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, happy Friday, everyone.
**Yemen
A statement we issued yesterday afternoon expressed the Secretary-General’s grave concern about the continued ground fighting and aerial bombardment in Yemen and its impact on innocent civilians. More than 1,200 people have been killed and 300,000 have fled their homes in the past six weeks. There are credible reports of families in Aden trapped by the bombardment and snipers targeting civilians in the street. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, humanitarian warehouses and UN compounds, are unacceptable and in violation of international humanitarian law.
The violence has severely blocked shipments of food, fuel and health care. All airports are closed to civilian traffic — some have come under direct attack — and naval shipments are being delayed. Yemen’s health, water and sanitation systems and telecommunications services are on the brink of collapse. Humanitarian operations will end within days unless fuel supplies are restored.
The Secretary-General urges all parties engaged in military operations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Attacks on hospitals and health facilities must end immediately.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to ensure that humanitarian agencies and their partners have safe and reliable access to bring aid workers and supplies into Yemen and to deliver aid to millions of people in need. He repeats his call for an immediate ceasefire — and short of that humanitarian pauses in areas affected by conflict — and urges the immediate resumption of fuel imports to avoid making the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen even worse.
The Security Council will meet in consultations on Yemen at 1 p.m. today.
**Syria
The Geneva Consultations on Syria will begin next week on Monday, 4 May, at the Palais des Nations and will last for an initial period of five to six weeks.
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura, has invited as many of the parties as possible, primarily the Syrian parties — the Government, opposition and civil society — as well as the regional and international stakeholders, to discuss with him the dire situation in Syria today and to provide their candid views on where we stand regarding the implementation of the Geneva Communiqué.
The Special Envoy and the Deputy Special Envoy, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, will conduct closed and separate consultations with each party.
No major public announcements are expected during, or at the conclusion of, these consultations. The Special Envoy will assess the progress of his stock-taking at the end of the process and report to the Secretary-General with his findings and recommendations.
We have a note to correspondents with more details.
**Nepal
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, and the European Union’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, appealed in Nepal today to the international community for continued support to the millions of people affected by Saturday’s earthquake.
Ms. Amos said that she is heartened and encouraged by the generosity and solidarity shown to date, but that she is also conscious of the urgent need to provide emergency shelter and basic goods and services to people affected as the monsoon season rapidly approaches.
So many people have lost everything, she noted.
As you will recall, the UN and its partners launched a $415 million flash appeal earlier this week. So far, more than $50 million has been provided, and this amount includes bilateral support, funding for the flash appeal and money released from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.
Funding is needed immediately to continue the relief operations.
A plane chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP) carrying 50 metric tons of high-energy biscuits arrived in Kathmandu yesterday.
WFP is also supporting logistics for the entire humanitarian community, and is using a hub at Kathmandu airport to help manage the flow of relief cargo arriving by air.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have mobilized resources, including medicine and medical equipment, to prevent the possible spread of diarrhoeal diseases.
**Secretary-General Retreat
The Secretary-General will host a high-level retreat with the heads of regional and other organizations at the Greentree Estate in New York today and tomorrow.
During the retreat, the Secretary-General will lead panel discussions with participants on cooperation between the UN and regional partners in mediation, the way forward in building and sustaining peace, and the changing role of UN peace operations.
The heads of 18 major regional and other organizations, or their representatives, are expected to attend.
**Central African Republic
In Geneva, the Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights responded to questions about the investigation of sexual abuse of children in the Central African Republic, which is now being investigated by the French authorities. The French authorities have said publicly that that investigation started on 31 July last year.
The Spokesperson said that the allegations about what happened to these children are abhorrent. The details, contained in interviews with alleged victims and witnesses by UN investigators, including one of their staff, are utterly odious. The Human Rights Office is extremely glad that the French authorities are investigating this and that they have said they plan to call for the harshest punishments available under the law for anyone found guilty.
Meanwhile, there is a second, internal investigation proceeding, which is being carried out by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) at the request of the High Commissioner. That investigation concerns the manner in which confidential information, and especially the identities of child victims and witnesses, as well as of the investigators, was communicated to external actors, in possible breach of strict rules that exist to protect victims, witnesses and investigators. Victims, witnesses and investigators may be extremely vulnerable to reprisals, and we know of plenty of cases elsewhere where they have disappeared.
There are more details in today’s briefing notes from Geneva.
**Maldives
A delegation from the UN Human Rights Office recently visited the Maldives to examine the broader issues related to the criminal case against former president Mohammad Nasheed, who is serving a 13-year prison sentence.
