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 everyone and welcome to our visitors.
**Turkey
I have the following statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on a bombing in Turkey.
The Secretary-General condemns the deadly terrorist attack that took place today in the Turkish town of Suruc, which has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 28 people and injured more than a hundred. No cause or grievance ever justifies the targeting of civilians. The Secretary-General hopes the perpetrators of this act will be swiftly identified and brought to justice. He sends his deepest condolences to the victims and their families, as well as to the Government and people of Turkey, and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.
**Iran
The Security Council this morning unanimously adopted Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), which follows the historic agreement in Vienna last week between the E3+3 and Iran on a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme. In a statement, the Secretary-General welcomed the adoption of resolution 2231 (2015), which he said will ensure the enforcement of the JCPOA. It establishes procedures that will facilitate the JCPOA’s implementation, enabling all States to carry out their obligations contained in the Agreement.
The resolution provides for the eventual removal of all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. It guarantees that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue to verify Iran’s compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan. The Secretary-General said that the United Nations stands ready to provide whatever assistance is required in giving effect to the resolution.
Also, last week, the Secretary-General spoke by telephone separately with the Foreign Ministers of many of the countries involved in the Vienna negotiations, as well as with the European Union’s High Representative dealing with foreign policy. And also on the Security Council — the Council will hold consultations at 3 p.m. on Ukraine.
**Syria
The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, visited Beijing today, where he met with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Li Baodong, and the Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Li Junhua. During his meetings in Beijing, the Special Envoy discussed the regional situation and the importance for the Security Council members to reach a common understanding on how to proceed with a political process aimed at operationalizing the Geneva Communiqué.
Prior to Beijing, the Special Envoy went to Cairo, where he met with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil ElAraby. They discussed the meeting of the Security Council on Syria, scheduled for the end of this month, and exchanged views on ways to promote a political solution to the conflict. While in Cairo, Mr. de Mistura also met with Syrian opposition figures present there.
**Central African Republic
On the Central African Republic, the United Nations [Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization] Mission in that country, MINUSCA, has strongly condemned the marked increase of armed attacks on the Main Supply Road 1 (MSR1) attributable to members of the rebel group Front démocratique du peuple centrafricain (FDPC).
The latest incident took place over the weekend when gun shots were fired against a convoy with World Food Programme (WFP) supplies, escorted by MINUSCA peacekeepers, in the north-western part of the Central African Republic. The driver was fatally wounded and his truck veered to the side, causing serious injuries to other passengers. The Mission says it will reinforce robust measures aimed at raising the level of security on this vital route that supplies the country. There is more in a press release.
**Afghanistan
Over the weekend, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed the establishment of the Electoral System Reform Commission by the National Unity Government. Calling this an important step, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Nicholas Haysom, added that the UN looks forward to a credible, inclusive and transparent electoral reform process. The UN will provide advice and technical expertise based on international best practices, while respecting the sovereign right of Afghanistan to make the final decisions on electoral reforms. More information is available on UNAMA’s website.
**Avian Influenza
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning today that without timely intervention to stem outbreaks of the highly virulent avian flu virus H5N1 across West Africa, further spread across the region and beyond is inevitable. The agency is calling for $20 million for prevention and response activities, following outbreaks of the virus in poultry farms, markets and family holdings in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Because the disease can be transmitted to humans and is considered highly lethal, FAO is working closely with the World Health Organization on country assessments, contingency plans, offering technical assistance and investigating potential cases. More details are available online.
**Honour Roll
Last, for the honour roll, Qatar has paid its dues in full, becoming the 107th Member State to do so. That is it for me. Yes, any questions? Yes, Matthew.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thanks. I wanted to ask you about Burundi. Tomorrow is now state… it’s slated to be the presidential election with the controversial third term, and the Government has stopped attending the "mediation" or facilitation sessions sponsored by Uganda. So, what is the UN… I know that you were deferring to that mediation, but now it's, they say, adjourned, but it seems like the Government's not participating. What does the UN plan to do and what report do you have on violence, including repeated reported shelling today in Bujumbura?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, regarding the violence, our Electoral Mission, MENUB, is working to get an assessment of the conditions. It will have an assessment of the election whenever it happens, which it will then share with the Security Council. And we would try to provide details with you of what the electoral mission's assessment is, once we receive that. Regarding the political process, the United Nations wasn't involved in the process that was taking place over the weekend. We are aware of the reports concerning the failure of the Government side to attend the talks. Of course, we are supportive of the efforts by the facilitation under the facilitator that had been designated, President [Yoweri] Museveni, to try to bring the sides together, and we hope that that process can succeed. Meanwhile, we're monitoring the situation on the ground, and we'll issue any further statements including, like I said, the assessment, as circumstances warrant.
