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 morning.
**Yemen
I will start off with a statement on the situation in Yemen. The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation in Yemen. He deplores the heavy fighting between Ansarallah armed groups and Yemeni presidential guards throughout Sana’a.
The Secretary-General calls on all sides to immediately cease all hostilities, exercise maximum restraint, and take the necessary steps to restore full authority to the legitimate government institutions. All sides must abide by their stated commitments to resolve differences through peaceful means and ensure the full implementation of the Peace and National Partnership Agreement in accordance with the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference and the GCC Initiative and Implementation Mechanism. He also reminds all sides of their obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Secretary-General condemns the kidnapping on 17 January of Dr. Ahmed Awadh bin Mubarak, Director of the Office of the President of the Republic of Yemen. He calls for his immediate release. The Secretary-General urges all sides to remain fully engaged with his Special Adviser on Yemen so as to enable him to continue to exercise the Secretary-General’s good offices in close cooperation with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Nations Security Council. Also on Yemen, the Security Council received a briefing on the situation in Yemen this morning by videoconference from the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Jamal Benomar.
**Ebola
And on Ebola, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly this morning and discussed recent progress in the fight against the spread of Ebola. He said that strong national leadership combined with local community engagement and international support is slowing the incidence of new cases in many places. Liberia, once the worst affected country, has seen the most dramatic improvements.
The Secretary-General said that the outbreak has taught us that there is no room for complacency. We have also learned that our response must evolve to match the increasingly dispersed pattern of the outbreak. And he made a special appeal today to national stakeholders, community leaders, response partners and Member States: Stay engaged and sustain this effort. The Secretary-General said it is crucial to ensure that there are sufficient resources to eliminate the disease and ensure recovery. His full remarks are in my office.
Also briefing the General Assembly was Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Head of the UN Emergency Ebola Response Mission, UNMEER, as well as Dr. David Nabarro, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ebola.
**Libya
And on Libya, the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) expressed concern about reported breaches of the ceasefire that the parties to the conflict had unilaterally declared earlier this week. The Mission continues to urge the parties to discuss and commit to concrete measures to consolidate the truce and tackle any violation as soon as possible. The Mission views any violation, no matter how limited, as a grave development that could undermine the entire truce. More information is available online.
**Iraq
And regarding Iraq, the Da’esh group, also known as ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham], has established unlawful, so-called “shari’a courts” in the territory under its control that have been meting out cruel and inhuman punishments, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In its Geneva briefing, the Human Rights Office said that, last week, the Da’esh posted photos on the web of two men being “crucified” after they were accused of banditry. Photos were also posted of a woman being stoned to death, allegedly for adultery.
The Office has received numerous other reports of women who have been executed by Da’esh in Mosul and other areas under the group’s control, often immediately following sentences passed by its so-called courts. Educated, professional women, particularly women who have run as candidates in elections for public office seem to be particularly at risk. The Human Rights Office is continuing to document human rights abuses and violations taking place in Iraq and will present a report to the Human Rights Council in March.
**Syria
And from Syria, the heavy snow storm in January hit thousands of Syrian families living in makeshift dwellings and slowed down the World Food Programme’s (WFP) planned food distributions inside Syria. WFP and its partners have mobilized emergency food and other supplies to the most affected communities. The World Food Programme has also appealed for more than $1.5 billion to feed over 6.5 million people inside Syria and sheltering in neighbouring countries. The funding situation remains critical; without enough funds, WFP will be unable to provide assistance at the same levels as before, so people will receive only 70 per cent of their previous entitlement.
**Malawi
And from Malawi, our humanitarian colleagues are reporting that, according to governmental estimates, some 121,000 people have been displaced by the flooding in the country. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that search and rescue operations continue and relief supplies are being dispatched to affected area. For example, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received 75 drums of chlorine to treat water; and the World Food Programme has started food distribution. A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team has also been deployed to Malawi.
**Death Penalty
And also from Geneva, the Office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights today expressed its concern over the continued use of the death penalty for drug crimes in parts of South-East Asia. Last Sunday, six people were convicted of drug offences and were executed in Indonesia, despite several national and international appeals. The Office said that 60 others remain on death row for drug-related offences. And more information is available online.
**Appointment
A personnel appointment today: The Secretary-General has appointed Eric Goosby of the United States as the UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis. Dr. Goosby was formerly the Ambassador-at-Large and United States Global AIDS Coordinator, appointed by President Barack Obama. He led all US Government international HIV/AIDS efforts from 2009 to 2013. Dr. Goosby will work towards raising the profile of the fight against tuberculosis and promoting the adoption, financing and implementation of the World Health Organization’s global “End TB Strategy” after 2015. There’s more information on the appointment in my office.
