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. I know we are expecting a press stakeout by the Foreign Minister of China at about 12:30 p.m. so I will give you a heads-up before that gets under way and we will wrap up here.
**Security Council
As you know, the Secretary-General spoke at today’s ministerial-level Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security, and he said that the United Nations was founded to prevent another world war, and it has succeeded in that. Despite the recurrence of genocide and repeated outbreaks of armed conflict, the past seven decades would surely have been even bloodier without the United Nations.
He noted that a major obstacle to United Nations human rights action has been a concern among Member States that such action may harm national sovereignty. In reality, he said, it is serious violations of human rights that weaken sovereignty. Such abuses kill and displace people, divide communities, undermine economies and destroy cultural heritage.
The Secretary-General said that we should bear in mind that the three opening words of the United Nations Charter make clear who is the driving force behind the United Nations: “We the peoples”. He called for a re-affirmation of our duty to serve those peoples with all our creativity and will. And his remarks are obviously online and in my office.
**Climate Change
And he also spoke this morning just a while ago to Member States about what was accomplished at the climate change meeting in Peru last December and the road ahead to the Paris conference at the end of this year.
He said that major advances made in 2014 have set the stage for success in 2015. Our challenge now is clear: to finalize a meaningful, universal agreement on climate change.
The Secretary-General stressed that addressing climate change is essential for realizing sustainable development.
If we fail to adequately address climate change, the Secretary-General said, we will be unable to build a world that supports a life of dignity for all. But if we meet the climate challenge, we will make major strides in building a more sustainable and equitable world.
**Iraq
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, UNAMI, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report today documenting widespread human rights violations of an increasingly sectarian nature in Iraq, as well as a deterioration of the rule of law in large parts of the country. The report concerns serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross abuses of human rights perpetrated over a three-month period by Daesh, with an apparent systematic and widespread character.
The report also details violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law reportedly committed by the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and affiliated armed groups during the same period, including failures to abide by the principles of distinction and proportionality in the conduct of military operations.
**Economic and Social Council
And a short while ago, the Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, spoke at the Economic and Social Council today on the UN’s operational activities for development. He said that we have set the bar high this year by aiming to adopt a truly ambitious sustainable development agenda and, later in the year, to reach agreement on a new universal climate agreement.
**Syringes
A couple of other items: the World Health Organization (WHO) launched today a new policy on injection safety and a global campaign to help all countries tackle the issue of unsafe injections.
A 2014 study estimated that in 2010, up to 1.7 million people were infected with hepatitis B virus, up to 315,000 with hepatitis C virus and close to 34,000 with HIV, through an unsafe injection.
The new WHO injection safety guidelines and policy provide detailed recommendations, including devices that protect health workers against accidental needle injury and exposure to infections.
**Maldives
I was asked earlier today about the arrest of former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed.
We are aware of the arrest of former President and are closely monitoring the situation in the country.
During a telephone conversation earlier this morning initiated by the Foreign Minister of Maldives, Dunya Maumoon, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jens Toyberg-Frandzen, stressed the need for full respect for due process and transparency of the legal proceedings against former President Nasheed.
Mr. Toyberg-Frandzen also appealed to the Government of Maldives to allow for peaceful political dissent and for ways to seek to engage with the opposition, in the interest of long-term political stability in that country.
**Honour Roll
We are pleased to announce that three more countries have joined the honour roll. On Friday, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Namibia are now fully paid up and that brings our number to 41.
**Press Conference/Noon Briefing Guest Tomorrow
Tomorrow at 11 a.m., there will be a briefing here by the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser. He will be here to talk to you about “Violent Extremism and the Emerging Threats of the 21st Century”, 11 a.m. right here.
And then at noon, I will be joined by Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs Kyung-wha Kang. She will brief you on her recent mission to the Central African Republic, as well as to Cameroon.
I am happy to take some questions at this time.
**Questions and Answers
Joe?
Question: Yes. You mentioned the Secretary‑General’s remarks on the negotiations on the climate change agreement and I looked at the draft that’s been posted so far, and it has several references to possible levies, including in the air transport arena. Just was wondering whether the Secretary‑General had any specific comments or reactions to the idea of some sort of an international levy to help finance adaptation and so forth?
