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 Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon. Thank you for your patience in this delayed briefing. As you know, we had to wait for our colleague Bernardino León to finish at the Security Council stakeout. And now we will get started.
**Yarmouk
I have the following statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the situation in the Yarmouk camp. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the shelling and aerial bombardment of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus on 28 April despite assurances from the Syrian Government that the camp would not be attacked while civilians remained inside. Thousands of civilians in the camp are besieged by terrorist and other armed groups on the inside and Government forces on the outside.
The Secretary-General calls on the Government to immediately end any military operation that could endanger the lives of civilians in Yarmouk camp and abide strictly by its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians during armed conflict. He also calls on all parties to stop the violence so as to grant secure and sustained humanitarian access to civilians inside the camp.
The Secretary-General urges the Security Council and Member States with influence on the parties on the ground, including the Syrian Government, to do all in their power to protect civilian lives. The Government's adherence to commitments it has already made is critical to its role as an interlocutor for the international community.
**Indonesia
I also have the following statement attributable to the Spokesman of the Secretary-General on executions carried out in Indonesia. The Secretary-General expresses deep regret at the executions carried out in Indonesia on 29 April despite numerous calls in the country and internationally for a reprieve. He again urges the Government to exercise its authority and commute all death sentences.
The Secretary-General reaffirms his belief that the death penalty has no place in the twenty-first century. This is also the conviction of a growing majority of the international community: a record 117 States voted in the UN General Assembly in December 2014 for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The Secretary-General urges all countries where the death penalty is still in place to join this movement and declare a moratorium on capital punishment with a view toward abolition.
And for its part, the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that Indonesia appeals for clemency when its own nationals face execution in other countries, so it is incomprehensible why it absolutely refuses to grant clemency for lesser crimes on its own territory. And that Office appealed once again most strenuously to Indonesia to reinstate its moratorium on the death penalty.
**Central African Republic
And I have another statement attributable to the Spokesman of the Secretary-General concerning a human rights investigation conducted in the Central African Republic. The United Nations, through its Office of Human Rights in Bangui, conducted a human rights investigation in late spring of 2014, following serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of children by French military personnel, prior to the establishment of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Central African Republic.
The resulting report was provided to an external party in mid-July 2014 in unedited form, which included the identities of victims, witnesses and investigators. The unedited version was, by a staff member’s own admission, provided unofficially by that staff member to the French authorities in late July, prior to even providing it to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) senior management. This constitutes a serious breach of protocol, which, as is well known to all OHCHR officials, requires redaction of any information that could endanger victims, witnesses and investigators.
There is also an internal investigation into the handling of this matter by OHCHR, including the manner in which the confidential preliminary findings were initially communicated to external actors, and whether the names of victims, witnesses and investigators were conveyed as part of that document. One staff member has been placed on administrative leave with full pay pending the results of the investigation. Our preliminary assessment is that such conduct does not constitute whistle‑blowing. All three of these statements will be available in our office and online shortly.
**Secretary-General Travels
The Secretary-General opened the formal session of the UN Chief Executive Board’s meeting, hosted this year by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO. In a few minutes, the Secretary-General will have a bilateral meeting with President François Hollande, to be followed by a joint press encounter. Later in the evening, President Hollande will host a dinner for the Secretary-General and the rest of the Chief Executives Board.
Earlier today, the Secretary-General addressed students at the Institut des Sciences Politiques in Paris. He encouraged the students to speak up and claim their future, saying that they are part of the largest generation of youth in history and are connected, global citizens who can shape our future. The Secretary-General shared with the students his strong focus on climate change in the build-up to the Paris conference in December. He pushed the students to become global citizens with a global vision and compassionate leadership.
Back at UNESCO, the Secretary-General participated, along with Director-General Irina Bokova, in a ceremony designating CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador focusing on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.
**Road Safety
In addition, while he was in Paris, the Secretary-General announced today the appointment of Jean Todt of France as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. Mr. Todt is the president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, or FIA.
Every year, some 1.3 million people are killed and up to 50 million people are injured on the world’s roads. Half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Road traffic deaths are also the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29, and road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death globally. As Special Envoy, Mr. Todt will mobilize sustained political commitment towards road safety.
**Statement on Nepal
And the Secretary-General spoke by phone recently with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushil Koirala. He expressed to the Prime Minister the UN’s solidarity with the people of Nepal at this difficult time and discussed the work being done regarding search and rescue efforts and humanitarian aid.
