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 Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon, everyone.
**Noon Briefing Guest
In a short while, I will be joined by Gyan Chandra Acharya, the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. He will talk about the launch of the latest report on least developed countries.
**Ebola
On Ebola, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee presented its conclusions in Geneva a just few minutes ago. It said the primary emphasis must continue to be stopping the transmission of Ebola within the three affected countries with intense transmission. The Committee reiterated its recommendation that there should be no general ban on international travel or trade. A general travel ban is likely to cause economic hardship, and could consequently increase the uncontrolled migration of people from affected countries and raise the risk of international spread of Ebola.
The Committee stressed that exit screening in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone remains critical for reducing the exportation of Ebola cases. It also noted that a number of States without Ebola transmission have decided to cancel or are considering cancelling international meetings and mass gatherings. Although the Committee does not recommend such cancellations, it recognizes that these are complex decisions that must be decided on a case-by-case basis.
The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) report a total of 9,936 cases and 4,877 deaths. Of the countries with localized transmission, both Spain and the United States continue to monitor potential contacts. As you know, on 21 October, the single patient with Ebola in Spain tested negative for the disease for a second time. Spain will be declared free of Ebola virus disease 42 days after that date of the second negative test, unless a new case arises during that period.
In the three most affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, capacity for case management has been increased substantially but remains far short of requirements. Guinea has 61 per cent of the required bed capacity in Ebola treatment units, while Liberia stands at only 23 per cent and Sierra Leone at 29 per cent. The full situation report is also available on the World Health Organization’s website.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or MONUSCO, says today that the situation in Beni and the surrounding areas remains tense. Yesterday, elements of the Allied Democratic Forces, ADF, reportedly killed a woman and abducted a man in the village of Kokola. Violent anti-MONUSCO demonstrations over the past days have reportedly resulted in the death of two civilians in Mbau. At least two peacekeepers and six Congolese soldiers have also been injured. The Mission is ascertaining the facts about the incidents.
**Iraq
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched a $2.2 billion appeal in Baghdad today to address the protection and humanitarian needs of 5.2 million people in Iraq. Neill Wright, the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, said that the needs of the Iraqi people are immense. The appeal includes the needs, among others, of 1.8 million Iraqis who have been displaced since January 2014, 1.5 million people within communities hosting many of the displaced and 1.7 million others living in conflict areas outside Iraqi Government control. An estimated 2.8 million people are in need of food assistance and approximately 800,000 people are in urgent need of emergency shelter assistance. Throughout Iraq, 1.26 million people are in need of some form of winterization assistance. The provision of winterization packages, warm clothes, shoes, and health services and food are all critical requirements.
**Security Council
The Security Council is holding an open debate on its working methods today. Other than Member States, speakers include the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda. More information on this meeting is available on the Security Council’s website.
**Press Conferences
I mentioned that Gyan Chandra Acharya will be the guest at today’s briefing; and then at 1:15 p.m., there will be a press conference by Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. At 2 p.m., there will be a briefing by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO, and the Gates Foundation on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, ahead of World Polio Day, which is tomorrow. And at 3 p.m., there will be a briefing by Christof Heyns, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
And then tomorrow, we have a number of press conferences again. At 11 a.m., there will be a briefing by Heiner Bielefeldt, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. And then at 12:30 p.m., UN Messenger of Peace Lang Lang and others will be here to brief ahead of the UN Day Concert, which will take place at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Headquarters. And finally at 1:15 p.m., François Crépeau, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and Francisco Carrion Mena, the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, will be here for a briefing.
**Questions and Answers
Deputy Spokesman: And that's it from me. Are there any questions? Yes.
Question: Sure, Farhan, I wanted to ask you, a report has been put out by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that has been cited in other UN reports, saying that the US [United States]-led air strikes in Syria so far have killed 521 fighters and 32 civilians. And since the Secretary-General had said whatever action is taken should minimize civilian casualties, what does he think of this ratio? Is this low enough? And what does he make of the air drop of arms to Kobane, two of them going astray, one being destroyed by the Government and one being taken by Da’esh or Islamic State itself?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding the causalities, yes, exactly, the Secretary-General believes that any efforts to have any kind of military operations inside Syria need to be undertaken with steps to ensure that there is an absolute minimization of civilian casualties. I won't go into ratios. It's hard to determine from here what steps, you know, what the steps could be on the ground that are being taken. We, as you know, do not have a presence on the ground there. But, certainly, we hope and expect that all Member States trying to involve themselves in activity in the area will do so in order to protect civilians and will therefore take all steps to make sure that civilian casualties are at a minimum.
