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. Happy Monday.
**Secretary-General Trip
A couple of things for you: first of all, a few hours ago, the Secretary-General landed back to New York from Doha, in Qatar, where he delivered the keynote address at the Thirteenth UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice that is taking place this week.
In his speech, the Secretary-General said that like a pernicious weed, the roots of crime are everywhere, threatening to choke the weak and vulnerable. Crime feeds on corruption, obstructs good governance, threatens peace and security, hinders development and violates human rights, he added.
His full remarks are online, as well as his remarks he made during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Qatar, during which he welcomed the adoption of the Doha Declaration.
And you would have seen from earlier, over the weekend, in Panama, at the Seventh Summit of the Americas, the Secretary-General welcomed the historic participation of both President [Barack] Obama and President [Raul] Castro.
**Syria
Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA, continued his mission to Syria and called on all sides to respect the beleaguered civilians trapped inside Yarmouk. He said that he was continuing to work today to assist those who wish to temporarily relocate from the camp in safety. At the same time, he said, we need to look at ways to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians trapped in Yarmouk.
Mr. Krähenbühl said that his meetings with the Syrian Government yesterday offered some grounds for optimism, although there is much more work that needs to be done.
And he said that among those he met yesterday were a mother and baby who fled Yarmouk just 15 days ago. Fierce fighting forced them to flee when the child was just one day old. He said that the civilians whom he met are individuals with a dignity and destiny that must be at the centre of our responses as we grapple with the complexities of protecting civilians, in Yarmouk and beyond.
**Yemen
And from Yemen, more than 120,000 people are now estimated to have been displaced in that country since airstrikes started on 26 March, as of this past Saturday. In Abyan, more than 1,730 displaced families are living temporarily in schools, in host communities or with family and relatives.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the conflict has made it hard for people to get food; for example, in Aden, flour was not available in the local market and all bakeries have now closed down. Landlines and cell phone networks are no longer working in some areas in Aden, Abyan and Al Dhale'e. People in Aden and Al Mukalla have experienced prolonged power outages lasting up to twelve hours.
Humanitarian partners are providing assistance, including water tanks, water trucking, rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, and medical clinics — and stand ready to provide more as soon as roads are re-opened.
**Libya
And from Libya, a new round of UN-facilitated talks with Libya’s political leaders and activists started today in Algeria.
The UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) believes that the dialogue is an opportunity for Libyans to stop the bloodshed and put their country back on the road to stability and prosperity. It continues to urge all Libyan stakeholders to make every effort to ensure that the process is successful.
At the opening of the talks, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Bernardino León, stressed that the resumption of talks in Algeria sends a strong message that no more civilian lives should be lost. He expressed solidarity with the Governments and people of the Republic of Korea and Morocco, following the recent attacks outside their embassies.
You may have also seen the note to correspondents that we issued yesterday — the Secretary-General stressed respect for the principle of inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, as he called for the perpetrators of the attacks to be swiftly brought to justice.
**Afghanistan
And from Afghanistan, the UN Assistance Mission in that country (UNAMA) says that there is a continuing trend of high civilian casualties in the country.
In its report on civilian casualties during the first quarter of 2015, UNAMA says that during the first three months of the year, civilian casualties from fighting on the ground rose by 8 per cent compared to the same period in 2014. An estimated 521 people were affected, including 136 who were killed.
During that period, UNAMA documented another 266 civilian casualties caused by mortar and rocket attacks. Women and children casualty figures have also surpassed the unprecedented levels recorded in 2014. Conflict-related violence killed 55 women and 123 children in the reporting period. A breakdown of the figures is available on UNAMA’s website.
Also on Afghanistan, the Humanitarian Coordinator for that country, Mark Bowden, issued a statement recently on the killing of five staff members of Save the Children International.
He said that Afghanistan remains one of the most challenging places for the humanitarian community. Last year alone, [nearly] 60 aid workers were killed. He added that attacks against aid workers only lessen their ability to carry out essential lifesaving activities.
**Iraq
And our colleagues at the UN mission in Iraq said that on 9 April a Reuters correspondent was forced to leave Iraq after being subjected to threats against his life on social media. This follows criticism of a report filed by his Bureau on violations against civilians and civilian property perpetrated by pro-Government militias following the liberation of Tikrit from Da’esh.