**Nepal
The United Nations and its partners today urgently appealed for $415 million to support the Government of Nepal to provide vital relief to people affected by the devastating earthquake. The funds will go towards a joint action plan to address the most critical needs over the next three months in the areas of shelter, water and sanitation, emergency health, food and protection. More than 5,000 people have lost their lives and more 10,000 people have been injured in the earthquake and in the many aftershocks that followed.
Today’s appeal reflects both the scale of the needs and the significant logistical challenges in reaching mountainous areas. Emergency shelter will be provided for 500,000 people who remain in the open; emergency health services and medical supplies and facilities; and safe drinking water and sanitation facilities urgently needed for up to 4.2 million people. Up to 1.4 million people will benefit from food assistance, while some 2.1 million children and 525,000 women will benefit from protection assistance. And more information is available online.
**Libya
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, briefed the Security Council during consultations this morning. As you know, he just spoke to you at the stakeout. He provided an update on the dialogue process. And earlier this week, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) circulated a draft proposal for a political agreement to parties engaged in the dialogue.
The proposal builds on discussions that took place over the past three months. It is anchored on a number of key principles, including on the inviolability of the democratic process. The Mission has noted initial feedback on the draft agreement and reminds all parties that the document remains a work in progress until there is consensus on what constitutes a viable political settlement.
The Mission reiterates its steadfast commitment to continue working closely with all parties to ensure a successful conclusion of the dialogue process. Mr. León will be consulting with all parties over the next few days to decide on a date for the resumption of the dialogue. We have more information on UNSMIL’s web page, and of course, you have the remarks that Ambassador León just provided at the stakeout.
**Yemen
Aid agencies are warning that humanitarian operations will cease unless supply of fuel to Yemen is restored. The country’s health, water and sanitation systems are at imminent risk of collapse due to shortages of fuel for generators and water pumps. The consequences of the arms embargo must be urgently addressed to enable both humanitarians and the commercial sector to resume the import of critical supplies into Yemen.
The Yemen Public Telecommunications Corporation warned that unless the fuel crisis is resolved, telecommunication services including mobile phones, internet and land lines will shut down within a week. The disruption in communications will hamper the flow of information on humanitarian needs and operations as escalation of the conflict continues. Meanwhile, our health partners report that 1,244 people have died and 5,044 have been injured in Yemen between 19 March and 27 April. The number of displaced people has risen to 300,000.
**Iraq
The Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs has been informed by the Anbar Provincial Council that the number of Iraqis displaced from Ramadi is stabilizing, with 114,000 people estimated to be displaced. Small numbers of people continue to return to residential areas. Aid agencies continue to provide relief to displaced families. The UN refugee agency provided relief items including blankets and shelter materials to more than 1,000 people in Baghdad Governorate and 3,600 people in Anbar Governorate. Also in Anbar, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided 88 health kits to the Khaldiya area. Since the start of the crisis in Ramadi, WHO has dispatched 166 kits in total, benefitting 135,000 people for three months.
**Nigeria
Gordon Brown, the Special Envoy for Global Education, has welcomed the release of 200 girls from captivity by Boko Haram, and he once more called for the immediate release of all abducted girls. He said that it is time to end the nightmare. For a year, families have not known whether their daughters are dead or alive, married off, sold off or violated as a result of their captivity. Now that some girls have been set free, he said, we want all girls released.
The Special Envoy said that he will talk to Nigerian President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow about how the international community can provide help to free the girls. And he will also discuss the need for safe schools, at a time when 10 million children don’t go to school in Nigeria. He said that by creating safe schools and communities where girls are free of fear, we can get every child into school and learning.
**Somalia
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today announced that heavy investments in animal disease prevention have helped Somalia export a record 5 million livestock in 2014. This is the highest number of live animals exported from Somalia in the last 20 years. More information on this is available on FAO’s website.
**Antibiotics
I would also like to flag today a new report by the World Health Organization that finds systems to combat antibiotic resistance lacking in all regions. Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Security, stressed that all types of microbes — including many viruses and parasites — are becoming resistant to medicines, and that this is the single greatest challenge in infectious diseases today. The report is the first to capture Governments’ own assessments of their response to resistance to antimicrobial medicines used to treat conditions such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV. More information is available online.
**Honour Roll
For the honour roll: Portugal has become the eighty-first Member State to pay its regular budget dues in full. Muito obrigado, Lisboa, or in plain English – “Thank you, Lisbon”.