Question: But how about weapons going to Islamic State? Things do happen, but does that indicate a level of uncertainty in air dropping that may make such air strikes unhelpful?
Deputy Spokesman: I think those questions are better asked to the authorities who are responsible for these air drops. What we have been urging is that the civilian population in and around Kobane be protected. We do want countries to involve themselves in that, and they need to be careful about the steps that they take. But really, that's really a question for the military personnel who have been involved in those. Yes?
Question: Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, I mean, there is a change of course of the United Nations standing here. In the beginning, you are against any importation of weapons or sending of fighters into Syria and now, of course, the United Nations, given the situation of Kobane, have encouraged such interference and help to rescue the town. Does that mean that they should help everyone, including those, everyone who is fighting ISIS, not to just the Kurdish minority?
Deputy Spokesman: As the Secretary-General and as his Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, had made clear, for the overall conflict there can be no military solution. We do not want to see thousands, possibly even tens of… you know, many, many thousands of people placed in harm's way by the activities of Da’esh. But at the same time, what Mr. de Mistura, for example, is focusing on is trying to see what can be done to reinvigorate the political process and have a political solution on the ground. As you know, he has visited, in the past days, Iran and Russia, trying to continue with his contacts exactly on this topic. And so we believe that there can be no overall military solution. And at the same time we are very, very concerned about the fate of the people who have been trapped in Kobane/Ayn al-Arab.
Question: How about those who are under the mercy of the terrorists in the Golan separation zone?
Deputy Spokesman: You've heard what we had to say about that. And, of course, our own peacekeepers, the UN Disengagement Observer Force, wants to be able to carry out its full range of activities in the Golan zone. And ultimately what that means is there needs to be an ending to the fighting there. Ozlem?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Farhan, yesterday I asked you about the letter of Turkish Cypriot leader [Derviş] Eroğlu, and actually Eroğlu said himself that he had sent a letter to SG, and you were mentioning to me yesterday that there was no letter from Eroğlu to you, but there was another separate letter. I have found other letter, but for this letter, is there confusion? And I know that the Special Envoy, [Espen Barth] Eide, is here. Is he going to talk to reporters? And when do you think it will be?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, yes, Mr. Espen Barth Eide is here. He is meeting the Secretary-General today. There are no plans so far for him to speak to reporters. If that changes, I can let you know. Yes, I believe there was a separate letter from Mr. Eroğlu. That was not the one that we had received in the Secretary-General's office. What they had received, as I told you, was one from, transmitted by the Turkish Mission from Mehmet Dana. Yes?
Question: Because this court hearing is taking place this morning, I wanted to ask you, there have been some… you’d said yesterday that the UN would not appear formally, and that appears to be the case. But some are wondering, and I wish that you could answer, whether OLA [Office of Legal Affairs], the UN's legal office, has sent any observer to, you know, which would seem… to the hearing this morning. And also having attended this OIOS [Office for Internal Oversight Services] event down in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium, I wondered whether you can say whether in its oversight function, which is being described in great detail down there, did OIOS ever consider the issue of the UN, the UN's response to the claim that it brought cholera to Haiti as a matter of its oversight mission?
Deputy Spokesman: The activities we have taken regarding the Mission in Haiti and the cholera epidemic are what we've disclosed over the past year, in other words since 2010, and I have nothing to add to that. And regarding today's court appearance, what I have to say is simply that the United Nations has maintained its immunity from legal process in respect to this lawsuit. In light of this, the United Nations will not appear in court.
Question: Does that mean will not attend or will not speak and appear?
Deputy Spokesman: I've said what I’ve said. We will not appear. I believe I might have more to say tomorrow if anyone has attended on behalf of the US Government. I don't know whether they are attending or not, but we will be able to find out by the time the proceedings are over whether they have. Yes, Stefano?
