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.
We will be having Yukio Takasu as our guest very shortly, once I’m done with this part of the briefing. So first, we will go through my section and then you will get to hear from the Under-Secretary-General for Management.
**Burundi
First off, I have a statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on recent killings in Burundi which we issued just a few hours ago.
The Secretary-General condemns the killing of nine civilians and two police officers in Bujumbura on 13 October, amid exchanges of heavy gunfire in several neighbourhoods of the city. The civilians, including a staff member of the International Organization for Migration, Mr. Evariste Mbonihankuye, were reportedly shot at close range.
The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. He urges Burundian authorities to undertake a rigorous and prompt investigation into the circumstances and motives behind these despicable crimes in order to ensure that their perpetrators are brought to justice.
**Italy
Earlier today in Rome, the Secretary-General addressed a joint meeting of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies in a special session to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Italy’s membership in the United Nations. Speaking to the assembled legislators, the Secretary-General saluted Italy’s strong, courageous and compassionate response to Europe’s largest refugee and migrant crisis since the end of the Second World War. He stressed that refugee resettlement is a global responsibility, adding that proximity does not equal final responsibility. While refugees do have special protection under international law, he said, all migrants must have human rights protection. There are not two kinds of people, he said, deserving and undeserving. The Secretary-General also called on Italy to take the lead on the bold Agenda against poverty that was adopted during the General Assembly.
Following the speech, the Secretary-General was joined by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, as well as the leaders of both houses of parliament to visit a special exhibit focusing on Italy’s membership in the United Nations.
Later that afternoon, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni. The Secretary-General thanked the Foreign Minister for Italy’s active support of the work of Special Representative Bernardino León in Libya. They also discussed the current refugee and migrant crisis in Europe. The Secretary-General encouraged Italy to be represented at the highest level at next year’s Humanitarian Summit, to be hosted in Istanbul.
While in Rome, the Secretary-General also met with his Special Envoy for Libya, Bernardino León, who briefed him on the latest political situation in the country. And he departed Rome for Turin, just in the past hour.
**Security Council
As you know, the General Assembly just voted in the past hour to elect the incoming members of the Security Council for two-year terms starting in 2016. Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay will all join the Security Council next year. We have a chart showing the Security Council’s membership in 2016, available in our office.
**Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, spoke to the press recently in Geneva and discussed his travels over the past several days to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Turkey. He said that he had discussed the wars in Syria and Yemen and the situation in the Middle East region during his visits to those countries.
Regarding Yemen, the Deputy Secretary-General said that he detected interest both from the Saudi and UAE [United Arab Emirates] side and Iran to encourage talks to start as soon as possible. He noted that Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed is proposing talks within the next few weeks and added that we very much hope that these talks will take place.
On Syria, he said, the officials he met with had discussed the Russian [Federation’s] actions in Syria, and there was a hope expressed, particularly from the Saudis and the UAE, that that military action would be solely directed towards terrorism coming from Da’esh.
Asked about local ceasefires in Syria, the Deputy Secretary-General said that the United Nations would very much encourage every attempt to create local ceasefires. In the absence of stopping the fighting all over the country, he said, we should at least now, before the winter starts, try to de-escalate and reduce the level of violence. The full transcript of his press remarks is online.
**Iraq
Ján Kubiš, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, visited Erbil yesterday and discussed concerns about the recent political tensions and violence in the region with political party leaders and the Kurdistan Regional Government. He expressed regrets at the latest developments in a region that has been a source of stability in recent years.
He said that the political parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq need to prioritize peace, security and stability, for the sake of the people, the region and the country. Mr. Kubiš condemned the loss of life, injury of protestors and police, and the destruction of offices that have occurred over the weekend. He said that the perpetrators of these acts of violence should be quickly brought to justice, following due judicial process.
He added that the authorities must ensure the right of people to demand peacefully their rights and good governance, while the protesters must respect the law and refrain from violence and provocations.