Question: Is there a way just to know how… this MENUB mission, there seem to be different understandings or reports from Burundi. How many people are actually out… will actually be out tomorrow observing election places?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, like I said, once the Election Day occurs, we'll get some details from the Mission about its presence and its work. But, at this stage, the basic point is it has a clear Security Council mandate to report back to the Council, and that's what it's going to do. Yes, Evelyn?
Question: Do you have any more details on the Turkish explosion? It seems the initial report said it was ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham] and since a lot of the victims were Kurds…
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, there are conflicting reports from the ground. We don't know for sure whether it's Da’esh or some other group that is behind this attack. But, like I said, whoever is responsible, as the Secretary‑General put it, no cause or grievance ever justifies the targeting of civilians.
Question: What other group did you hear about that might be involved?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, the only ones we've seen in the reports have been Da’esh, but we don't know whether it's… at this stage, we don't know whether it's confirmed whether it's them or someone else. Yes, Sarah?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Welcome back. The following press conference on Gaza has been canceled. Are there plans to reschedule it?
Deputy Spokesman: It's not for us to reschedule this. That would be up to the conference sponsor, which is, I believe, Malaysia. So, you need to check with the Permanent Mission of Malaysia whether they have any such plans.
Question: Did they give a reason for the cancellation?
Deputy Spokesman: Again, you would have to ask the Permanent Mission of Malaysia. Yes?
Question: Farhan, on Saturday, the Secretary‑General issued a statement commemorating the first anniversary of the bombing of the Malaysian airline. Right? The Secretary-General did something commendable. However, I mean, an occasion like the war on Gaza, which is almost for the same time, the Secretary-General did not issue a statement remembering the first anniversary of that war, which, as you know, left more innocent victims dead than that of the Malaysian airline. I mean, that… that… I'm not saying it's… it's… he shouldn't issue a statement about Malaysia. I'm saying that also that tragedy should be worth a statement from the Secretary‑General.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I take note of your point. The basic point here is that not every one‑year anniversary of an event is an occasion for a statement. We have spoken at great length about the situation in Gaza. The Secretary‑General, as you know, continues to discuss Gaza, including in periodic reports to the Security Council. So, we have been speaking about the violence that took place there. We've been very clear about the immense human toll of that conflict, and the Secretary‑General continues with his work with all parties and through his officials on the ground, including the Special Coordinator, Nickolay Mladenov, to make sure that there's no recurrence of such violence in Gaza. Yes?
Question: Yes, Farhan. About today's Iran resolution, it has been discussed since last week and… I mean, the draft resolution. And the UN has a crucial role in monitoring the implementation of that. Has there been any specific mechanism that has been discussed with the Secretary‑General regarding IAEA role? There will be more inspectors, of course, in this. Will there be more budget allocated to these kind of programmes? Or these specific things have not been discussed yet?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you've seen the statement that the Secretary‑General issued upon the adoption of the resolution this morning. And I'd refer you back to that. Beyond that, concerning the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the agreement does have a role for the International Atomic Energy Agency to play. And… particularly in ensuring that the heightened monitoring and supervision by the IAEA will continue indefinitely. During this period, the IAEA will have access to all nuclear-related activities in Iran as it works to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear materials or activities. And this will be a long process in which Iran can begin regaining the trust of the international community. And Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will also work to resolve the outstanding issues, including those related to possible military dimensions, by the end of this year. And in order to consolidate these gains, all parties should move quickly to implement the agreement with determination and also in good faith.
Question: A follow‑up on that. The director of IAEA… according to the resolution, the director of IAEA has to report his evaluation of… in order for the sanctions to be lifted or to be snapped back, as they say. Will he coordinate with… talk to the Secretary‑General before giving this evaluation to the Council, or he will directly talk to the Council?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, the Secretary‑General is in regular touch with Yukiya Amano, the Director‑General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. So, they discuss issues, including this issue, quite frequently. Regarding how he goes about this, we'll have to see what procedures the IAEA develops. And they, of course, are also going to report back to their own Board of Governors concerning the task that they undertake. Yes, in the back. You. Yes.