**Earlier Questions
And yesterday, I was told there were some questions, I think from you, Matthew, about Chadian troops in the UN [Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization] Mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA. And I can tell you that UN Peacekeeping has been working to improve the conditions in the camps in Kidal, Aguelhok and Tessalit, where Chadian troops are based. And DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] is also coordinating with Chad and other troop-contributing countries for a rotation plan for Aguelhok. The rotation is planned to start on 1 February.
**Press Conferences
And tomorrow, a press conference — 12:30 p.m., briefing here by members of the Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Does the Secretary‑General have a comment on the situation of IS [Islamic State] Japanese hostages? And given Japan's hands are tied by Security Council resolution 2133 (2014)on ransom payment, what immediate resources can the Secretary‑General and the UN provide on this kind of sensitive issue?
Spokesman: Obviously, the Secretary‑General is very concerned about the fate of these two hostages — we saw the video — as he is concerned of the fate of all people that have been taken hostage by armed groups, especially Da’esh and other armed groups, whether it be in Iraq or Syria. And once again, he calls for the immediate release of all hostages. Masood?
Question: Stéphane, now that the United States has… is not demanding any more that the Syrian President, [Bashar] al-Assad, be ousted before any peace talks, does the Secretary‑General think the peace talks in Syria between the opposition and the Government forces have now any chance of success?
Spokesman: Well, obviously, you know, the Secretary‑General, through the efforts of his Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has been focusing both on creating this freeze in Aleppo and on getting traction in the political track. The Secretary‑General has always believed that everyone, that the opposition and the Government both need to sit at the table and we remain committed to working towards these political discussions.
Question: Stéphane, follow‑up on that…?
Spokesman: One second. I think your colleague Masood himself had a follow‑up on his own question. So, let's go…
Question: The follow‑up is this. So, in that case, the peace talks that the Secretary‑General are now going to be… are in process of being held or…?
Spokesman: No, I think that, as you know, discussions are still going on at various levels. There is a Russian initiative, for which the Office of the Special Envoy will be represented, but obviously, we continue to have discussions at many different levels, but there is nothing new to announce from the Office of the Special Envoy. Nizar?
Question: Yep. How do… how does the United Nations view the recent attack by the Israelis yesterday, or the day before yesterday, on those who are fighting ISIS and Al‑Nusra near the Golan, in the context of peace initiative, foreign interference trying to… and of course, the escalation and tension and rhetoric in the region is escalating, of course?
Spokesman: I think, yesterday, we gave you what our colleagues at the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) noticed and reported back to us. Obviously, the increase of violence that we see throughout the region remains of great concern to us.
Correspondent: But, yesterday, the statement was short of telling the identity of the aircraft which attacked those who were there. And also today there are a lot of threats from both sides of the…
Spokesman: Well, obviously, you know, we're hoping that none of these threats come to fruition and we call for a lowering of the rhetoric. That's what I have… Nizar, I promise I will come back to you before the end of the week. Matthew?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask about the reports confirmed by… to some degree, by the mission to some media in the Central African Republic of a UN staff member being taken hostage by anti‑Balaka. Is it true? What's the UN doing about it?
Spokesman: What we know is that a staff member was detained for some time this morning in Bangui. She's now been released and she is either back in the hands of the UN or on her way back to the hands of the UN, so she's safely released and we're obviously very pleased.
Question: And is the… does the UN have any involvement in trying to free this French aid worker who was also taken hostage earlier in the week?
Spokesman: I have no information on that. Lou and then Sylviane?
Question: Thanks. Does the Secretary‑General have a position on the situation in Haiti, where the political crisis has been escalating, and you know, came to a new… reached a new development over the weekend with appointment of a new Government?
Spokesman: Well, you know, obviously, we're very keen on the Haitian authorities finding a way forward to get… to find a way out of the current political crisis and find the stability that Haiti needs to move forward. Sylviane?
Question: I would like to ask you again what is the UN reaction on the Israeli air strike that killed several Hezbollah fighters in southern Syria? And also, this morning, at 10 a.m., Mr. [Derek] Plumbly met with Secretary‑General. Do you have any readout?
Spokesman: No, I believe that must have been a farewell call. As you know, his successor, Ms. [Sigrid] Kaag, has now taken over her post in Beirut. So, I'm sure it was a way for… it was a chance for the Secretary‑General to say “thank you” to Mr. Plumbly for his work. And I think, as you will have heard yesterday, the UN Mission was not in a position to certify the identity of the aircraft. I think what is being implied in your questions is not something that we were confirming. Ken and then Iftikhar, and then we'll go to the back.
