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 and welcome. And welcome to all of you who are watching on the webcast.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
As you know, the Secretary-General is now on his way to West Africa, where he will visit the Ebola-affected countries over the next few days. He is accompanied by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, as well as his Special Envoy dealing with Ebola response, Dr. David Nabarro. He will arrive shortly in Accra, in Ghana, where he will meet with President of Ghana, President [John Dramani] Mahama. This evening, he will also meet with the staff and leadership of the Accra-based UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, otherwise known as UNMEER.
Meanwhile, I do want to flag some more money coming into the United Nations multi-donor trust fund. And in order of contribution — a contribution from Israel, for $8.75 million; from China, for $6 million; from Germany, for an additional $5.3 million over their earlier contribution; from Switzerland, for $5.1 million; from Bolivia, for $1 million; and from Brazil, it’s $600,000. The total pledges are about $140 million for the multi-donor trust fund, but all that information is available on the trust fund website.
**Security Council
Back here, earlier today, the Security Council members adopted a resolution unanimously to renew the mandate of the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) for six months.
Following that, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Nicholas Haysom, and the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, spoke at the Council’s quarterly debate on Afghanistan. Mr. Haysom said that stability and prosperity in the country will not be achieved in the absence of sustainable peace. He added that the UN Mission in the country stands ready to support the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation and political processes. Mr. Haysom also warned that civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict. At the end of November, the UN Mission had recorded more civilian deaths and injuries than in any year since 2008. And Mr. Haysom will be here to brief you as my guest tomorrow.
**Syria
As the war in Syria heads towards a fifth year, the United Nations and its partners launched a major new humanitarian and development appeal today, requesting more than $8.4 billion to help nearly 18 million people in Syria and across the region in 2015. It was presented in Berlin today by Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos. And of that amount, $2.9 billion is for people living inside Syria and $5.5 billion is intended to reach Syria refugees outside of the country, as well as those communities hosting the refugees.
The appeal includes two main elements: supporting more than 12 million displaced and conflict-affected people inside Syria and addressing the needs of the millions of Syrian refugees in the region. The 2015 appeal incorporates, for the first time, significant development aspects, in addition to the life-saving humanitarian needs of the largest number of displaced people in the world. More detail in a press release from OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs].
**Yemen
And in a statement we issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the Tuesday bomb attacks in Radaa in Yemen’s Al Bayda Province, which killed more than 25 people, including at least 15 schoolchildren. The Secretary-General expressed his sympathies and sincere condolences to the families and victims of this heinous crime. As he made clear in the statement, as well as in an earlier statement on the Tuesday regarding the school attack in Peshawar, Pakistan, there is absolutely no justification for such cowardly terrorist acts that brutally take the lives of innocent civilians, including children. The Secretary-General calls on the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
**Mali
And early today in Mali, a vehicle of the UN [Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization] Mission in that country (MINUSMA) hit an explosive device in the vicinity of its camp in Aguelhok, in the Kidal region. The Mission reports that three peacekeepers were injured. Following the incident, MINUSMA arrested and detained two men found in possession of an anti-personnel mine and grenades. The men will be taken into custody in Bamako.
**Central Emergency Response Fund
And also related to pledges — donors yesterday pledged $418.6 million for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support critical, life-saving humanitarian operations in 2015. So far this year, CERF funding of $450 million has supported emergency aid operations in 44 countries. Approximately a third of the funding went to emergencies in 22 of the world’s most neglected crises, including Chad, Haiti and Yemen. And there’s more information on OCHA and CERF websites.
**Migrants
Today is International Migrants Day. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General calls for the fulfilment and protection of the human rights of the world’s 232 million migrants. The full message is available online. And following this briefing, Bill [William Lacy] Swing, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), will be here as my guest.
**Richard Hottelet
Lastly, I wanted to mark the passing of an amazing reporter and one of your former colleagues, Richard Hottelet of CBS News. Starting as a correspondent in 1938 for UPI, Richard Hottelet never stopped reporting. He was the last living survivor of the so-called “Murrow Boys” who covered [the Second World War] for CBS News. A true witness to history, he flew over the D-day beaches on 6 June, continued with the Allied armies and was there when the Soviet and US armies met on the banks of the Elbe River in April 1945.
In 1960, he became the CBS News correspondent here at the United Nations and he stayed in that job for 25 years. And after he retired, I think most of us remember Dick coming in regularly to get updates for his opinion pieces and other research he was doing. And I was privileged to know him at that time in the early 2000s. And just to give you some perspective, his UN press card expired in 2008, which is quite a history.
In August [2011], he was awarded a prize by the National Press Club in Washington for his long career in journalism. And at that time, he delivered what could be the most concise acceptance speech. “Thank you very much,” he said, “I just want to tell you, I tried.” I think if we could only be so brief and concise, it would be great. Our thoughts go out to Richard’s family, and he is remembered fondly.
And on that note, I’ll take your questions. Matthew?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Sure. Two questions. One is, I was thinking you might have some readout on this. In the Central African Republic, it's reported that in fighting in the town called Mbres, 28 people have been killed and it's been reported by the Red Cross and by the local police and I'm wondering why the peacekeeping mission there has not reported this incident?
Spokesman: Yes, we just got some information from MINUSCA [United Nations Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic], which does say that they report on 17 December, yesterday, clashes between armed Peulh and anti-Balaka elements were continuing, despite the fact that anti-Balaka had temporarily fled the town. Locals who had returned to the town following the reconciliation process on 12 December have now fled again. The Mission, we are told, is sending a fact-finding mission to the town.