While in the country from 20 to 23 April, it met with Government and judicial officials, civil society members and with Mr. Nasheed.
The delegation found that however serious the allegations against him, the trial of Mr. Nasheed was vastly unfair and his conviction was arbitrary and disproportionate.
And there is more information on this available online.
**Burundi
Our human rights colleagues also expressed deep concern about the series of measures taken this week by Burundian authorities to curtail the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful expression and assembly.
The reported use of live ammunition by intelligence and security forces during protests is particularly alarming, and the High Commissioner’s Office stresses that restricting independent coverage by closing radio stations, curbing live coverage of protests and curbing the use of social media will not succeed in quashing dissent.
It calls for freedom of expression and the right to information to be protected.
**South Sudan
The UN refugee agency says today that the number of South Sudanese refugees who have fled to Ethiopia since fighting broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013 has passed the 200,000 mark, and more are expected amid fresh conflict across the border.
UNHCR field staff have observed a sharp increase in new South Sudanese arrivals, mainly women, children and older people.
Most are fleeing from renewed fighting in Upper Nile and Jonglei states or as a precautionary measure. Some young men also say that they are fleeing from alleged forced conscription.
More is available on the Agency’s website.
**Haiti
In response to a question asked yesterday about Haiti, we can say that on April 28th around 6 p.m. in Cité Soleil, MINUSTAH troops, while carrying out a routine patrol, came under fire by unidentified individuals and responded in self-defence.
Subsequently the Haitian National Police’s Public Order Unit arrived on the scene and took the lead in the response.
It was later reported that a Haitian citizen, who died from gunfire, was found in the area where the exchange of fire involving all the parties took place. The Haitian National Police has recovered the body and has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death of the individual.
MINUSTAH for its part has launched a preliminary investigation to ascertain the circumstances of the events.
**Pension Fund
And we have received some good news that the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund received an A rating on the climate change work being done by the pension plan. This grading was conducted by a group called Asset Owners Disclosure Project. This is the second year that they have issued a survey and graded the results.
The Joint Staff Pension Fund is number 21 of all pension plans rated by the survey, which is called the Global Climate 500 Index. A total of 24 pension plans were graded A or better.
**Honour Roll
And for the honour roll, Indonesia becomes the 83rd Member State to have paid its regular budget dues in full. Thank you, Jakarta.
**Press Conference Monday
And on Monday, at around 12:30 p.m., the President of the Security Council for the month of May, Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė of Lithuania, will be here to brief on the Council’s programme of work for the month.
And we have in the room Jean-Victor Nkolo, the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, who will speak to you after my briefing.
**Questions and Answers
Yes, Masood?
Question: Farhan, thank you. Two questions. First, can United Nations really tell us how many parties will be there in Geneva next week? I mean, you say everybody has been invited. Fine. But do you have count?
Deputy Spokesman: There are representatives of more than a dozen nations who will be present at one point or another over the course of the weeks. We've investigate — invited figures from the Government, from the opposition and from civil society. We are not putting out the list of all of the various invitees, but basically, the concerned countries in the region, concerned members of the Security Council and others will all be participants over the course of these discussions.
Question: Okay. In case of Nepal, there are reports that the Nepalese people do not trust the international aid agency or their own Government's agency to distribute food. Now, what is it that has happened that has — I mean, the public in Nepal is so wary of international aid agency. Have you investigated or United Nations knows anything about this?
Deputy Spokesman: I'm not sure that they're wary of aid agencies as a whole. I think that there's been a lot of frustration at the slowness by which aid comes to some of the people in need. Unfortunately, because of the damage done, for example, to the airport and airstrip in Kathmandu, it's been difficult to get a lot of flights going into the country. We want to get more aid in and more quickly. We've been trying the best we can under the conditions we have to get aid in. But ultimately, we will be able to convince people once we're able to distribute this more effectively. For that, the infrastructure of the country will certainly need repairing, but we're trying as best as we can to work with the Government of Nepal on that.
Question: Okay.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, Anna?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. I wanted to ask about Burundi, the situation there. It's been reported that hundreds of students in capital Bujumbura, they are gathered in front of US embassy and they were seeking asylum, they were seeking support because they are opposing current President Nkurunziza to be elected for the third term. What does UN think about this? Because, according to Burundi's constitution, he can only have two terms, but his supporters say that since he was appointed by legislators the first time, now he's entitled to another term.