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. Over the weekend, it's been reported Mr. Shin Dong yuk, one of the… a defector from North Korea — DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] — contributed to the COI [Commission of Inquiry] report… admitted that part of his testimony was not correct. Do you think this will affect at all to the credibility of the COI report?
Spokesman: I haven't seen that report. I will take a look at it and get back to you. Iftikhar, then…
Question: This is a follow-up to Masood’s questions. Just to be specific, are you confirming that the demand for President Bashar al-Assad's removal has been dropped?
Spokesman: I… you know, I think what our focus now is to find a political solution. The Secretary‑General has always believed, and his envoys have always believed, that the parties need to be…. all the parties need to be represented at the table. Mr. Abbadi, and then we'll go to Go.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. What does the Secretary‑General think of the flagellation? Does he think it's a form of torture?
Spokesman: I think… in general? It sounds to me like it's a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Yes. There, then Somini… feel free to come closer. My eyesight is bad. Yes, go ahead. Yes, I did call on you. Please use your microphone.
Question: I'm sorry?
Spokesman: Please use your microphone. Thank you. No, you need to press the button. Thank you.
Correspondent: Sorry.
Spokesman: And if you don't mind identifying yourself because I don't know you.
Question: Yeah, I'm Jamie Schram with The New York Post. I'm curious about the ISIL courts in Iraq. How does that work? I mean, are there prosecutors, defence attorneys, judges? You know, what's the story here with that?
Spokesman: Well, I don't… obviously, we don't have the details, since we're not there. What the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was condemning the action of these so‑called courts that have been set up under ISIL or Da’esh control.
Question: I guess I'm confused. How does he know that these are even… I mean, how does he know about the existence of the courts if he doesn't know anything about the dynamic here?
Spokesman: Obviously, we're getting reports from what it is going on in the area.
Question: And do any of those reports indicate, like, judge, prosecutor, defence attorney?
Spokesman: Well, I think what is clear from the reporting the High Commissioner is getting is that these courts, I think, would not stand up to the minimum legal requirements that most of us would accept.
Question: So, it's like a kangaroo court?
Spokesman: You're welcome to use that term. And I can refer you to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for more information. Somini?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Is there a new date for when Mr. de Mistura is going to be briefing the Council on Syria? And relatedly, has the Secretary‑General said anything about the Russian proposals for talks sometime later this month?
Spokesman: Mr. de Mistura, I think, has spoken and the Russian proposal and said he's obviously in very close touch with the Russian authorities and that his office will be represented at those events. Go?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. One follow-up on these two Japanese abducted men by ISIS. So, ISIS is demanding not to change the policy of the Japanese Government over the Middle East, but they're asking for a ransom, even by precising the amount of the ransom to $200 million. Do you have any specific comment on that?
Spokesman: Obviously, the release of hostages should be done unconditionally. Oleg, you may go now.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. One quick question: There is a session of the Security Council scheduled on Ukraine tomorrow. I know it's not decided whether it's going to be open or closed, but was there any request to the Secretariat to have a briefer or something?
Spokesman: I'm not aware of it, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been one. But I will check. Roger? Sorry, then Linda, sorry.
Question: Thanks. I understand a letter was sent over the weekend to the Secretary‑General from 80 leading humanitarian organizations, implicitly criticizing the idea that Andrew Lansley would be appointed as Valerie Amos' replacement at OCHA. Has the Secretary‑General received the letter and…?
Spokesman: I don't… I don't know if he's received it, but obviously, the search process is ongoing. I think people may be getting ahead of themselves. I think people have a right… you know, groups and others have obviously a right to express their opinion, but the selection process will be done per usual practice, and as we've already said here, there was a call for nominations from Member States.
Correspondent: Sorry. There's also a petition with about 70,000 names, just to let you know.
Spokesman: I'll see if we received it. [He later said the petition has not been received.] Linda?
Question: Stéphane, apropos of the Japanese nationals who are being held, we know, for example, that Japan and the United States has policies of not wanting to pay ransom; yet, we know that there have been a number of hostages where countries, including in Europe somewhere or other have paid ransom and the abductees have been released. Is there… does the [Secretary-General] or is there a UN reaction to clearly what… to payments of ransom, which is clearly not endorsed?
Spokesman: It's not up to the Secretary‑General to dictate and to speak to that. What we are… in terms of what countries are doing to release their nationals. What is clear from our point of view is that their release needs to be unconditional. Sylviane and then Nizar?
Question: I'm returning to this question on Syria and Aleppo. Can you be more specific? Can you describe what is the meaning of freezing the situation in Aleppo? Because the fight is still raging…
Spokesman: Obviously, the freeze…
Question: And how can you… how can you be optimistic about it?
