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 Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon, everyone.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
You might be aware of this already, but I have a trip announcement for you; I believe the Secretary-General mentioned this to some of you yesterday. The Secretary-General will depart for Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Friday, 6 February, to convey his condolences to the people of Saudi Arabia, who had recently lost their leader, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. During his two-day stay in Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General will also meet with country’s new leader, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, and other high-level officials, to discuss the continued close cooperation between the UN and the Kingdom, including in addressing the crises in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Middle East.
On 8 February, he is expected to speak to the media in Riyadh before departing for the United Arab Emirates, where he will address the opening of the 2015 Government Summit in Dubai. The Summit will focus on ensuring that States, as well as institutions such as the United Nations, are properly equipped to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. On 9 February, the Secretary-General will meet with high-level officials in the UAE, including the Vice-President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan. The Secretary-General is expected back in New York on Tuesday, 10 February.
**Ukraine
In a statement we issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General says that he remains gravely concerned over the situation in eastern Ukraine, particularly the plight of civilians trapped without basic services in the city of Debaltseve. The rebel offensive continues and civilians are dying on a daily basis. He condemns in the strongest terms reports of indiscriminate shelling and calls on both sides to immediately move their military positions away from densely populated civilian areas.
The Secretary-General stands with others in the international community in support of the proposal by the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for a temporary truce that would allow for the immediate evacuation of civilians from Debaltseve. He notes that this proposal can only gain ground through good-faith negotiation.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for a sustainable ceasefire to take hold and for urgent diplomatic and political action. The signatories of the Minsk accords and the entire international community need to assume their responsibilities to ensure that this conflict ends. The United Nations stands ready to continue to support the consolidation of a sustainable and lasting peace process.
**Yemen
The Secretary-General has sent a letter to the heads of parties to the Peace and National Partnership Agreement in Yemen, which was read in Sana’a today by his Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar. In the letter, the Secretary-General tells the party heads that they have a tremendous burden and responsibility to steer Yemen through this challenging period. He said that they have to overcome the current impasse, so that the peaceful democratic transition that was launched in 2011 can be fulfilled.
He says that the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference captured the aspirations of the Yemeni people for a democratic State, based on respect for human rights and the rule of law. He urges the leaders to act in the national interest and reach an agreement on a peaceful way forward that meets the expectations of the Yemeni people and ensures the continuation of the peaceful political transition of Yemen.
**Sustainable Development Summit
The Secretary-General spoke by videolink to the fifteenth Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, which began in the Indian capital today. He noted that the UN will convene a Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September, and in December, world leaders will go to Paris with the goal of securing a meaningful, universal climate change agreement.
The Secretary-General stressed that addressing climate change and embracing sustainable development are complementary and interdependent, adding that they are just two sides of one coin. He also said that combating climate change is an opportunity for low-carbon growth that will benefit people and the planet. The Secretary-General’s full remarks are available online.
**Social Development
Also earlier today, the Secretary-General spoke at the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development. He stressed that the outcome of the Summit, which took place in Copenhagen, underscored the multidimensionality of social development. He added that subsequent conferences and intergovernmental commitments, including the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals, have been inspired by all that was agreed in Copenhagen. His remarks are available in my office.
**Appointments
I have two appointments for you today, some of which you may have heard of, one way or the other. The Secretary-General is announcing today the appointment of Nickolay Mladenov of Bulgaria as his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and his Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Mladenov succeeds Robert Serry of the Netherlands to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service and excellent leadership of the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). Mr. Mladenov brings with him extensive experience in public service and international affairs. He is currently Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, UNAMI.
The Secretary-General is also announcing the appointment of Bintou Keita of Guinea as Ebola Crisis Manager for Sierra Leone for the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, or UNMEER. Ms. Keita succeeds Amadu Kamara of the United States, who will return to the UN Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia. The Secretary-General expresses his gratitude to Mr. Kamara for his exceptional work in Sierra Leone and his commitment and dedication to fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. And we have more information on these two appointments in my office.
**Burkina Faso
The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, visited Burkina Faso yesterday with the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed ibn Chambas. They met with the transitional authorities and representatives of political parties and underscored that the United Nations is committed to provide Burkina Faso with the necessary support to organize free, transparent and democratic elections.