And also, the second concerning issue and question that I wanted to ask you: the only opposition leader, serious leader, his name is Agathon Rwasa, is also of Hutu descent. He is like a Hutu rebel leader, just like Mr. Nkurunziza, current President. We know what happened during the horrific genocide in Rwanda, where Hutus murdered all the Tutsis, literally. Shouldn't we have Tutsis? Isn't UN concerned about it to balance out the powers in the region? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: On your second question, it's really, of course, the choice of the people of Burundi itself to pick their leadership. Of course, we encourage all communities to come together on this. Regarding what you said about the situation in general, including the situation of the students, we're certainly aware of the reports concerning the students, and what the Secretary-General said earlier this week in the statement we had issued a few days ago still very much stands. The Secretary-General calls on the Burundian authorities to uphold the human rights of all Burundians, including the freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression. He calls on the security services to remain impartial and exercise restraint in responding to public demonstrations, and he also urges all parties to reject violence and avoid using inflammatory language or hate speech that could further increase tensions.
As we've said in recent days, the Special Envoy, Said Djinnit, was in Bujumbura over the past week, and what he did there was to work in conjunction with Burundian stakeholders, the UN electoral mission, the diplomatic community, and other interlocutors to promote a peaceful, inclusive, and credible electoral process.
Question: Does UN support current president's claim for third term? Is it legitimate?
Deputy Spokesman: I would refer you to the concerns that we'd expressed in recent months. Last month, for example, the Secretary‑General spoke by phone with President Nkurunziza, and I would refer you to the readout we put out after that call that expressed our concerns. Yes?
Question: Sure, thanks. I heard you read out the — what Rupert Colville had said about the alleged child rapes in Central African Republic. I read it all, and it didn't answer some of the questions that are public about it, which include the following: The Central African Republic authorities have said that they only learned of these events and charges by reading The Guardian. And so what I wanted to know, it seems pretty extraordinary that the UN would collect evidence of rape in a — in a host country in that case. Was it not provided? Is that true that it wasn't provided to the home country people?
Also it's reported that similar allegations are against peacekeepers, quote-unquote, from Chad and Equatorial Guinea. I don't see that addressed in his statement. My question is, is the UN equally satisfied or happy with the follow-through by those two countries? And finally, he talked about an OIOS investigation of Mr. Kompass, but he's previously confirmed in writing a previous, prior OIOS investigation of Mr. Kompass for releasing to Morocco about Western Sahara. And I wanted to know, does the UN feel any responsibility — if the leaking to France is as bad as Mr. Colville says, why was nothing done about the first leaking to Morocco? And what's the status of that investigation?
Deputy Spokesman: Both investigations are under way. We, of course, in terms of what response we would have would rely on what happens when each of those investigations are completed. Those are separate issues, one involving Western Sahara and one involving Central African Republic. And we'll to await the results of each.
Now, in terms of the Chadians and Equatorial Guineans, we've seen these orders. The information that we have was handed over to the French authorities and therefore that investigation would need to go to them. As you may be aware, there were, I believe, Chadian and Equatorial Guinean troops in the precursor to the UN force, what was called at that point MISCA. Neither of those contingents wound up in the UN mission, MINUSCA.
And — and I believe — neither of them was rehatted, in other words, as UN contingents.
And your first question —
Question: [inaudible] authorities, and if not why not?
Deputy Spokesman: Right now, Rupert has been handling, as you have seen, questions about the timeline. And as he made clear, some of the questions about the timeline are pending the results of the actual investigation into this. So he's been trying to provide as much details on that. But — but certainly the idea was to provide the information to the people who could prosecute the people who we thought may have done wrong in this case.
Question: But whether — thanks a lot. Whether or not the Equatorial Guinean and Chadian forces remained in MINUSCA, if the UN heard allegations of child rape by those forces, doesn't the UN then tell at least that country that they were abused?
Deputy Spokesman: I can't comment on evidence that was collected. I'm not aware of the extent of evidence that was shared, and I don't know whether it includes these nationalities or not. That will become clear as course of these investigations proceeds. So I will have to wait until those investigations are done.
Question: One more on press freedom. I want to ask you this because it's talked about a lot in this room. There's a paragraph of Mr. Colville's statement where he says he expresses extreme concern that the unredacted copy of the report is given to media, urges media what to do with it, but he also says as his example that reporters have contacted some of the victims. And what I wanted to know is, on what basis does he believe that's from the report? Is the UN saying, don't actually investigate this case, which some people believe the UN or the French covered up for nine months? Is the message to reporters don't speak to people that claim to have been victimized or don't use the report to —
Deputy Spokesman: No, no. The message is what he actually said.