**Guyana-Venezuela
The Chef de Cabinet, Susana Malcorra, headed a United Nations mission to Georgetown, Guyana, on 12 October and to Caracas, Venezuela, on 13-14 October. During the visit, the UN delegation met with President David [Arthur] Granger of Guyana and President Nicolás Maduro [Moros] of Venezuela, as well as with the Foreign Ministers and other Government officials of both countries, with the objective of continuing discussions on the way forward in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. The visit was part of the next steps agreed during the trilateral meeting held among the Secretary-General, President Granger and President Maduro on 27 September, on the margins of the seventieth General Assembly.
The Chef de Cabinet welcomes the return to fully-fledged diplomatic relations agreed during the trilateral meeting among President Granger, President Maduro and the Secretary-General. The Chef de Cabinet is pleased at the progress toward a way forward in the controversy that is mutually beneficial.
**Ebola
Preliminary results of a study into persistence of Ebola virus in body fluids show that some men still produce semen samples that test positive nine months after the onset of symptoms.
The report, published yesterday, provides the first results of a long-term study being jointly conducted by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence, the World Health Organization [WHO] and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Better understanding of viral persistence in semen is important for supporting survivors to recover and to move forward with their lives.
Until more is known, the more than 8,000 male Ebola survivors across Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone need appropriate education, counselling and regular testing so they know whether Ebola virus persists in their semen and the measures they should take to prevent potential exposure of their partners. More on this is available on WHO’s website.
**Hygiene
The UN Children’s Fund [UNICEF] warns today that lack of access to hygiene could endanger the new Sustainable Development Agenda.
Handwashing with soap remains dangerously low in many countries, UNICEF reports, despite its proven benefits to child health.
Sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest child mortality rates globally, also has particularly low levels of handwashing.
According to the United Nations’ latest estimates, over 800 of the approximately 1,400 child deaths from diarrhoea each day can be attributed to inadequate water, sanitation or hygiene. More on this issue is available on UNICEF’s website.
**Press Conferences
Like I said, in a short while, I will be joined by Yukio Takasu, the Under-Secretary-General for Management, who will be here to brief on the financial situation of the Organization.
**Myanmar (read during questions and answers)
The Secretary-General welcomes the signing today in Nay Pyi Taw of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement by the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Myanmar Defence forces and several Ethnic Armed Organizations. This marks an important step in advancing national reconciliation and consolidating the reform process in the country. The Secretary-General felicitates President Thein Sein for his leadership and notes that although some important groups have not yet decided to take this step, today’s signing reflects a recognition by leaders from the Government, as well as from the Ethnic Armed Organizations, of the people of Myanmar’s genuine aspiration to end long years of conflict and live together in peace.
The United Nations recognizes that the consolidation of a nationwide ceasefire and the commencement of a comprehensive political dialogue will open the way to a new path of sustainable peace after decades of civil war that have cost numerous lives, uprooted hundreds of thousands from their homes and robbed successive generations of their dignity, tranquillity and normalcy, not least by preventing their access to proper levels of health care, education and livelihoods. The public commitment made by the Government to work for a federal union based on democracy and equality is a milestone. The negotiation process that resulted in this agreement has built greater confidence among all stakeholders. It needs to be followed up and made more inclusive during the coming months.
The Secretary-General urges all stakeholders, signatories and non-signatories, to work together for a peaceful future in a constructive and forward-looking spirit. This will require cooperation, determination and a commitment to reinforce trust and overcome the grievances of the past. He underscores that only an inclusive and structured political dialogue as well as non-recourse to military action in all areas will help build the basis for sustainable peace on the ground.
As a third party observer to the negotiations, the United Nations has witnessed the progress of the talks and commends the patience and perseverance shown by all sides. The Secretary-General expresses his hope that the new government formed after the 8 November elections will continue to move forward along the present path of negotiations, building on these understandings. The United Nations remains prepared to contribute to the next stage of the peace process in accordance with the unified expectations of all stakeholders.
