for justice for the people affected by the violence, the post-election violence that happened in Kenya, held a briefing here, where they subtly condemned the warm reception that the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, got here at the UN while attending the General Assembly, while somebody like the Sudanese President, who is also facing similar charges by the International Criminal Court, has totally been shut out by the United Nations and the international community. So, is this a case of different strokes for different folks?
Spokesman: You know, I think you would have to ask those people who welcomed them. I'm not going to interpret the different welcomes different Heads of State receive here at the UN.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The tension remains high in Hong Kong. Does Secretary-General have anything?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary-General's position is unchanged. We are obviously watching it very closely. We hope that there could be talks in order to resolve this situation peacefully. Evelyn, and then Matthew?
Question: Yes. Sorry. I've just lost my place here. Oh, yes. I still didn't hear any answer from the [Secretary-General] or in the briefing of the question that both James and I have been asking you. Is there an answer to Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's accusation that the rockets in the UN schools were handed back?
Spokesman: I think, you know, I would refer you back to what the Secretary-General said himself in Gaza, which he said, when those rockets were found, we reported it and we informed the world. Yes? We reported it publically. Yes?
Question: Sure. I want to ask about Ebola and also Liberia and a follow-up on your Madagascar statement. On Ebola, I wanted to know, I'm sure while you may have heard this right before you came back, the staff union, or whatever is the staff union here, said that they are concerned about the right to medevac, medical evacuation. And I've received communications from staff in Liberia, where they say this right is not acknowledged by UNMIL [United Nations Mission in Liberia]. So, I asked the UNMIL spokesman, and he said decisions to medevac are made on case-by-case basis and depend on factors, such as the stage of disease and the ability of the receiving facilities to take patients. And what I wanted to know is, overall, are international and national staff treated the same by the UN in terms of evacuation? And, two, what is this ability of receiving facilities to take patients? Facilities in other countries? What are the rights of a UN national Liberian staff who contracts Ebola?
Spokesman: The concern is that, you know, I think something that is raised not just for UN staff, but health workers in general that are coming in from NGOs is the ability they would have to be medevac'd. And there are not enough medevac planes available. And there is a great shortage of them. And that’s what we are asking for… we are asking for more. And, obviously, the situation of our own staff is of concern. I'll check with what UNMIL has said and if I have more, I'll give that to you.
Question: Just as a matter of principle, are the rights of international staff members higher to work in UNMIL from other countries or the same?
Spokesman: I don't think it's a matter of higher or lower. I think it's a matter of different contractual obligations.
Correspondent: Also in Liberia, and I'm asking this because I tried to get this resolved, the whistleblowers in UNMIL have said to me that the [Special Representative of the Secretary-General] rents housing at a cost of $8,300 a month and they find this relatively outrageous. And they also say it's rented from her country, Sweden. So, I tried to ask them, to get them to knock this down if it's not true. They said on the [Special Representative of the Secretary-General] accommodation, the UN does not disclose its staff members' personal information. I guess my question is, I don't want personal information and I don’t want the address, but I think if UN money is going to be paid in the amounts alleged, that should be made public.
Spokesman: If I have something on that, I will share it with you. Yes, sir? And then we will turn to Mr. Piper.
Question: Forty-two days ago, two Tunisian journalists, Sofiene Chourabi and Nédhir Ktari, were declared missing in Libya. By the way, a week ago, another Libyan journalist, what's his name, Mu’az Libi, was kidnapped. What is the position on the United Nations, especially that you visited Libya and you have many contacts with the Government and those responsible?
Spokesman: I mean, I think what we are seeing, whether in Libya, in Syria and Iraq, is we are seeing growing threats to journalists not because they just work, they are working in difficult environments but because they are being targeted specifically for doing the job that they are doing. And I think the Secretary-General has spoken out for the need to protect journalists and for the right of journalists to do their work free from threats.
Thank you, and we will get Mr. Piper in and he will talk to you about the Sahel.