Question: Okay.
Deputy Spokesman: So I would go back to what his words were, which I have in front of me.
Question: A person named in the documents was contacted. But the question is, why —
[overlapping talking]
Deputy Spokesman: His concern is that the names of these children is out there in the public. It's obvious that it's out there because people are contacting them.
Question: But there are reporters who actually can find victims without the UN's report —
Deputy Spokesman: It's possible they’ve done it in a different way. Our priority is to protect children.
Question: So —
Deputy Spokesman: Children, who at the end of the day, live in the Central African Republic and could face —
Question: But then why didn't —
Deputy Spokesman: — danger and —
[overlapping talking]
Deputy Spokesman: Please stop talking over me while I'm giving you the answer.
Question: I —
Deputy Spokesman: I'm sorry. This is not a debate. This is a briefing. No, seriously.
Question: Okay. It — I have another question. Finish what you say. Then I'm going to ask a question because you just said —
Deputy Spokesman: You must have been the most obnoxious child.
[laughter]
Matthew, you're asking a question, you're talking over me while I answer. That's not how briefings go.
Question: I asked questions yesterday you haven't answered yet. What happened to Conference Room 3? Do you have an answer to that?
Deputy Spokesman: I'll get back to you, but you still haven't let me answer the question I was doing. You seem actually more interested in talking over me than in getting the answer. The answer — what was it again now —
Question: Did you tell Central African Republic about the rape charge?
Deputy Spokesman: The — the point — the point is that they told it to the authorities who were in a position to actually deal with the question of wrongdoing. So that — that is where — that is where the report went.
Regarding Rupert Colville, which is what we were talking about before you rudely interrupted me several times, his concern is that these children who are in a very dangerous country, their names are now out in the public, and so obviously their names are now out in the public because these reporters are contacting them for whatever reason, and the worry is a worry about their safety.
Question: My only — this was the question that I was asking.
Deputy Spokesman: For God's sake, Matthew!
Question: You said you'd finish and I'd ask a question. It's a very simple question.
[overlapping talking]
Question: Can I ask a question on this?
Deputy Spokesman: Ladies and gentlemen, is there a point for me to continue with if he continues like this? I leave it to you. One of your colleagues is shaking their head no.
Question: Let's take a poll then.
Question: Yes, let's take a poll.
[overlapping talking]
Question: On World Press Freedom Day and I have a question and this is the question. Can I say it?
Question: No.
Deputy Spokesman: First of all, press freedom has to do with your rights to go about your work. You're actually constraining other people's right to go about their work by shutting me down. You realize that, right? There are other reporters in this room who are not you.
Question: Sure. I understand that.
Deputy Spokesman: All right. And you respect their right to receive information —
Question: I don't have an answer.
Deputy Spokesman: — without hearing some other guy talking from the crowd over me, right?
Question: It's a yes-or-no question. Did the UN tell the Central African Republic authorities of the rape of their citizens? And if not, why not? That's it.
Deputy Spokesman: As I've said, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is trying to prepare the timeline. As Rupert has made clear from Geneva today, some of that remains pending an investigation. I would — I would have to urge you to wait for the result of that investigation to go out.
Regarding your question about Conference Room 3, we got back to them. This was not an organize — an event that was organized by the United Nations. We didn't have any control over the event, so I would urge you to talk to the sponsors of that. This was a Member State-run event. And it will be up to them how those arrangements were put in place.
Yes?
Question: Yes. I don't want to belabor it, but I will. I think the important question to ask on the abuse in Central African Republic is whether these pedophiles — whether French, Chadian, Guinean — are still in the country running around loose, or have they been transferred to wherever? And are — you may not know the answer immediately, but can you please find out? Because that's much more important than news —
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding that, I have no information on the innocence or guilt of the various contingents. So I will — so first of all, I'm not going to —
Question: Yeah.
Deputy Spokesman: — presume to know the truth behind allegations. Having said that, the troops from Chad and Equatorial Guinea were not rehatted. Chad withdrew from MISCA before MINUSCA was established. The rehatting of Equatorial Guinea was not approved by UN peacekeeping, and according to the African Union, former MISCA troops were under investigation for involvement in human rights violations. The UN Security Council has also called on the AU and relevant troop-contributing countries to investigate, so that is the case with those.
With France, we have turned over the information to the French authorities in July of last year, and we have been informed that the French authorities then started an investigation by the end of July of last year. So that investigation is under way.