The Secretary-General also hopes that the coming general elections in Myanmar will be conducted in a credible and transparent manner and strengthen the foundations of a genuine multi-ethnic democracy in the country. He strongly encourages the governmental authorities, the election commission as well as the candidates, political parties, civil society, media and organized religious groups to contribute constructively to an open and peaceful electoral process. He calls on them to avoid any kind of pressure, intimidation, dissemination of hatred or violence against individuals or organizations based on their ethnic identity, religious persuasion or political views.
**Questions and Answers
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, Joe?
Question: Yeah, actually, I was going to ask you a question about Ebola and now I can just follow up to what you said. I’d like to know in terms of what, if anything, the UN mission that was set up on Ebola is doing, particularly in light of a report that came out yesterday, I believe, that a nurse in the United Kingdom who had reportedly been cured of Ebola in the early part of the year has now fallen very ill again, and there’s been some evidence of recurrence of the illness in… in Afri… in Western Africa in individuals who had got… supposedly gotten past it, been cured, and then now developing symptoms again. So is this something that the UN mission or… on Ebola or WHO are going to start focusing on?
Deputy Spokesman: This is something we’re following up on. As you will have just seen, I mentioned what WHO was reporting concerning the persistence of Ebola in semen. And there’s certain cells, not just including semen, but other glands in the human body in which the Ebola cells can continue to survive. However, the risk of transmission of Ebola by people who have survived it is very low. We don’t believe it’s a major worry, but we will proceed, of course, with trying to take care of those who have any sort of recurrence and, of course to try and trace contact as we’ve done with Ebola patients. But like I said, the risks posed by such individuals is low, and our focus also needs to be on making sure that people who have survived Ebola can rejoin their society without being unduly stigmatized. Yes, Mr. Abbadi?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Violence continues in East Jerusalem and also in the West Bank. To what… Secretary of State John Kerry said these events were to be anticipated. To what extent has the political department anticipated these events and informed the Secretary-General about that, and to what degree has the Secretary-General informed the Security Council about them, in the framework of Article 99?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you will have seen what the Secretary-General himself has said. We have issued a number of statements, and you’ll, of course, also have seen the last briefing to the Security Council at the end of last month concerning the tensions in the area. So we have been informed by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov and, in turn, the Secretary-General has informed the Security Council and other parties. And, of course, you’ll also have seen the meetings that the Secretary-General has had in recent weeks with President [Mahmoud] Abbas, with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu in his efforts to lower and ease tensions there, and those efforts continue. Yes, Lou?
Question: Thanks, Farhan. The Deputy Secretary-General has spoken out in favour of a local ceasefire plan in Syria, which is something that Staffan de Mistura tried and failed at. I’m wondering why there is an attempt to revive a failed idea and if there’s some reason why recycling this idea at this particular point in time seems to be a good one.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, it’s precisely at this particular point in time. He mentioned that, at the onset of winter, it’s good that, even if we cannot get an overall agreement, it would be best at least to reduce the level of violence, and it’s in that context that he thinks local ceasefires can be helpful. Otherwise, you’ll have the spectre of further displacement at the start of the winter season, and that would be a horrific fate for the people of the… of Syria, but it would also be a problem for the region as people are forced to flee. Yes?
Question: Hi, Farhan. As you know, Japan just became a new member, non-permanent member this morning with others and Japan, this marks its eleventh time that it will be a Security Council member. Do you have any comment on that number of times and what hopes that you may have for Japan? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, certainly, our hope for Japan is that it continues to contribute in the way that it has done to the United Nations and its workings. It’s a very valued member of the United Nations, and I think that’s attested to by the sheer number of times, as you’ve just mentioned, that its fellow Member States have voted overwhelmingly for it to be on the Security Council. That’s a very positive show of support, and you can see that it’s earned it through its actions and support of peace and security and development objectives of the United Nations. Yes?
