Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
**Secretary-General in Spain
The Secretary-General, as you know, is in Spain, where he arrived earlier today. Upon receiving a medal of honour at the Carlos III University of Madrid, he delivered remarks, saying that he looks to the students of the University and youth across Spain to help usher in a new future for the country and our world. Highlighting the challenges youth face in Spain and Europe, including in finding jobs, the Secretary-General said that it is important to put people first in order to get our priorities straight and secure our common future. He highlighted the need to focus on the potential of the green economy and a low-carbon future.
He also delivered remarks at the closing session of the Madrid+10 Conference on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. He stressed that the world’s response to the phenomenon needs to be unified and multi-dimensional, with human rights at the forefront. The Secretary-General added that conflict prevention is one of best tools for preventing violent extremism.
The Secretary-General met with Prime Minister of Spain and a readout of that meeting should have been shared with you. He is also expected to meet with the Mayor of Madrid later today. Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will participate in the sixtieth anniversary celebration of Spain’s membership in these United Nations.
**Central African Republic
From the Central African Republic, the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA, says that the situation in Bangui is calmer today but remains tense. The attack against the UPC delegation — that’s Union for Peace in Centrafrique — on 26 October and the retaliation attacks the following day triggered the setting up of barricades in several areas of the capital and resulted in heightened tensions between the Christian and Muslim communities, including displacement of some 250 people. Yesterday, five UN staff members were attacked in their homes, with one being wounded.
The Mission also reports that a peacekeeper was wounded yesterday during an attack allegedly by an anti-Balaka group on a MINUSCA convoy travelling on the main supply route from the Cameroonian border to Bangui in Boali. Another MINUSCA convoy was attacked again on the same route earlier today but no injuries were reported. The Secretary General’s Special Representative in the country, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, called on all Central Africans to exercise restraint to avoid an increase of violence with serious consequences. He also condemned the use of violence to resolve differences and said that recent events should not lead to more losses in human life and would be a step backward for peace.
**Darfur
As you will have seen, earlier today, on Darfur, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, urged the Government of Sudan to maintain its current cooperation in ensuring the swift clearance of UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur] food rations and their delivery to the UN Mission. In order to fully re-establish its collaborative working relationship with the United Nations and African Union on UNAMID and allow the Mission to effectively discharge its mandate, Mr. Mulet also called upon the Government to lift all existing restrictions on the free movement of Mission personnel and assets.
During his briefing, Mr. Mulet said that UNAMID and humanitarian groups continued to face enormous operational challenges. He said that delays and denials of customs clearances for UN containers, including food rations, and visas for staff by the Government, have threatened to significantly undermine the implementation of the Mission’s mandate. He however noted that out of the 190 containers previously blocked in Port Sudan, 52 have been released by the authorities and are being transported to warehouses in Khartoum for further inspections and subsequent transport to the Mission. An additional 52 are expected to be cleared and transported to Khartoum this week. The remaining 86 containers are at various stages of the clearance process. We put out his remarks earlier this morning.
**Haiti
From Haiti, as the electoral authorities proceed with the vote count, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sandra Honoré, and the members of the international community in Haiti represented in the "Core Group" — which brings together Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States, the European Union and the Organization of American States (OAS) — stressed the importance of transparency and called on all parties to continue to act responsibly.
In a statement, the Core Group commended the women and men of Haiti for demonstrating their resolve to exercise their constitutional right to vote in these elections in a generally peaceful environment. They also acknowledged the determination demonstrated so far by the national authorities leading the electoral process, especially the Provisional Electoral Council, the Government of Haiti and the Haitian National Police.
**Earlier Statements
Yesterday we issued two statements; one on Côte d’Ivoire, in which the Secretary-General congratulated the Ivorian people and leadership for the peaceful environment in which the elections were held. We also issued a statement in which the Secretary-General condemned the air strikes by the Saudi-led Coalition that hit the Hayadeen Medical Hospital in Yemen yesterday.
**Middle East
Regarding the Middle East, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the Human Rights Council in Geneva today and, in speaking to the Council, the High Commissioner warned that the violence between Palestinians and Israelis will draw us ever closer to a catastrophe if not stopped immediately. He said that the latest wave of violence has resulted in 58 Palestinian deaths, with 2,100 wounded; and 11 Israeli deaths and 127 wounded.
The High Commissioner said that this crisis is dangerous because it is a confrontation drawn in part from that most combustible of human emotional mechanisms: fear. The fear on either side, he said, must be eclipsed by wisdom. In other words, Zeid said, the Middle East peace process must now be reactivated with an unprecedented sense of purpose. A lasting peace must now be obtained. Full remarks are online.
**Press Encounters
Tomorrow at 11 a.m., there will be a briefing here by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee. Then at noon, my guest will be John Ging, Director of Operations for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He will speak to you about his recent visits to Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia. At 1:15 p.m., there will be a briefing by the Chairperson of the commission of inquiry on Eritrea — that is Mike Smith — and he will be joined by two of the Commissioners, Sheila B. Keetharuth, and Victor Dankwa.