Question: Can you find out whether these pedophiles are still on the scene or whether France has taken them home? Because remember —
Deputy Spokesman: I —
[overlapping talking]
Question: — remember the Central African Republic case a few years ago. France moved like lightning to lock them up, to lock the person up, yeah.
Deputy Spokesman: The Sangaris troops are not our troops, so we wouldn't be able to speak for what has happened to those individuals —
Question: They're still on the scene.
Deputy Spokesman: — those individual soldiers. The French authorities are the ones investigating, and they'll be the ones to let you know what happened to these particular —
Question: These —
Deputy Spokesman: What?
Question: This Q&A, this back-and-forth and cutting off statement of questions is fine.
Deputy Spokesman: You were talking over me before I could answer. She actually let me answer. That's actually the way questions and answers work in the future.
Yes?
Question: Yeah. [inaudible] from [inaudible] Media Network. Thank you. I have a question about Iraq and ISIS were there. Yesterday the US House of Representative works on a bill to directly arm Kurds and Sunni militias without Baghdad's consent. And several other western countries are considering directly arming non-State actors in a war against ISIS. I wanted to know, what's the United Nations [inaudible] about arming non-State actors in Iraq without Baghdad's consent, the central Government's consent?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, our mission in Iraq has declared its concerns about the arming of various different parties. Our main concern, of course, is to make sure that basic human rights are observed by all parties, but also that — that the risk of sectarian problems are not brought back to the fold. Ultimately, all parties, all groups, in Iraq must feel like they're part of the process, like they're included in the resolution of this issue. This is a — there's a need for a national unity against the threat posed by Da’esh. And we would be very concerned about the arming of non-State actors if it does in fact lead to the violation of human rights.
Question: So my second — I have two questions. So to be clear, I understand you perfectly, if the parties respect human rights and they don't violate national unity of Iraq, then it's okay to be armed without Baghdad's consent here. You mean, the central Government. Is that —
Deputy Spokesman: Ult — ult — ultimately, we want to make sure that there is no — you know, that there is no militarization of the situation by spreading to a wide variety of non-State parties and non-State actors. The mission has already declared its concerns about this and is following up on this.
Yes, Mushfiqul Fazal?
Question: Thank you very much, Farhan. Bangladeshi media reported that Secretary-General made a phone call to Prime Minister of Bangladesh. And the — according to a press secretary of the Prime Minister reported Secretary‑General urged to investigate recent irregularities. Do you believe this Government will be able to fairly investigate as the Government involved in this irregularities? And this is not new. We have seen in January 5th national election this thing happen by the Government. So do you believe this Government will be able to investigate rightly? Thank you very much.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding that, what we have made clear earlier this week is that the Secretary-General has encouraged the competent authorities to investigate all allegations and the opposition to use the democratic institutions to express their concerns. And he appeals to all parties to express their differences through peaceful means. Beyond that I can confirm that the Secretary-General did speak by telephone with Sheikh Hasina this morning, but we have no details to provide of that call.
Yes, Go?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Coming back to the talk in Geneva, Stéphane had promised us that he would share the list of invitees. Could you give us a little more better idea which country invited? And if not, why you cannot share with us.
Deputy Spokesman: I don't believe that the list is a public document, but we'll try to work with Mr. de Mistura's office and see whether we can put out a list as the talks begin on Monday. But basically, it does include the various Syrian parties, the concerned countries throughout the region, and the permanent members of the Security Council. So those are the basic nations. But within the Syria groups, you have, of course, the Government, opposition and figures from civil society.
Question: Just to follow up, can we say the list would be a kind of all the invitees of Geneva II plus Iran, right?
Deputy Spokesman: That's a simplified way of putting it, but, yes, Iran will be there, and there will be many of the same participants as in the Geneva II talks. These — I would caution, however, this is not a series of talks like Geneva II. This is not a set of peace talks that he's convening between the parties. What he is doing is meeting with the various parties individually and taking stock of where we've gone since the Geneva Communiqué and since Geneva II. So this is really a stock-taking exercise to see what we can build on and where we can move forward because it's now been three years since the Geneva Communiqué and it's — and it's not implemented. And we need to move forward.
Question: Just — sorry. Just one follow-up. So can we say that both Iran and Saudi are there?
Deputy Spokesman: They will be represented at these talks, yes.
Yes?
Question: Yes, my question is the same about the invitees for the parties that are invited for the Geneva. Are the Kurdish parties in Syria are invited? Are they on the list?