**Press Conferences
For press conferences this afternoon: at 2:30 p.m., there will be a briefing here by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin. And then at 3:30, there will be a briefing by the Minister of Economy of Argentina, Axel Kicillof. And lastly at 5:15 p.m., there will be a press conference by the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom. That is it for me. Yes.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Farhan, if I can ask you about the statement that you read about the suspended staff member from the Office of Human Rights, some are watching this briefing may believe that he is the good guy taking every avenue that he could to try and raise an issue of a very serious abuse of human rights.
Deputy Spokesman: And I agree with you that any issue of sexual exploitation, of sexual abuse, is a serious issue. This is something that the Secretary‑General takes very seriously and that the UN system as a whole wants to see addressed. In this case, this is one where our Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights had in fact been looking into it and keeping… trying to keep people apprised. So this is something which we also want to see followed up. We have been made aware that the French authorities are also, by the way, investigating this particular episode. So we do want to see that happen.
At the same time, there are concerns that we have, having to do with the protection of witnesses, the protection of investigators and of victims, and there's a procedure we go by, as I just stated, where there is a requirement to redact information that could potentially place victims, witnesses, and investigators at risk. And what the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is going to be investigating how this information was handled by their side so that their own system of these protections, which are also a very important issue, are respected.
Regarding the staff member, like I said, one staff member has been placed on administrative leave with full pay pending the results of the investigation and we will await what the results of that investigation are.
Question: A very quick follow‑up. You talk about the redacted… the reports have been redacted, but this was shared with the French military command who are a military mission that is mandated under a Security Council resolution. Could they not be trusted?
Deputy Spokesman: This is, like I said, something that's being reviewed, and they… and the office is going to look into how the handling of the report was executed, whether it was done in a way that did not place people at risk or otherwise. Until that time has happened, you're right that one person has been placed on administrative leave, like I said, administrative leave with full pay pending the results of a full investigation. But this will be explored, and we'll have to see what happens with that. But that does not undercut the problem at the root of this. Obviously, there were actions taken… by the way, not by UN forces… by other forces that were a huge problem, need to be looked into, need to be studied and reported. And we are… we're trying to go about that. We just want to make sure that that's done in the way that our procedures work, which is to say — a way that is responsible to the safety and security of victims, witnesses and investigators.
Question: Same topic.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, Joe.
Question: Yeah. Does the office of the Secretary‑General have any intention to issue a comment on Iran's seizure of the Marshall Islands flag cargo ship yesterday in waters that are internationally recognized as innocent passage for maritime commerce? And if not, why not?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we're aware of the media reports. We would want more information from the parties involved in terms of making a measured… an informed reaction to this. Ultimately, we would need to know exactly where the dispute happened and what the particular details of this were. And, of course, until then, our basic reaction is that we hope that the involved countries are able to resolve this bilaterally and in an amicable fashion.
Question: Same topic.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, you had a question on this…
Question: I did. I guess what I wanted to know is since this report was given in mid‑2014, one, can the U.N. say whether any of the alleged perpetrators have been disciplined? I mean, it's several… it's almost a year at this point. So you're saying they're looking into it now. In the sense of the French authorities, as the UN found these abuses, and I wanted to ask a separate thing, which is that I'm staring now at an e-mail of Rupert Colville of that office who is asking about Anders Kompass in December in connection with the leaking of information to Morocco about Western Sahara, which was revealed in these Moroccan leaked cables. And I wanted to know, when was he suspended? And what's the relationship of these two… at this time, Mr. Colville said there was an OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] investigation of the leaking regarding Western Sahara. So the question is: are there two investigations? Is there one investigation? And can you tell us on what date Mr. Kompass was suspended?
Deputy Spokesman: Some of these details will, of course, have to wait. The actual investigation that the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights is doing into this. So I would wait for that to be completed. I am aware of a separate issue involving the Office for the… for Internal Oversight Services. But that's… that is, I believe, on a different matter. But I'll have… but, of course, right now, I need for those particular things to be finished so I can comment on them. Otherwise, I don't have the details of either of those investigations while they're underway. So I'd expect your patience while we go through that. Regarding the case of Mr. Kompass and his… Kompass and his start date, like I said, he's been placed on administrative leave with full pay pending the results of the investigation. Regarding what you said about the French and any follow‑up action, I think that's a question to ask the French authorities. Like I said, we have been made aware by the French that they are conducting their own investigation into this.
Question: Yeah, but since the current UN mission works with the French authorities in a cooperative context and you have this human rights due diligence policy, doesn't the UN have some duty to know what the French authorities have done?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding human rights due diligence, it's our human rights people who have investigating this. And we're following up on that. So we’re…
Question: I know.