Question: Thank you. Yesterday, the Security Council, there was a meeting on South Sudan, and two Special Representatives from the Secretary-General talked. And it looks like we had already, two days ago in this room, it looks like that both crime against humanity that is being conducted there, the Government there has been responsible. They are talking about a chain of commands, military chain of commands, orders to rape women, children. I would like to know exactly what is the position of the Secretary-General on the fact that, yes, arms have to stop fighting, but after that what is going to happen? Are we going to punish whoever is responsible for those crimes?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, the Secretary-General has repeatedly talked about the responsibility for these crimes. As you know, we had a high-level meeting on South Sudan during the week of the General Assembly plenary meetings. And the Secretary-General made clear then, as he has done before, that there does need to be accountability. He has repeatedly reminded the leadership of the two sides of their responsibilities, and he expects them to follow up. Yes?
Question: Farhan, I asked about the freedom of the religious practice in Saudi Arabia and the death sentences. Have you got anything today on the response to that?
Deputy Spokesman: No. Like I said, the Human Rights Office is reviewing. If there is anything further on this, I will tell you then. Yes?
Question: Sure. Two questions about either reports or investigations. With the unmanned aerial vehicle or drone that crashed in the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo], Stéphane [Dujarric] had said that it was, you know, the UN had surrounded it and was going to look into the cause of the crash. Is there anything now, days later, about that? And also Fatou Bensouda was testifying to the Security Council, or speaking, about Darfur so it made me… I wanted to ask whether this report on the alleged cover-up of attacks on civilians that she herself has referenced in the Council… even before the Secretary-General decides whether to release it to the public and the press, is it… will it be shared, for example, with the ICC, which has raised many concerns about that information?
Deputy Spokesman: As I said yesterday, the Secretary-General will review the report and he can then decide where to go for in terms of further steps. I don't have anything to announce on further steps on that. And on the case of the unmanned aerial vehicle, like Stéphane had said, that is being investigated. There is nothing to share on that. You did ask yesterday as well, by the way, about the events outside of Beni and Mbao where there was shooting apparently in the crowd. I can say we have checked up on that, and no MONUSCO forces were involved in any shooting of the crowd. There are reports that in the incident that took place in Mbao on Tuesday, the Congolese Armed Forces, the FARDC, shot while MONUSCO was retreating to their base. But, in any case, the incidents are being investigated.
Question: And was anyone killed by the live fire by the FARDC?
Deputy Spokesman: In that incident, one person was injured and reportedly taken to Beni hospital by patrol. Yes?
Question: The United Nations Missions are attacked by civilians in Mali and Central Africa and RDC, so can we say there is a problem with communication with the United Nations or that the Missions, they are not appreciated by the people? Deputy Spokesman: I don't know whether you would call them the people or whether you would call them different groups.
Question: They are civilians. They mentioned that they are civilians. They throw stones. So if they are thrown in Central Africa or in RDC, so there is a problem of communication or they are not appreciated by the civilians?
Deputy Spokesman: Every incident, every nation has its own particular circumstances. Sometimes these are protesters who are upset about different concerns on the ground. Sometimes these are protesters upset about local Governments and are taking it out on other forces. Sometimes this is a different sort of thing where there are actions by provocateurs. Each one is different. It would be hard to make a blanket description of what is happening. Certainly, in every mission, what we try to do is have outreach to local communities so that they understand and appreciate the work of the missions. That's not necessarily the end of the story because, as I said, in each case different circumstances apply, and we need to know who is behind the demonstrations or who is participating in the demonstrations and what they are trying to achieve. Yes, Iftikhar?
Question: Farhan, thank you. I was a bit late but have you, has the Secretary-General made any comments on the shooting incidents in Ottawa, or has he been in contact with the Prime Minister of Canada?
Deputy Spokesman: I don't have anything to say yet about contact with Prime Minister [Stephen] Harper. That is something that may happen down the line, because the Secretary-General does want to be able to convey his concerns about yesterday's tragic incident and to express the solidarity, his solidarity and the solidarity of the United Nations, with the Government and the people of Canada as they deal with this incident. But certainly those sentiments are there and we’ll see whether he can communicate those directly to Prime Minister Harper. And with that let me try and get our guest. Let me just see whether he is in the back.