Mr. Feltman said that it is essential that transitional institutions continue to respect the aspirations of the Burkinabe people and ensure full respect for human rights and the physical integrity of all citizens. And he encouraged the transitional authorities to do everything possible to implement the Transition Charter in an inclusive manner and in a spirit of national cohesion and unity. There is more information online.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Head of the UN [Organization Stabilization] Mission in the country (MONUSCO), Martin Kobler, said that the recent massacres in Aru and Beni only reinforced the UN’s determination to fight armed groups in eastern DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] with the Congolese Army.
Meanwhile, Said Djinnit, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, was in Rwanda yesterday. He said countries in the region should remain united in efforts to neutralize all negative forces in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and support military action against the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, or FDLR.
He further expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the Governments of the DRC and Rwanda on the repatriation of the ex-M23 [23 March Movement] combatants, and highlighted the importance of promoting confidence-building and economic cooperation between the countries in the region. There is a press release with more details.
**South Sudan
The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, wrapped up a visit to South Sudan. Speaking to reporters in Juba earlier today, he said that he chose to visit Bentiu and Malakal during this mission because that was where most violations of human rights had taken place since his last visit. He said that he went to UN protection-of-civilians sites and talked to displaced persons, especially victims of various forms of violations. Mr. Šimonović also said he had been encouraged by his meetings with President Salva Kiir, yesterday in Juba, as well as with Riek Machar, earlier in Addis Ababa, who both told him that they would push for peace and justice.
**Ebola
On Ebola, you will have seen from our colleagues at the World Health Organization (WHO) that there was a surge in cases this past week, for the first time in 2015. This shows that as we work to reach zero cases, numbers may vary up and down. The strategy implemented by national Governments and the international community is working but Ebola is not gone in any country until it is gone in every country, and still represents a grave threat to Africa and to the world.
To get to zero cases, every chain of transmission must be tracked with a focused intensive effort. And we will hear more about Ebola shortly with John Ging, Director of Operations at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who is our guest today and just came back from West Africa.
**Security Council
Miguel Trovoada, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau, briefed the Security Council this morning on the work of the UN Integrated Bureau working in that country, known as BINUGBIS. He said that it is evident that the international community’s support for Guinea-Bissau will not last indefinitely and stressed the need to create the conditions that can permit the country to do without it. He added that the consolidation of peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau will require joint efforts, as well as patience and perseverance. His remarks to Council are available in French in our office.
**Myanmar
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, Renata Dessallien, today expressed her deep concern over the plight of civilians affected by the fighting in Hpakan Township in Kachin State that started in mid-January. She appeals to all parties to the conflict to allow the displaced people and other civilians who remain in close proximity to the area of conflict to be permitted to move to a more secure location. She also asks for them to allow for humanitarian assistance to reach this population in the safe areas. The Coordinator also appeals to all parties to the conflict to ensure that civilians are protected and reminds them of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
**Human Rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein called today for better leadership and a fundamental global rethinking of education as a means of combatting the causes of the conflicts and atrocities occurring across the world.
In a major speech delivered at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C., High Commissioner Zeid said the world needs “profound and inspiring leadership” driven by a concern for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people. And he stressed the need for education that goes beyond reading, writing and arithmetic to include skills and values that can equip people to act with responsibility and care.
All children, from a young age, should be taught human rights, the High Commissioner suggested, saying that children everywhere need to learn what bigotry and chauvinism are, and the terrible wrongs they can produce. His speech in Washington is available online.
**Food Prices
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today that its Food Price Index continued to decline in January, 1.9 per cent below its December 2014 level. Lower prices of cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar reflect strong production expectations. FAO raised its 2014 forecast for world cereal production to a record high and noted that early indications for crops in 2015 are favourable. The index has been on a downward path since April 2014. The January decline was partly influenced by robust inventories, continued strength in the US dollar and weak crude oil prices.
**Honour Roll
And for our honour roll: France and Paraguay have joined the ranks of the fully paid-up Member States, bringing the total today to 31 Member States which have paid their regular budget assessments in full.