The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) has underscored that freedom of expression and the right to impart and to receive information underpin democracy and the rule of law. It is incumbent on the Government to do all it can to ensure the protection of domestic and international journalists and media professionals in carrying out their duties, and to send the clear message that threats against media professionals are not acceptable, said the UN mission.
**Singapore
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, and the Government of Singapore are hosting a global summit on humanitarian civil [-military] coordination, which kicked off today.
The World Humanitarian Summit Global Forum seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of civil-military coordination in disaster relief responses.
The three-day meeting is expected to draw more than 100 policy-makers and experts from the UN, regional organizations and NGOs, as well as defence and national disaster management authorities.
More information [is available] online.
**ICAO Update
And our colleagues up in Montreal, at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), launched a prototype conflict zone risk information repository, responding directly to Member States’ recommendations which came out of the UN agency’s High-level Safety Conference in February.
The new repository, which you can look through the ICAO’s public website, is for representatives from States, airlines and the general public. As it becomes populated with submissions, it will provide up-to-date information on potential risks to civil aviation arising from armed conflict.
Only authorized State officials will have the right to submit risk information under the procedures agreed to by the ICAO Council. In all cases, the identity of the State submitting information to the repository will be clearly indicated, and States being referenced in a risk submission will also have the opportunity to review and approve the related information prior to public posting.
**Nelson Mandela Prize
And almost lastly — the United Nations is calling for nominations to the 2015 Nelson [Rolihlahla] Mandela Prize. Nominations for the 2015 prize will be accepted until 18 May 2015. Details on submission of nominations can be found online, on the UN website.
It is expected that the laureates will be announced in June 2015 with the first prizes being awarded at UN Headquarters in New York during the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July.
**Press Conference Tomorrow
And tomorrow’s press conference, or rather my guest will be Zainab Bangura, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She will brief you on the Secretary-General's latest report, which is scheduled to be discussed in the Security Council on 15 April.
**Colombia
One last note; this is really the last one, which Farhan just handed to me — Jeff Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, arrived in Colombia yesterday to hold talks with Government officials, the UN country team and civil society representatives regarding the situation in the country and especially the ongoing peace talks between the Government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), now taking place in Havana. Mr Feltman will be in Colombia through tomorrow. And we will try to have him come brief you on that trip when he returns.
**Questions and Answers
Spokesman: Sir.
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. Two questions — in the Secretary-General's report on Western Sahara, he has recommended human rights monitoring activities by the OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) and other UN mechanisms. Wondering what is the rationale for not recommending a permanent human rights monitoring component within MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) which would seem to be a rather practical way to do things and something that the African Union, Polisario and others have been pushing for.
And second question, last week the Secretary-General said that he had instructed Staffan de Mistura to relaunch the political process. Is that to be interpreted as an acknowledgment that his push for the local ceasefires has failed and that there's a need to return to this — what has proven to be an unsuccessful approach so far with the political negotiations? Just wondering if we can interpret it that way…
Spokesman: I think I would interpret it as a… as exactly what it is, which is a need to restart the political track under the framework of the Geneva Communiqué. I think what we've seen as we enter the fifth year of this conflict is continued tremendous human toll that this war… that this conflict is taking. We see it very visibly in Yarmouk over the last few days, but it's taking place all over Syria. And this is part, I think, the Secretary‑General's overall frustration and shame and anger, which he's talked about in various speeches over the last week, to get those who need to be around the table around the table and to restart the political process. I hope to have some more to share with you a bit later on on how that will take shape.
As far as MINURSO is concerned, the report, I think, speaks for itself. As it says in the report, it underscores the importance of human rights. Mr. [Christopher] Ross, if I'm not mistaken, will be here soon to present the report to the [Security] Council, and I think he will be able to share a few more details you for.
Mr. Lauria and then Mr. Lee.
Question: Thank you, Mr. Dujarric. On the Pope's statement yesterday about genocide in Armenia, I've noticed I could only find the one UN reference to this. In 1985, the special rapporteur wrote a report saying it was genocide. Am I wrong? Does the Secretary-General, has he a position? Has the General Assembly ever had a position on this?