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On that letter sent to the Secretary‑General by the six world powers and the EU [European Union] expressing their intent to extend the Iran deal by another five years, making a total of 15 years, what is the status of that request? I understand they wanted that letter or that intent notify… they wanted to notify the Security Council. So where are we at that?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe that if the letter has a request in it for onwards transmission, it will be circulated as a document, and so that's what we intend to do with that.
Question: Do you know when a decision might come? What the next step…?
Deputy Spokesman: On circulating… no, circulating these letters as documents is a very standard practice that we do once we've received them. So, that should happen in the coming days. Yes?
Question: Staffan de Mistura, I think, is coming to the Security Council on the 29 July, and there are some informal talks. There is a draft resolution. It would be circulating in the next few days. Do you confirm that?
Deputy Spokesman: I don't. It's not for me to confirm about a draft resolution; that, you will have to get from the Security Council. What I can confirm is that Mr. de Mistura is scheduled to brief the Security Council on 29 July. And we do anticipate that the Secretary‑General will also be on hand for that briefing. Yes?
Question: On Iran again, there… do you know how many inspectors are there now? I know the IAEA is in there, doing some things under the optional protocol.
Deputy Spokesman: That's really a question for the IAEA. I don't have the precise numbers. I do believe that they'll be expanding their numbers in line with the agreement that's been reached. And so I think they're developing a plan of action that they will present to the IAEA Board of Governors. Yes?
Question: Sure. I want to ask about Uganda and the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo], but just… I wanted to check first if you have anything on Yemen and the activities of… of Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. What's he been doing in the last few days, amid reports of continued death and destruction in the country?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed has been planning his onward travels. The only one to confirm at this stage is that he does plan very shortly to travel to Riyadh, where he is to meet with Saudi authorities, authorities of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and with President [Abd Rabbuh Mansour] Hadi and Vice-President [Khaled] Bahah. And so, he is going to try to talk to them. He's continuing with his efforts to see what can be done to secure a humanitarian pause, even following the end of Ramadan and Eid. And so, he's going to continue with those efforts and travel more broadly in the region after that. We'll try and inform you of other stops as that progresses.Question: There's some talk of, if not Mr. Hadi, other ministers trying to return to Aden. Have you… is the UN aware of that? Do they have any comment on that?
Deputy Spokesman: It's not for me to discuss what the Government of Yemen is trying to do. Regarding Aden, we have been concerned about the humanitarian situation on the ground. Our humanitarian colleagues have been continuing even in the absence of a humanitarian pause on the ground to try to provide supplies. I believe that, even though the pause did not go forward as we had wanted, about 60 per cent of the humanitarian activities that we had been planning did, in fact, take place. And so we were able to provide some aid, although not nearly enough. And, of course, we continue to be concerned about the fighting in Aden. Yes?
Question: And this is… the question I wanted to ask, on… Ugandan President Museveni for Eid released a statement saying that the… blaming the UN for the continued presence of the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, in eastern Congo. And he said ADF was defeated in the Uganda, but they're still in the DRC with the United Nations. The UN sometimes engages in insecurity conservation. They conserve insecurity. And he said he'd like to send his troops into DRC to take them on. Is there… I mean, he's the President of a country, and he's somebody that the UN deferred to on the Burundi facilitation. What's the response to the statement that the UN just conserves insecurity?
Deputy Spokesman: While we certainly respect President Museveni, on this particular case, you will have seen, even in recent months, the activities that the UN [Organization Stabilization] Mission [in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] on the ground, MONUSCO, has undertaken in supporting efforts by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to combat the ADF. And we've had our successes in recent months in trying to constrain and limit the threat posed by the ADF, as well as other armed groups. And MONUSCO will continue with those activities.
Question: And the FDLR [Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda], is there any update on any activities either working with the army or otherwise on FDLR?
Deputy Spokesman: You will have heard what Martin Kobler said about this last week. We don't have anything further to add beyond what he said then. Have a good day. Oh. Did you have one more? Yeah.
Question: Yeah, just briefly: Is there any update on Boko Haram? Which seems to be getting worse.
Deputy Spokesman: On that, you saw our statement that we issued on, I believe, last Friday. So, I'd refer you to that. Thanks.