**Press Conferences
For press conferences, like I said, today’s noon briefing guest will be John Ging, Operations Director for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. And Mr. Ging will brief shortly on his recent trip to the Ebola-affected countries — Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Following that, at 1 p.m., there will be a press conference by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Yasuhisa Kawamura. And then tomorrow in this room, at 10 a.m., there will be a press conference on engaging health workers to end female genital mutilation (FGM). That’s it from me; any questions? Yes, Masood and then Joe.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Yes, Farhan, on the Secretary‑General's visit to Saudi Arabia, will he be raising the question of… there's more and more evidence that the Saudi royal family and some of the princes were culpable in funding the Al-Qaida and the other extremist jihadist organizations. Will he be discussing this issue with the Saudi princes? Will he also tell them… I mean, come away with some sort of assurances from the Saudi monarch that it will stop?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding issues of counter-terrorism, as you know, we have been calling on all countries to avoid support for Al-Qaida, for Da’esh, and other groups. And we'll continue to do that. And regarding his specific meetings in Saudi Arabia, we'll try to provide you with readouts once those meetings take place. Joe?
Question: Yes, this is a follow‑up question to something that was raised yesterday concerning Jordan's decision to execute jihadi prisoners who had been given a death sentence. Assuming that Jordan was following the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights provision, I think in article 6, that the death penalty could only be assessed for serious… the most serious crimes and be done through the court processes, does the Secretary‑General still disagree, or does he disagree with Jordan's decision to carry out the death sentences that were passed through the court system? And, you know, I'd like to know what his position is. It wasn't as clearly stated yesterday as I'd like.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I think Stéphane [Dujarric] did clearly state that we wanted any actions to be taken in conformity with international human rights standards. Beyond that, what I can tell you today is that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is concerned that Jordan has continued to carry out executions, including most recently of two Iraqi nationals on 4 February. As you know, the global trend is in favour of an international moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The High Commissioner reiterates his deep regret at recent developments and encourages Jordan to return to a de facto moratorium, which has largely held in the country since 2006.
Question: But, that is contrary or inconsistent with Jordan's rights under this International Covenant, and as far as the Secretary‑General's position is concerned, he has consistently in the past come out against any use of capital punishment under any circumstances. He says it doesn't belong in the twenty-first century, even against the most heinous, barbaric acts of ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham]. So, is that… does he agree with the Human Rights Commissioner that Jordan should not have done what it did?
Deputy Spokesman: He supports the views of the High Commissioner, but in any case, the Secretary-General's views on the death penalty and on the need for a moratorium are unchanged and are in line with the thinking of the Member States of the General Assembly. Yes in the back? Yes, you.
Question: Thank you. High Commissioner Zeid's press conference tomorrow at Georgetown: will that be webcast? Will we get the transcript? How will that…?
Deputy Spokesman: I think my human rights colleagues will know better than I exactly what that… how that will be transmitted. Our colleagues in Washington are trying to see whether it can be webcast. So, that's what our hope is. Yes, Linda?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Can you give us an update in terms of what the UN's role or efforts of the UN in the areas controlled by ISIS, whether it's humanitarian or any other role it's playing at this moment?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, because of the security considerations in the areas controlled by the group, Da’esh or ISIS, however you will call them, we can't have access in those areas themselves. What we try to do is to provide humanitarian support, where we can, to the surrounding areas. So, for example, in Iraq, we have tried to provide support in places around Erbil. In Syria, we've tried to provide support in outlying areas to people who have been displaced by the fighting coming from that zone. But, in the area itself, of course, we're not operational. Yes?
Question: Sure. Ask about Bangladesh and also Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Bangladesh, the… things seem to be getting worse. Former Prime Minister has been charged with arson and… which she says she doesn't do. The power's been turned off to the opposition party and basically the authorities are using violence on protestors. So, I'm wondering, what's the response of the Secretary‑General? Is there any [Department of Political Affairs] or other UN involvement in trying to mediate it? And with senior military officials making statements about what they'll do to civilians, what's the impact on Bangladesh as a peacekeeping contributing country?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, the political process is separate and apart from the issue of peacekeepers in UN missions, who are under the control ultimately of the mission. Regarding the situation in Bangladesh, we've made our concerns known. As you know, officials, including the senior officials from our Department for Political Affairs, have repeatedly visited Bangladesh, trying to meet with the leaders there and make sure that the crisis can be resolved peacefully. As you know, we continue to have our concerns that that hasn't happened and that there has been violence. We have continually encouraged and continue to encourage the authorities to allow for peaceful protest and for the right to peaceful assembly. And beyond that, we'll continue to be in touch with the leaders of the two main parties, trying to make sure that they can resolve their differences.
Question: Can I ask a DRC question?
Deputy Spokesman: Sure.