Deputy Spokesman: Like I said, I don't have a full list of invitees to share with you. We'll check back with Mr. de Mistura's office and see whether — whether by the start of next week we can provide something like a list of that. But we're trying as hard as we can to include everyone who has a real interest in this one way or the other. Yes?
Question: Thank you. A question about the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, particularly the refugees coming from Libya, both Libyan citizens and people coming from other parts of Africa and going through Libya in order to get into the Mediterranean. Seeing that the bombing of Libya in 2011 was basically a UN mandate, in Norway, the Red Cross has come out and said that they feel that the countries involved in the bombing should take a special responsibility for these refugees for rescuing them, for taking them in. What is the SG's view on that?
Deputy Spokesman: Your question rests on an assumption that the actions taken in Libya are themselves the direct cause of the current migration. I don't think it's as easy to point a link from one to the other. People take to the seas for a variety of reasons, and there are a variety of reasons why people have taken to the seas. Our focus needs to be on getting all countries to help them to ensure that they will be protected, that their lives will not be put at risk simply because they have had to flee to the Mediterranean Sea. And so that's where our priorities lie at this stage.
Question: Just a follow-up. Is there no correlation between the bombing in 2011 and the fact that the country is in shambles today?
Deputy Spokesman: I think that that's the subject of much dispute amongst various nations, academics, analysts and others. That's really not our place to make a definitive conclusion. What we can say is that what will help the situation is to have peace on the ground in Libya and that's what we and our Special Representative, Bernardino León, are working towards. Yes?
Question: [off mic]
Deputy Spokesman: You need to speak into the microphone.
Question: — report stated that the coalition bombing, the NATO bombing of Iraq, had destroyed the infrastructure necessary to sustain human life in Iraq. So if the coalition bombing had such a devastating effect on the country, which is now following the repeat bombing in 2003, basically a failed state, why would the UN not be willing to accept responsibility for the fact that resolution 1973 may have contributed significantly to the disastrous condition of Libya now?
Deputy Spokesman: It's difficult to state that one resolution creates that set of circumstances. As you know, when resolution 1973 was adopted, the point was to protect people who are under threat of imminent attack in Benghazi. That was the focus. The actions that have happened since then, as you know, have been from a variety of different factors, a variety of different conditions. What is true today is that the society of — in Libya has collapsed, that will is a number of — that there is a number of problems in the governance of the country and we're trying to get that resolved, and if that can be resolved, that will have a direct effect, we believe, in helping to deal with the situation of the refugees in the Mediterranean, but until then what is needed are steps, including search and rescue operations and improved procedures for processing refugees in asylum, that can help assure that their lives are not at risk simply from having to go out to the high seas.
Yes?
Question: I have other questions that I guess I'll wait for Monday, but I wanted to ask one follow-up on what you said about Conference Room 3. Since my understanding is that the audio is run by UN audio technicians, so the question I asked yesterday and I'll say it as — I'll speak, and then you can answer is who in the UN turned down the volume on the Member State? Did the US pull the button? Or who held the volume button? And what are the rules when an individual who's not chairing or moderating an event says turn off the mics? When does the UN turn down the volume? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: What I have been told is that this was an event that was run and organized by Member States and it's up to the sponsors. So ultimately, your question will need to go to the sponsors.
Question: So you're saying — I'm sorry. [inaudible] answer it, I'll ask another question. Are you saying if an event is held in the UN with UN audio technicians, UN security, that it's entirely up to the country holding the event who turns down the volume, who — how security is used or not?
Deputy Spokesman: I'm saying that this was a case where it was the Member States who were responsible for how that event was organized. So you would have to check with the sponsors.
Question: But one Member State called —
Question: A quick question.
Deputy Spokesman: You would have to check with the sponsors.
Question: One quick question. Do you know, who is responsible for the devastation in Yemen? Is it coming from the air? Is it coming from the ground? Because you have such details without —
Deputy Spokesman: Well, it's hard for to us determine —
Question: It's not everybody fighting —
[overlapping talking]
Deputy Spokesman: — presence on ground. Certainly we're against all the various forms of violence, whether it's ground-based or air-based. But there has been plenty of each kind, and you've seen what we had to say on that.
Yes?
Question: Farhan, is there a point in time where the Secretary-General comment on the briefing that he got from his IAEA chief on the deal that's reached between Iran and the P5+1?
Deputy Spokesman: No, no, right now, you're aware of where we stand on that and we encourage the process as it has been going on, and we hope that it will come to a positive conclusion.
Have a good weekend, everyone.