Spokesman: Well, I don't… I think you'd have to scour through the General Assembly archives. I think the Secretary-General is very mindful that, on 24 April of this year, the Armenia nation and others around the world commemorate the centenary of the tragic events of 1915. He's also fully aware of the sensitivities related to the characterization of what happened in 1915, 100 years ago. The Secretary-General firmly believes that commemorating and remembering those tragic events of 1915 and continuing to cooperate with a view to establishing the facts about what happened should strengthen our collective determination to prevent similar atrocity crimes from ever happening in the future.
And the UN, as you know, has sought to strengthen the capacity of the international community to prevent such atrocity crimes from ever occurring again.
Question: So he has no position whether it's genocide…
Spokesman: You've asked me a question. I've related what the Secretary-General's position is.
Question: Thank you very much.
Spokesman: Mr. Lee.
Question: Thanks a lot. Two questions — one on Western Sahara. You were saying the report speaks for itself. So I wanted to ask you, there's a section, paragraph 62, which talks about exploitation of natural resources where just… quite contentious issue, and basically it doesn't… I guess I want to ask you what the UN's position is. It says Morocco says this drilling by Kosmos Energy is legal. And Frente Polisario says it's illegal and both are citing this 2002 Hans Corell letter. So I guess, I wonder, it's been 13 years since that letter. Has the UN's think… what is the UN's thinking on drilling in this disputed territory?
Spokesman: I have really nothing to add to what's in the report. You have a second question.
Question: I did. Going through all the… these humanitarian consequences in Yemen, so I wanted to know… first, I wanted to know, is this something… if you could be a little… or maybe it's not clear to me. Is the Secretary-General calling for… for… many of these are caused by the airstrikes. Some are caused possibly by the Houthis, but is there a call really to stop the fighting?
And also, just separately, does he have any comment on President [Abdrabuh Mansour] Hadi naming Mr. [Khaled Mahfoudh Abdullah] Bahah as Vice President? Is this seen as a positive move that might make…
Spokesman: I don't… I don't have anything on the naming of the Vice President. As far as Yemen goes, I think, as he [Secretary-General] said in Doha, as we've said here, that there needs to be a halt to the military activity so the humanitarian aid can go through. I think we're seeing a very… a situation, especially regarding food, the availability of food, which is growing increasingly of concern to us. Yemen is a country that is intensely dependent on food imports, and it's important that all the parties involved in this current situation allow the free access of food. Nizar.
Question: On the same subject, today Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said that some medicine supplies are stranded in Dubai because the authorities did not allow them to be shipped to Sana’a. One aircraft landed in Sana’a but some of the medicine was prevented. There are warnings coming from Sana’a today about [inaudible] striking some areas, shortage of water, shortage of food, shortage of flour. Also, it seems the Saudis are targeting the petrol stations, which denying people or depriving them of fuel even to transport…
Spokesman: Nizar, question mark?
Question: The question here is — what is the United Nations doing to alleviate the suffering? — Number one. Number two, one call for ceasefire is not enough, as it looks. We are, as you said… as you mentioned last week, it is a disaster in the making. What can…
Spokesman: Sure. I mean, I think… I'll look into the specific MSF report you mentioned. It's not just MSF that has been highlighting the issues of lack of food and water. I think it's something I just mentioned at the top of this… at the top of this briefing. Given the limited resources in the continuing conflict, there is humanitarian aid that is going in. I think we flagged last week a UNICEF shipment. Our colleagues at the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] are able to get things in very sporadically. We have… our colleagues on the ground are trying to do what they can given the current humanitarian situation. We're providing water tanks, water trucking, rehabilitation, sanitation facilities. It's very challenging. It's an active violent zone where people are shooting and bombing and all of that.
Obviously, as the Secretary-General said, again, there needs to be cessation hostilities not only for the political… you know, for the humanitarian aid to be able to get in, I think as in any conflict, it is incumbent on all the parties involved not to target schools, not to target hospital or civilian infrastructure.
Question: To transport people to flee the conflict zone are very limited as it look…
Spokesman: This is why we need to see a cessation of hostilities. Stefano.