Question: I wanted to ask… I've asked several days in a row about the UN's either support for the fight against the FDLR or direct fight against the FDLR. And Stéphane said, just ask MONUSCO; this is a mere detail. Now, clearly, a self‑described senior UN official has said that the UN is withholding its support because of two generals, Bruno Mandevu and Fall Sikabwe. So, I wanted you, one, to confirm that; two, I wanted to know why Stéphane was saying it's a mere detail and ask MONUSCO if [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] was going to provide this information to select journalists. And I also wanted to know…
Deputy Spokesman: You're basically misquoting Stéphane. He didn't call it a mere detail. He mentioned operational details.
Question: And I asked him: Are you supporting the fight against FDLR? He said that's an operational detail, ask MONUSCO.
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah — not a mere detail. That's a misquote.
Question: Alright. I think when you say detail… So, why is, why… Okay, let me ask this. If the UN system has said, including the special representative that you named, that fighting the FDLR is so crucial, how can it be that now the UN doesn't do it, citing its human rights due diligence policy, which it never enforced after the Minova rapes as an excuse for not fighting the FDLR?
Deputy Spokesman: First of all, I disagree that the human rights policy was not enforced after the Minova rapes. It was.
Question: Was support ever suspended?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, it was. In fact, support was suspended to the 41st Battalion, which is not engaged in operation against the FDLR right now. Second of all, MONUSCO’s support to the Congolese Armed Forces, or FARDC, operations is provided in compliance with the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. The policy requires the United Nations to ensure that its support to non-UN security forces will not contribute to grave human rights violations. I wish to underline that this policy has been implemented by MONUSCO, in close collaboration with the DRC authorities, for the past several years.
The appointment of two Congolese generals to lead this operation, who are known to us as having been heavily involved in massive human rights violations, is of grave concern. I can confirm that discussions are under way at the highest level with the DRC Government to address these concerns. In line with the policy, the provision of support to units where there is concern about potential human rights violations requires remedial measures to mitigate risks. If, because of the past record of units or their commanders, there are substantial grounds to believe there is a real risk that they commit grave human rights violations, support to those units will be withheld unless adequate mitigating measures can be put in place.
Question: So, is there any support currently by… thank you for that. It should have been probably said yesterday or in… but anyway, thank you for it now. Since Mr.… General Mandevu is in control of the whole FARDC action against FDLR, is there any support whatsoever going from the UN to this operation?
Deputy Spokesman: Like I said, the discussions are under way at the highest level. If there's anything to say about the extent of our support, you just heard what our line is. If we have those concerns, then that is what will need to happen. Yes?
Question: Yes. Curtis Ellis with WND. What is the Secretary‑General's response to the incredibly one-sided statement that came out of the Security Council last night, which did not even exhibit the common human decency of acknowledging the death of IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers while condemning the death of the UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] soldier? And a follow‑up is: does the Secretary‑General regard the infiltration of rockets into southern Lebanon as a failure of UNIFIL?
Deputy Spokesman: The Secretary‑General has tried to make sure that all parties will respect the Blue Line. We are doing our best, including through the UN Interim Force, UNIFIL, to make sure that the Blue Line is respected and that there are no violations. Whenever there are, we try our best to put a stop to them, and that is what happened in the incident from last week. Regarding the views of the Security Council, they speak for themselves, and you'll have seen what they put out. And that is the views of the Member States of the Security Council.
Question: The Secretary‑General has nothing to add to that or no response to that whatsoever?
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding the question of the one Spanish peacekeeper who died last week, that investigation is ongoing. We have a Board of Inquiry set up for that purpose.
Question: And will the investigation include the failure of UNIFIL to keep weapons out of the south Lebanon?
Deputy Spokesman: The investigation will… the Board of Inquiry will go about its work as it sees fit. Yes?
Question: On this… in the wake of constant tensions at the India-Pakistan border, exchanging fire with each other and it being the so‑called Kashmir Day in Pakistan so forth, has the Secretary‑General talked with the Indian authorities or to the Pakistani authorities to start some sort of dialogue? Because nothing that he's saying is really resonating either with the Indian authorities, at all.
Deputy Spokesman: You're well aware that the good offices of the UN are available if both sides so choose. But, that would ultimately be up to the parties themselves. And with that, let me turn to our guest speaker, John Ging, who I believe is ready in the back.