Deputy Spokesman: These are not UN forces. These are forces under the control of…
Question: The policy covers UN working with outside forces that may have committed human rights violations. And the question is, what has the UN done to make sure that these rapes and abuses didn't take place…
Deputy Spokesman: I just read out a statement stating what we have done.
Question: Are you still working with the same forces that are accused of the rapes?
Deputy Spokesman: And as far as that goes, like I said, you would be well advised to ask the French how they're following up, but they are also conducting their own investigation, and that… like I said, the substance of this is very serious, and we do expect that there would be follow‑up on that. Yes?
Question: You might have dealt with this yesterday. Given your statement on Burundi, what is the UN's position on President [Pierre] Nkurunziza seeking a third term? Would that be a violation of the Arusha Accords and the Burundi Constitution?
Deputy Spokesman: As you know, the Secretary‑General placed a phone call to President Nkurunziza in March. We gave you a readout of that conversation, and his concerns about the issues that the President Nkurunziza was considering as he was looking at a third term. I would just refer you back to that…
Question: Subsequent to that, he has now said…
Deputy Spokesman: Well, subsequent to that…
Question: Nomination.
Deputy Spokesman: He's made his decision and we issued a statement.
Question: Which doesn't deal with that specifically, though.
Deputy Spokesman: You see what we have said in the statement. But even prior to the statement, like I said, we did make our views known in that readout. Yes?
Question: Yes, Farhan, as the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] Review Conference is being discussed by the Member States, there is a report that the Arab States, a group of Arab States, have written a letter to the Secretary‑General asking him to convene a conference regarding the nuclear‑free zone in Middle East which will also… I mean, that conference also include Israel. Is there a letter… such a letter that the Secretary‑General has received? Or not?
Deputy Spokesman: I would need to check whether…
Question: Has there been such a discussion…
Deputy Spokesman: … Secretary‑General has received such a letter. I'll check on that. Yes, Michelle?
Question: Just a follow‑up on the Indonesia statement. Many… has there been any communications between the Secretary‑General or any other senior officials with the President of Indonesia or the Foreign Minister on the issue of the executions? And given the Secretary‑General's interest in efforts to combat climate change, does he have any comment on the announcement out of California that they're planning to cut their emissions by 40 per cent by 2030?
Deputy Spokesman: Okay. On your first question — no, the Secretary‑General has not spoken to President [Joko] Widodo of Indonesia since the executions, but the statement we've just issued conveys his views on the matter and, of course, the same is true for what High Commissioner Zeid [Ra'ad Al Hussein] has said.
Regarding your question about California — yes, the Secretary‑General welcomes the ambitious climate change announcement made by the Governor of the U.S. State of California today. Governor Jerry Brown said California will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. California's bold commitment is a strong example to States and regions all over the world that they can join their national Governments in taking ownership of this critical issue and ensuring leadership. The Secretary‑General encourages more state, regional and city leaders to support the efforts of their national Governments through such complementary actions so as to enable ambitious climate actions. Yes, Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. My question is about the statement you just read. I came while you were reading that on Yarmouk refugee camp. So if I understand correctly, the Syrian Government gave a commitment not to attack the camp? That's one thing. And second, if you have any numbers, how many civilians trapped in the refugee camp? And who is in control inside the camp? And also, if there is any access to the humanitarian groups to reach the… those besieged inside the camp.
Deputy Spokesman: As our colleagues in the UN Relief and Works Agency have been making clear, humanitarian access to the camps has been extremely difficult in recent weeks. They've been trying repeatedly to get access, but because of the nature of the fighting, it's been very hard to do. Given that, we don't have reliable numbers on the camps. As you know, just a few weeks ago, there had been as many as 18,000 people. Now we believe it may be a few thousand or it could be less. It's hard to determine unless we have more access. What we said in our statement is that thousands of civilians have… in the camp have been besieged by terrorist forces and by Government forces, depending upon the nature of the conflict and where they are. But certainly, we want to have access. We want to make sure that all the civilians who need to leave, who want to leave, can be free to leave. But beyond that, yes, there had been a commitment not to endanger civilian lives, not to take any military action that would endanger civilian lives, and we want that commitment to be upheld.
Question: By the Syrian Government?