Question: Thank you very much. As a follow-up of Joe Lauria — I understand that for the Secretary-General, there is need more time maybe to investigate to know the true history of the genocide happen in 1915. But the question… question is this. There is a clash at the moment, a diplomatic clash between the Vatican and Turkey. Does the Secretary-General think that the Pope raised an issue that had to be raised? Also, because the Pope say that if you don't call certain things with their name, if you don't, you know, re-establish history a memory…
Spokesman: We've taken note of what the Pope has said. I think what the Secretary-General said, what I just said is that he thinks that it's important to cooperate with the view of establishing the facts as to what happened and that would strengthen our collective determination from similar things happening in the future. Oleg and then Edie.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Any reaction from the Secretary-General on Russia paving the way for missile deliveries to Iran and starting an oil-for-goods swap? And is it seen… is it viewed as a first step in lifting the international restriction in Iran in terms of the agreement reached in Lausanne? Thank you.
Spokesman: Nothing specific on the first part of your question. I think, on the second part, the Secretary-General very much hopes that a final agreement will be reached based on the interim framework… the framework agreement. Edie.
Question: Stéphane, you used the term "atrocity crime" related to what happened with the Armenians. Could you define what's the difference between an atrocity crime and a crime against humanity or…
Spokesman: Well, I think… you know, I would not interpret what I'm saying as to have any legal implications so to speak. An atrocity crime to me is exactly that, atrocious… atrocious crimes. Yes.
Question: Thank you. Last week, a Pakistani prisoner was released, Zaki-ur-Rehman. He was commander of the [inaudible], also mastermind of the terror attacks. India has launched a protest with Pakistan over this. Does the UN have a comment? The trial also the [inaudible] trial of Pakistan is going really slowly and then there are these prisoners who are being released. Do you have a comment?
Spokesman: Sure. We've taken note of that decision. I'm trying to get some more comment for you, and I will try to get something for you today. Let's go to the back a little bit. Yes, go ahead and then…
Question: I…
Spokesman: Go ahead, please.
Question: I have two questions. In Bangladesh, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman was hanged in a prison in Dhaka. Does the United Nations think the judiciary impartially [inaudible] the sentence? And did the UN officials try to stop this execution?
And in Egypt, death sentences were confirmed on Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and 13 others. Hundreds have been sentenced to death since the removal of [Mohamed] Morsi. What does the United Nations think about it?
Spokesman: I think, on Bangladesh, as a matter of principle, the Secretary-General and United Nations stands against the use of the death penalty. We've spoken about the need in Bangladesh for de-escalation, political de-escalation. The same thing would go for Egypt. I would also refer you to the comments the Secretary‑General made in his press conference in Doha on Sunday relating to the current situation in Egypt with… and human rights.
Masood, then Linda, then we'll go to Carmen in the back.
Question: Yes. I know Secretary-General made a speech in Doha and everything. Has he taken full, I mean, view of the sectarian sort of conflict that is now emerging in Syria as well as in Yemen? I mean, the thing is, it has sectarian terms between Shia and Sunni. Has he made that assessment yet or not?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary-General cannot be accused of not raising the flag about the ongoing violence in Syria that we've seen as it enters its fifth year and how it's pitting communities against each other and causing untold suffering to the civilian population.
Question: [inaudible] exists in Yemen is what is…
Spokesman: I think, you know, we are seeing the impact of the violence and what it is doing to communities and to the civilian. Carmen and then we'll go to Linda.
Question: Thank you. While the Secretary‑General was in Havana, was he able to meet with Cuban leaders regarding the situation within the country? I appreciate the statement of the meeting between presidents Obama and Castro, but was there also any meeting with the Cuban leaders and would there be a readout? Thank you.
Spokesman: You mean while he was in Panama?
Question: Yes.
Spokesman: Yes. There was. We did put out a readout over the weekend with his meeting with Raul Castro. And I would refer you back to that. It's pretty detailed readout. Linda and then…
Question: Thank you, Steph. You mentioned regarding Afghanistan that there's been a trend of increasing killings of civilians. Can you possibly give us some more detail about that, perhaps where these killings are taking place, who is likely responsible, et cetera?
Spokesman: I would refer you back to the report, which we have in my office, which is very detailed in that sense.