Question: Sure, thanks, Farhan. I want to ask something about the John Ashe case. But first I want to ask a follow-up on this… the Myanmar statement. The U.S. put out a statement last night on the same, you know, topic. They noted that “concerned by reports of continued military offences in Kachin and Shan State and lack of humanitarian access to many of the 100,000 displace… IDP’s [internally displaced persons].” So I wanted to know, does the UN, either Mr. [Vijay] Nambiar’s office or through its humanitarian arms, does it confirm that there are and continue to be military offences in the country, and what’s the estimate of the number of people with no access to humanitarian aid?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding that, we have mentioned in the past the problems with the conflict in Kachin state. Like I just said in the statement that I read, we have noted… the Secretary-General did note that some important groups have not yet decided to take the same step that the other ethnic armed organizations did. But at the same time, the hope remains that today’s signing… the signing of this agreement reflects the genuine aspiration among all the people of Myanmar to end the long years of conflict; and that is the hope and we’ll try to build on that.
Question: Sure. The question I wanted to ask is, yesterday I was asking Stéphane [Dujarric] about some photographs that exist with the Secretary-General with some of the people named and even charged in the John Ashe case. And he’d said a lot of people take photographs; things happen. I wanted to ask you specifically about an award the Secretary-General received from, I guess, it’s called the South-South Award on Women and Children, and the photograph is a staged one… is, you know, a formal one, no photo-bombing, no selfie, of Mr. Frank Lorenzo, then-Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, Vivian Wang, who’s named in the papers as well. And I just wonder what, in retrospect… this is not something that will be captured by the OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] audit that was mentioned, because none of… those two groups are not involved in this, and yet Mr. Lorenzo is; the Prime Minister of Antigua who’s pretty much through the… that paper seems to have been receiving funds. Does an award like this get returned? How does the UN system analyse what happened in this instance, and what are the repercussions?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we are analysing what’s happened by doing an audit of the various actions. So that is, like Stéphane has made clear, our initial step in the matter, and we’ll see where that leads. If it leads to any particular course of action or any recommendations for where we’re to go next, we would follow it at that point. But we’ve taken the initial step, and we’re just waiting to see what the results of that will be.
Question: But I mean… the question… the reason I’ve… there’s other awards, but this is one in which the two groups Sun Kian Ip and Global Sustainability Foundation are not involved in any way, and yet one of the charged individuals is giving this award. So would there… is there an expansion of this OIOS request? Or how does this get looked at?
Deputy Spokesman: First, we will see how this particular audit goes and we’ll see whether there’s any need for an expansion that the point. But first we’re doing the initial step, and we’ll take that to its conclusion. Yes?
Question: Farhan, where’s the assurance that this initial investigation is going to be conducted in a rapid and efficient way, that this won’t be dragged on in hopes of it all sort of being brushed under the carpet?
Deputy Spokesman: I think the people and those who work in the Office of Internal Oversight Services are well aware of the need to do this as rapidly as possible and… and they will, we trust, act accordingly. Yes?
Question: Follow‑up on that. The… the… maybe you’ll know or you won’t or… if you could confirm or deny that the head of the investigative division of OIOS, Mr. [Michael] Stefanovic, has either resigned or taken an extended leave of absence, as some within the office say. Maybe it’s not true, but I want to ask you because he’s a central figure in conducting these type of audits.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, he is the head of the investigations branch. We’re talking about the audits, which are head of the audits branch. That’s a separate part of OIOS. [Cross talk]
Question: Given what was reported to be his dissatisfaction with how the Central African Republic situation was handled, can you just say whether he remains the head… who is the current head of the investigative division? That would be the question.
Deputy Spokesman: We can certainly check about who the head of the investigative division is. I believe it continues to be Mr. Stefanovic. Beyond that, like I said, the audits are conducted by a different branch. Yes. Yes, Mr. Abbadi?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Does the Secretary-General have any specific comments or reaction to the reports that 1,500 Iranian troops have entered Syria?
Deputy Spokesman: We do not have a way of verifying those media reports. We’re aware of the media reports. Regarding that, of course, you’ll have seen our concerns about any further militarization of the situation on the ground in Syria, and that continues to apply. And I would also refer you to the remarks… the extensive remarks that the Deputy Secretary-General made on Syria in his press conference in Geneva.
And with that, let me bring our guests out so you can talk to Mr. Takasu. Wait just one second, please.