Spokesman: Well, it's, you know, I think what we've seen is that the fighting in Syria is one of the biggest challenges that we face today. It has had untold humanitarian impact on millions of people, both within Syria and now who have been forced to leave Syria. It's also had a destabilizing impact on the region as a whole. We have had, since the beginning of this crisis, multiple diplomatic efforts to try to halt the fighting. The freeze as proposed by Mr. de Mistura is a first step is to try to get a stop to the fighting, a freeze to the fighting in one place, and to then build on that. Obviously, I think Aleppo is emblematic of what has been going on in Syria as a whole. The destruction there has been massive. The suffering has been massive, and it's about starting somewhere. We're not there yet, but we have to start somewhere.
Correspondent: Yeah, you said Nizar first.
Spokesman: I said later this week, but go ahead.
Question: Are we receiving any reports from Iraq regarding why some Yazidi civilians were released by ISIS or Da’esh? Also, there are other reports coming from Iraq, saying that some air drops by the allies have been… of weapons and supplies were dropped in the ISIS area and this is… this happened frequently, not just one or a couple of occasions. There were also videos showing these air drops on YouTube and other media, social media. Did you get anything from your mission about that?
Spokesman: No, I have not. On the people who were freed, the Yazidis who were freed, I can't tell you why they were freed. This is not the right place… I'm not the right person to ask. What I can tell you is that on the humanitarian front, our colleagues, our humanitarian colleagues, including WFP, UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] have been there to help to receive them and to help to provide them, whether it's transport or shelter. Mr.…
Question: How about air drops?
Spokesman: I have nothing on that. Mr. Abbadi? Can you use your microphone, please?
Question: What does the Secretary‑General have to say on the day of Martin Luther King, [Jr.,] fighter for peace and racial harmony?
Spokesman: I think what he would say is his message of nonviolence and peace and harmony is as valid today, if not more valid today, than it has ever been. Mr. Lee?
Correspondent: Sure, Stéphane.
Spokesman: I'm sorry. Linda. Did I never get to you? Linda. I'll come back to you then. Sorry.
Question: Yeah, I wanted… on a couple of problematic things that came up, you've always said, you know, that the missions are looking into it and they will in due course. I wanted to ask about two those. Two has to do with the videotaped shooting by MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti] peacekeepers in Haiti into a crowd of demonstrators. Where does it stand?
Spokesman: Very valid question. I will ask.
Question: And even further back, the downing of a UN helicopter, which killed its pilots in South Sudan in August, where there's audiotape of Peter Gadet saying, “I will shoot helicopters down.” Some are now saying that the UN is never going to release a report, out of fear that other helicopters will be shot down by the Gadet forces. Can you…?
Spokesman: I will ask the mission.
Question: How long is too long? What's… I guess I want to know from you now, like, six months from now, is it still not going to come out? Is there some minimum…?
Spokesman: How long is too long is a question I will not answer.
Question: For you. How long is too long for you as the Spokesperson?
Spokesman: Halas, as they say. No, joking aside, I will ask. Linda?
Question: Stéphane, can you share with us what the status of the UN presence in the ISIL or ISIS area is, and perhaps how… are they providing humanitarian aid or what's going on there?
Spokesman: As far as I know, we don't have anyone in the areas that are exactly under control of Da’esh. We're providing humanitarian support in areas where we're able to operate safely or at least where we're able to manage the risk, but I can get you an update on where we are in Iraq and Syria. Nizar, and that will be it.
Question: On Yemen, obviously, the Al‑Qaida influence is growing in many areas. Has the United Nations identified the sources of the weapons they are getting or the sources of financial aid they are receiving?
Spokesman: Obviously, we don't have an investigative mechanism to track down where the weapons are coming from and whether it's Iraq or whether… you know, whether it's Syria or Yemen. We would encourage all those who have an influence over the parties to exercise that influence. What I would add to on Yemen is Mr. Benomar, who briefed from Doha, is trying to make his way back to Yemen to be there as soon as possible to personally engage in discussions there. Matthew?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask, because it’s in the news, Bahrain has sentenced Nabeel Rajab for six months in jail for a single tweet. As a tweeter yourself, I’d like to know: what do you think of it? I know there's a general policy, but it seems like things are getting… the length of time for the amount of communication is…
Spokesman: We're… I'm expecting something on that later today, but obviously, I think it's important that people have the right to express themselves freely.
Question: A follow-up on that? Well, today there are many people injured in Bahrain as a result of the crackdown by the police. Do you have any…?
Spokesman: I have nothing more than what we've already said on Bahrain. Thank you.