Deputy Spokesman: By the Syrian authorities, yes. Yes, Oleg?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On Libya, I don't think I've heard any position of the Secretary‑General on the idea of the European States to conduct some military operation against vessels carrying illegal immigrants. What's his personal view of this? Could this endanger the people onboard the ships? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: The Secretary‑General in the last few days has been meeting with officials, including in Italy, about this issue, and he's made clear that he does not believe that military operations will help solve this problem. He has been stressing the need, first and foremost, to place the lives and the safety of the people on the high seas as the main focus of international efforts. Given that, what he wants to make sure is that there are good search‑and‑rescue operations, good safe seas initiatives in the Mediterranean Sea, and also more of an allowance and more of a tolerance for people trying to pursue asylum claims on the high seas. Ultimately, instead of being regarded as a problem, these people need to be seen as valuable in their own right and people whose lives matter. And if that's what our starting point is, we have to make sure that their lives are protected and that is the first, primary objective, rather than the other efforts that are being put in place. Linda is next.
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Regarding Ukraine, I know the Secretary‑General… I'm sorry. Regarding Ukraine, I know the Secretary‑General has repeatedly said that there can be no military solution, and he's expressed concern on various occasions about the countries providing military assistance. Last week, the United States began providing some training to Ukrainian forces, and I was wondering if he had any reaction to that and, if indeed, he had issued a comment.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, the Secretary‑General's views on this have not changed. He believes ultimately that what is needed is negotiation among the parties and he does not believe that the parties or anyone else should try to seek a military solution to this particular situation. Yes?
Question: Thanks a lot. Yemen and also something more on Burundi. On Yemen, earlier today at NYU [New York University], Iranian Foreign Minister [M. Javad] Zarif seemed to say he understands there will be UN‑facilitated talks in Geneva as a venue. I wanted to know… he was asked whether there are currently talks in the UAE [United Arab Emirates] with some of the Yemeni parties. So what has been the UN's… since the resignation of Mr. [Jamal] Benomar and before the new Envoy arrives, what's been the UN's involvement in talks? Is it involved in talks in the UAE? Is this Geneva thing real and… or have things proceeded without the UN's involvement?
Deputy Spokesman: No, nothing's proceeded without the UN's involvement. We are in the thick of it trying to get the parties to come to talks. The new Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed… ha! Got to get used to that. Thank you very much for that, Abdelhamid… Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, so should arriving, in fact, even, I believe, later today in New York. He will be consulting with parties here, and he will travel to different regional capitals as he tries to bring the various parties together. He is going to work to get the parties together as soon as possible. We do not officially have a venue yet. Geneva is certainly one of the venues that is being considered, and that may very well be where it's taking place. But the idea is to find a venue acceptable to all parties where they can get to talks as soon as practicable. And we are at work on that.
Question: But who is it… within the UN, who's been in the middle of it? You say you're in the middle of it. Is it now DPA [Department of Political Affairs], Mr. Feltman? Who's actually been in the midst of it?
Deputy Spokesman: Certainly our Department of Political Affairs has been involved. Jamal Benomar has been extremely involved up through the end of his time. And now, of course, we are ensuring a transmission… transition, rather, between Mr. Benomar and Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Yes, Masood?
Question: Farhan, about tensions in South Asia, there have been [inaudible] Pakistan’s Prime Minister today complained that the talks that he wants with India have now reached a dead end. India doesn't want to talk. The Secretary‑General in the past has offered his good offices to both the countries. So is he going to renew that offer given…
Deputy Spokesman: That offer has already been on the table if both parties want it. So if both parties want it, we are available. Yes?
Question: Five journalists, five Libyan journalists were found slain in Tripoli, and I haven't seen any statement coming out from the office of the Secretary‑General on that brutal murder.
Deputy Spokesman: I think I might have actually even reacted to this yesterday at the briefing, but certainly we're aware of these reports and we would deplore and condemn the killing of any journalists under such circumstances. We want journalists around the world to be protected. It's hard to determine whether they were targeted for their media work or whether this is part of the overall chaos and violence in Libya. Either way, this is still another reason for that chaos to be brought to a close and for the parties to come together. And this is what Mr. León is trying to do as he just described to you. Did you have a hand up? No. Okay. Yes?
Question: Sure, I just wanted to ask, on Burundi, the Council is supposed to hear about it under any other business, so I wanted to know if Mr. [Said] Djinnit is briefing and also whether it’s announced that U.S. human rights official Tom Malinowski is headed to Burundi. Has there been… there any coordination with the UN? Is that view sort of a full-court press or is that something entirely separate?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, it's up to the U.S. to comment on their own actions. Regarding Said Djinnit, yes, he did intend to brief the Security Council by video conference about Burundi.
Question: Will there any way we can get him to speak by video or phone?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, because he's speaking by video conference, he's not coming to the stakeout. I don't believe we can set it up by video conference right now because the arrangements are kind of difficult and complex to do. But as soon as we can get him to brief one way or another, we'll try to do that. Have a good afternoon, everyone.