Spokesman: We’re not, obviously the issue of financing adaptation is a very important one, and there are measures that are being, have come into place, notably the Green Climate Fund. They’re also looking at other innovative sources of financing. But on the draft, this is a Member State‑led process. We’re not going to comment on things that pop up in the draft, but obviously looking forward to a real and meaningful agreement in Paris.
Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. I have two questions on Libya and Yemen. On Libya, the delegation of the parliamentarian and parliament in Tobruk had decided to withdraw from Morocco and not participate in the talks. Is there any reaction to that? What happened? So if you have any —
Spokesman: This is —
Question: — more details —
Spokesman: — an ongoing and live process. Mr. León is talking to the parties. We don’t have any firm announcement to make, but obviously, he’s continuing his contacts and hoping to get everybody around the table. Number 2?
Question: And on Yemen, as you know, the recognized President Abdrabuh Mansour had managed to get out of Sana’a and he’s now leading the government in Aden. And there is a lot of demonstration and — so what is the position of the UN? Do they still stand behind the official elected President of —
Spokesman: Again, on this one, Mr. Benomar is talking to all the parties to find a way, to find a way out of the current impasse. I think he’s kindly putting up daily updates on his Facebook page and that’s all I have. Yes, sir, and then we’ll go to the right after we go to the left.
Question: I almost forgot my question.
Spokesman: That’s okay. You can take a pass.
Question: That’s fine. First question is, obviously, Secretary‑General is meeting many distinguished personalities [inaudible] in the world, and I wonder, did he meet anybody so far or did he talk with somebody who will be candidate for the, his successor for the next Secretary‑General? And what would be his message to that personality?
Spokesman: I think the, while I appreciate your interest in this issue, the issue of who will succeed Ban Ki‑moon as Secretary‑General in the hands of the Member States. This is not something the Secretary‑General is involved in. Once somebody is chosen, I’m sure the Secretary‑General will impart some very good advice to what he’s learned over the last 10 years. But we currently have almost two years left in the term, and we’re very much focused on the issues at hand.
Question: If I may, I only ask did he meet anybody that he is a candidate or interesting person —
Spokesman: I think you would have to ask the people if they are candidates or not candidates. I’ll leave it at that —
Question: I’m asking —
Spokesman: I’ll leave it at that. The Secretary‑General’s meetings, who he meets, is public. You can do the math.
Question: Sure, thanks a lot. Two questions as well. One is on DRC. The Radio Okapi which I understand is a UN-supported media in the Congo has reported abuses about the FDLR in and around Lubero. Since I would assume that means that MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] is aware of them and it’s been said that they have a protection of civilians mandate totally outside of the neutralization of the FDLR, has MONUSCO done anything about these UN essentially reported —
Spokesman: Valid question. I have not gotten an update from MONUSCO today, but we will try to extract one.
Question: Okay. I’d asked you Friday, now I’m going to try to extract this from you. It involves the use by UN peacekeeping of peacekeepers from Bangladesh, not generally, but very specifically. Basically a list has emerged of —
Spokesman: If there’s mail to be shared, I’m happy to share it. Yes, go ahead.
Question: — of particular commanders who participated in what’s called the massacre in 2013 that led to Mr. Taranco going over there and what I guess I’m still striving to understand is since these names are public and some are part of a filing addressed to the ICC, which I don’t know if the ICC has taken or not, but very specific things, what review is done by the UN of known documented firing at civilians and then being sent to peacekeeping missions, including MONUSCO?
Spokesman: I think there is a, there is a review process that these units go through, with both DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] and the host country. And that’s a process. I don’t have any, go ahead.
Question: Given — no, given the Secretariat’s stated interest in the rising political violence in Bangladesh, can you get some statement from DPKO what review has ever been done on the contingent sent to the country?
Spokesman: I think the reviews are part of the usual procedure. But if I have anything else, I will give that to you. Oleg?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Any reaction to what has happened in the last weekend in Syria, this interaction by Turkey? Is this regarded as a breach of sovereignty of Syria? And is Secretary‑General concerned on the possible reaction of the Syrian authorities to this? Because they indicated they retained the right to —
Spokesman: I think obviously, we’ve seen the continuing violence in Syria, which for us just underscores again the need to reach a political agreement. As I, as we said, Mr. de Mistura will be going to the region very soon. I hope to have an update for you a bit later on this week to follow up on what was announced by the Syrian Government.
Question: (Off mic)
Spokesman: You can, go ahead.