Question: Thanks. I was looking at what the SG said in Doha — drug-related violence, terrorism. You can connect those two things in, say, Syria, or is this…
Spokesman: I think we've seen through terror groups like Da’esh and others is their ability to tap illicit sources of financing, which is… whether it's selling… selling oil on the black market or the transiting of drugs, we've seen throughout the world as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has often highlighted, the nexus between terrorism and organized crime, whether it's moving people, smuggling people, moving drugs or selling illicit stolen artefacts. We have seen how these terror networks are able to tap in to great sources of financing.
Question: Can you be any more specific? Like, are there… is ISIS selling drugs? What…
Spokesman: We can look through the reports with UNODC and give you some examples.
Round two, Joe.
Question: Thank you. On your statement of Armenia, you said the Secretary-General wants to get to the bottom of this and should be found out. Is he calling for or recommending an international commission of some sort whether…
Spokesman: There have been discussions with the countries concerned and communities concerned. I think it's important that those discussions continue. Mr. Lee.
Question: Sure. Two things: one was there's this report of peacekeepers, one being killed and 12 being injured in Central African Republic — peacekeepers from Bangladesh. I wonder if you have received…
Spokesman: No, I have not.
Question: Any okay… The other thing had to do with what you put out or what was put out from Under-Secretary-General [Yukio] Takasu about the pension fund. Now I'm aware there's going to be some kind of town hall meeting about it. But I guess I still… I would just sort of wait to see what happens at the town hall meeting, except that I notice that the statement had almost nothing do about the investment component, Ms. [Carol] Boykin and the representative of the Secretary-General on investments, and I wanted to ask, one, there's an OIOS [United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services] report about procurement of an IT contractor called [inaudible] that remains outstanding. There's the postponement of a D-2 position based on a finding of dispute tribunal. So is this town hall meeting intended to address all of the issues including…
Spokesman: I think the town hall meeting is intending to address the concerns that staff members either through staff representatives or individually have raised. I think it's a very normal reaction to the concern. Whenever people talk about their pensions, I think people… it's their future. And I think it's… it's only normal that the management, senior management of this Organization would address directly and all the questions. There will be… there are no issues that are off-topic during the town hall meeting. If people want to raise issues about investment issues, about staffing issues.
Question: Will Ms. Boykin be there and be able to answer question?
Spokesman: I don't know personally. I would assume… strongly assume and based on my assumptions that the leadership of the Pension Fund, whether it's on the investment side, the liability side, will obviously be there and be able to answer questions. I think… again, it's best to address these things head on. Nizar.
Question: On the access to Mecca and the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, Iran has suspended any travel to Saudi Arabia after a rape case at Jeddah airport by the security forces of two teenagers. There was… there is no evidence of punishment of those who did that.
Spokesman: I mean I… I've seen the report. I hope that Iran and Saudi Arabia are able to resolve these issues bilaterally. Evelyn.
Question: Yes. In Panama, did the SG have any contact with [Nicolás] Maduro, the Venezuelan President?
Spokesman: I will check if he had bilateral…
Question: Or did he leave before he arrived?
Spokesman: I don't believe he had a bilateral, but I stand…
Question: That's the controversy.
Spokesman: I may stand corrected.
Question: And secondly, "when did you stop beating your wife?" question. Have you run across any… [laughter] Not you personally.
Spokesman: Thank God, she does not watch this briefing. Yes, go ahead.
Question: Have you run across any Yemeni leader who expresses any concern about the suffering we hear every day of the population?
Spokesman: I personally have not run across any Yemeni leaders. I would hope that every Yemeni who is in a position of responsibility or leadership takes to heart the suffering of their people currently as any country in the region and beyond who has influence on this conflict. Thank you. All right, Matthew. Go ahead.
Question: Really fast. One is just to see…
Spokesman: It's not about my wife.
Question: No, it's not. It's about whistleblowers. It's about Sudan. I just wanted to know, is there any… I saw the Secretary-General's comment about the national dialogue sort of… but now that the election has begun and many people — basically the opposition parties are all boycotting it. Is there any role by the UN country team there?
Spokesman: Not that I'm aware of.
Question: The other one has to clear up… on Friday I'd asked about this letter from the whistleblowers. One of the requests is the Justice [Louise] Otis report. You said you hadn't heard of it [inaudible].
Spokesman: I will do my homework. I will do my homework.
Question: Okay. Thank you.