Question: Thanks a lot. I wanted to ask and I would like to hear your answer to this, I wanted to ask about the press conference held yesterday, if you can confirm or deny that at least certain of the questions were provided in advance to the Secretary-General and he read an answer to them. And I ask this because it seems if we are here having what seems to be a press conference, it seems at least important to at least know if it's scripted.
Spokesman: No, I think the press conference is not scripted. It's my job as the Secretary-General's Spokesman to be ready for this briefing and to be ready for… to help the Secretary-General be ready for his briefing.
Question: On the answer on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, his entire answer was read out. And I'm saying this with all due respect, but is this normal? Is it normal in a press conference to have an answer known in advance and an answer read out?
Spokesman: I think, as I said, Matthew, it's my job to be ready for the briefings and to make sure the Secretary-General is ready for his.
Question: Does that include knowing what questions will be asked? There is a big difference.
Spokesman: Those are the only words I can use. So, anything else? Yes, I'll come back to you. Linda?
Question: Regarding the Committee adoption of the resolution does Secretary-General have any point of view in terms of potentially…?
Spokesman: No. I think the Secretary-General has expressed his opinion on the human rights situation in North Korea. Obviously this is an action by Member States. Use your mic. I'll just repeat. Why don't you repeat the question so people on the webcast can hear it?
Question: My question is regarding the Third Committee, well, no, the Third Committee draft resolution prepared by the Third Committee, and it was their recommendation to the General Assembly, which adopted the resolution, which calls for possibly referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, and my question is: Does the Secretary-General have a point of view in terms of this matter?
Spokesman: No. I think the Secretary-General addressed this yesterday in the press conference. He has spoken out about the situation, the human rights situation in the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea]. Obviously, this is an action by Member States, and this is what they do. As, you know, it will be up to the Security Council when the resolution passes to act if they so choose to do so. And the ICC is obviously an independent body. But, I think the Secretary-General went into some detail yesterday about this. I would look at the transcript. Yes, Anna?
Question: Yes, Stéphane. My question is on Russia. During his annual press conference, President of Russia Vladimir Putin described sanctions against Russia as illegitimate. He also said that US and Saudi Arabia might have conspired to lower oil prices in order to harm Russia. How would you comment on this?
Spokesman: You know, it's not for me to comment on those allegations. I think, again, the Secretary-General in his answer on Ukraine yesterday, called on all parties involved to redouble their efforts to find a political solution to the current crisis in Ukraine which would then obviously have a thawing effect on the relationship between Russia and the EU [European Union] and the US, which would be a positive development.
Question: What would you say on sanctions?
Spokesman: On sanctions, I think that the sanctions were enacted by certain Member States, not through the United Nations. And again, I think the key here is to find a political solution in Ukraine which would then have a positive knock-on effect on the relationship between Russia and the European Union, as well as the United States. Yes, Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask this question of the Green Climate Fund, which I know the Secretary-General speaks about and raises funds for, is seeking to get its own immunity like the UN has and it basically said it doesn't fall under the UN, so it wouldn't have immunity. It’s negotiated such an agreement with South Korea and is now seeking in other countries. Some people… this will make it totally impossible for outside review and obviously be immune, as the peacekeeping mission in Haiti. What is the justification? Why does this fund need immunity? And what will it do with countries that refuse or decline to grant it?
Spokesman: Let me talk to my colleagues at the Green Climate Fund and get some guidance on that. Go ahead.
Question: I wanted to ask: In Sierra Leone, President (Ernest Bai) Koroma announced that he is going to do house-to-house searches as an attempt to eradicate Ebola. And I just wonder, some people say it raises… it's not voluntary; it's house-to-house searches. Is this something that UNMEER or Dr. Nabarro or the Offices of the High Commission of Human Rights (OHCHR) has any view on?
Spokesman: I haven't seen the details of this report, but what I would say is: I think any action taken to combat Ebola needs to be taken based on scientific fact. George?
Correspondent: Okay, I just wanted to ask an update.
Spokesman: You have to press the microphone.
Correspondent: I did. I think somebody turned it off.
Spokesman: No one can control the mics from here. That is a thought. Maybe I should get a button from here. [laughter]
Correspondent: You can leave this question before I ask it. Just joking. I wanted to know on the question of the food service contractor, Supreme, and I asked you about it and you said: “This is a very good question, I'll look into it.” And it's a week later.
Spokesman: I did. I was asked to look and I did ask to look into it. I have not seen an answer, but it remains a valid question and I will try to get you an answer. Linda, and then I will get Mr. Swing.
Question: Stéphane, thank you. Can you just clarify… you mentioned the appeal, the $8.4 billion appeal regarding Syria, and I thought I heard you say that it was meant to help 18 million people in Syria and the affected region; is that accurate?
Spokesman: Let me see what I actually said. I try to pay attention to what I say. What I said is it was going to help, yes, 18 million people in Syria and across the region. So, what we are talking about is both people inside Syria who need humanitarian aid and the millions of Syrians who have been displaced and have sought refuge in Iraq and Jordan and Lebanon, Egypt and other places. Great, I will get… yes, George? Use your microphone, please.
Question: Sorry. This fund to which the Israelis are the biggest contributors, what is that called?
Spokesman: It is the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Question: Multi-Donor?
Spokesman: Trust Fund. If you look and go on their website it will show you who has contributed to it. This was an update.
Question: Is this just for Ebola or?
Spokesman: This is just for Ebola. It is for use by the Secretary-General in order to fund various Ebola-related projects and we are very thankful for all the donations, including today's donations; but there have been others before that.
Correspondent: Okay, thank you.
Spokesman: I will be right back.