Question: [off mic] entering Syria and taking the whole statue and tomb of the —
Spokesman: I heard — no, no, I heard —
Question: — the founder of —
Spokesman: I know what the question was. I heard it and I answered it to the best of my ability. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure, I wanted to ask, this — you may remember a — a — Paul van Essche was an UMOJA official that ended up leaving his job due to irregularities in his CV, etc. He recently then was rehired by UNICEF as the head of information technology and it’s my understanding that he quit once the connection was made to the prior problem on this side of the street. I wanted to ask you whether the Secretary‑General called Anthony Lake about this and whether it’s true that Mr. van Essche, despite leaving the job after 10 days, is receiving six months’ salary for his troubles.
Spokesman: I think that’s a question you’d need to address to UNICEF.
Question: The reason I’m asking here —
Spokesman: I’m not aware of any contact between the Secretary‑General and Mr. Lake on this issue.
Go, and then we’ll come back to Erol.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu announced he’s going to travel to Washington next month in order to prevent any further agreement between US and Iran regarding the nuclear issue. Do you have any reaction to that?
Spokesman: No, I mean, I think that the Secretary‑General’s position on his support for the ongoing talks between the P5+1 in Iran is well stated and remains. Erol?
Question: I just wanted to check. I asked that before, whether the Secretary‑General will attend the commemoration for Srebenica, here in New York or in Boston of this year, because it’s 20 anniversary, and now my question is, does the Secretary‑General that he think that he, no matter what, has to be either in New York or in Srebenica no matter of his schedule or so because of the importance of —
Spokesman: Of course, it’s obviously a very important anniversary and a defining event and a defining event. When we are able to announce what the Secretary‑General’s schedule will be, I will let you know. Abdelhamid?
Question: There is a senior Palestinian Authority leader who said that the PA is about to collapse financially if the money held by Israel from taxes are not released. It’s been going on for some time, and the UN maybe expressed concern but nothing has been done. No one is speaking loudly against Israel hijacking the Palestinians’ money, which is illegal, of course. So the PA is, is almost threatened with collapse. Is the Secretary‑General doing anything on that?
Spokesman: Well, I think this is an issue the Secretary‑General has raised. This is an issue his representative on the ground has raised repeatedly. This is something we’ve talked about here, which is that it’s critical for the Palestinian Authority to receive the money — the tax moneys that it’s, that is owed to them. Thank — Oleg and then we’ll go see the Chinese Foreign Minister together.
Question: Stéphane, just to voice this formal request for a readout —
Spokesman: Yes, we’ve voiced a formal request on your behalf for a readout of most of the Secretary‑General’s meetings this afternoon, and I know especially for you the one with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine.
Question: And the OSCE.
Spokesman: And OSCI. Yes, señora?
Question: If I may be very frivolous, do you know if the Secretary‑General last night watched the Oscars and if he had a favourite movie?
[laughter]
Spokesman: It’s a very valid question. I think, this is not something in the brief time I had with him this morning, it is not something that came up. My bad. Yes, my bad.
Question: I’m sorry to end it on this one but I just wanted to put this question in. There are reports that an air strike that was apparently directed at Boko Haram killed some 36 civilians in Niger and I’m wondering if given that the UN has said… Mr. Chambas has said, he’s providing some assistance to this multi‑country mission and just generally, does the UN… is it aware of the account and who is —
Spokesman: I don’t know what report you’re looking at – [overlapping talking] – screen turned towards you.
Question: Yeah. [inaudible]
Spokesman: But obviously, it stands as the Secretary‑General said and as we’ve said from here, the fight against Boko Haram needs to be done in a way that avoids civilian casualties and that respects human rights.
Question: Sure, Mr. Chambas when he was here, he said that he was very glad that this mission was going to incorporate human rights due diligence —
Spokesman: Of course, of course. It doesn’t — and that makes it all that more important —
Question: Does a —
Spokesman: — that any airstrike. Again, your screen is facing the wrong way.
Question: — since Friday on CNN.
Spokesman: I will get you something if I can get you something. Yes, ma’am?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Just a little scheduling. I’m sorry if I missed it, but will Valerie Amos be briefing the Security Council this week or will someone else?
Spokesman: No, I think, the Assistant Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ms. Kang, will be briefing the Council tomorrow, if I’m not mistaken. Yeah, thank you all. Have a great day.