Later [today], at 4:30 p.m., Ambassador [Dina] Kawar of Jordan and Ambassador [Abdallah] al-Mouallimi of Saudi Arabia will speak to you at the Security Council Stakeout. And I believe that is following an Arria-formula meeting on Yemen. As long as you’re paying attention, you get the first question.
**Questions and Answers
Question: All right. The bombardment of the Saudi air strikes and the Saudi‑led air strikes has claimed about 19 in Sa’ada today, 19 civilians. Earlier videos showed that even they targeted their supporters in Taiz. When they came to help them, rather than helping them, they bombarded them, and they inflicted heavy casualties even in Taiz. Have… in his communications with Saudi Arabia, the Secretary‑General, has he been able to get a promise to cease these air strikes in any way?
Spokesman: Well, I think the discussions the Secretary‑General has had and as well as his Special Envoy have focused on exactly that, which is halting the fighting so we can get the political process back on track. Unfortunately, as we've all seen, every day almost, and especially yesterday, the fighting continues. I think the Secretary‑General's statement condemning the attack on the hospital by the Saudi‑led coalition could not have been clearer. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I have a question also on Yemen… sorry. I wanted to ask you, I've seen a copy of a letter that was sent, you could say, by the Houthis or signed by Mohammed Abdul‑Salam to the envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, taking much issue to what he said to the Security Council, but obviously people always take issue, but they've asked specifically, "We hereby demand an official clarification from you with respect to the position," asking him to clarify about the consultations in Muscat and the seven‑point plan or basically describing the talks as useless chatter. So I wanted… he's the envoy of the Secretary‑General. Is the Secretary‑General aware of this letter and aware of this critique, and what's the response?
Spokesman: Well, I personally haven't seen the letter. As we've often said, in the run‑ups and during negotiations on difficult political issues, there will be different sides that complain, are not happy. I think the statement by the Special Envoy speaks for itself. I think there's no… he stands by it. He's continuing his work. He's continuing his travels in the region to try to set a time and a place for these discussions.
Question: But if he said, as he did, that the Houthi side had agreed in its entirety to the resolution, not with the… basically the sort of reservations they made in these Muscat points, if the Houthis are saying they never agreed to that, doesn't it… somebody… either the talks aren't happening or he misspoke or he didn't mis…
Spokesman: I think the communications between the Special Envoy and the Houthi and other parties will also take place in private, and I'm sure if they have issues, they will raise them privately, as well.
Question: And just one other thing. Has he said anything about this air strike on the MSF hospital in Yemen? I mean, it seems like he's the envoy.
Spokesman: Well, I think a statement by the Secretary‑General obviously covers his Special Envoy. Yes, ma'am?
Question: Thank you. Stéphane, has it been confirmed that cholera has arrived to Syria? Is it still just a suspicion? And is there any statement by the Secretary‑General on the topic?
Spokesman: I haven't personally seen anything, but we know that almost five years of a devastating conflict in Syria has crippled, if not destroyed, almost its health care system. And I think, as Mr. [Stephen] O'Brien told the Security Council yesterday, there's been a… a very unfortunate… very… a lot of the unfortunate damage to health care facilities, which has forced the closure of hospitals. And, obviously, the continued fighting makes it that much more difficult for us to reach those population who need help. Yes? Sorry, in the back?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On Yemen, civilian people are being killed in Taiz city by random shelling by Houthis and their alliance, and we haven't heard anything about that from the Secretary… Secretary‑General. Is there any statement on that?
Spokesman: Well, I think… I beg to differ. I think the Secretary‑General, his envoy, in interviews, in press encounters and reports to Security Council, I think, have been decrying the immense loss of life of civilians who are caught in the middle of what is a devastating conflict in Yemen. Whether it is from various militias, from the Houthis, from the coalition, the civilians are the ones paying the price. And I think the Secretary‑General has been very clear in his condemnations of those acts. Okay. I will come back to you.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. My question about Turkey. Turkish police in Istanbul carried out early this morning raid using tear gas to enter the headquarters of media company today, linked to a Government critic. This crackdown happened just before four days general election in Turkey. My question is, what would you like to say about this press freedom, and is it possible to… under this atmosphere, free election and fair election? Thank you.
Spokesman: Well, I haven't seen the particular report you're mentioning, but obviously, I think, in this we have often spoken out for the need to protect the media and to protect journalists. As for the state of the elections, we very much hope that there will be enough calm and security for the elections to take place. Mr. Avni?
Question: Is there any official date regarding the election in Central African Republic? And, also, in the Congo… on Congo, people have been killed and it seems like international community, especially UN, is quiet, watching people suffering. And what's the position of the organization?
Spokesman: On the Central African Republic, I don't have anything to add to what Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous had said publicly after the side event on the Central African Republic. Obviously, the UN is working with the transitional authority to ensure that the elections do take place. On the Congo, the Secretary‑General issued a statement, I think, four or five days ago, I think, expressing his concern at the situation in the country and at the violence. Mr. Avni?
Question: Yeah. You mentioned the Human Rights Council. A previous Secretary‑General… that you worked for, by the way… was very proud of creating the Human Rights Council out of the Human Rights Commission at the time. It was supposed to be big reform. Today we have an election for membership at the GA [General Assembly] and election for membership of the Human Rights Council's executive. Does the current Secretary‑General think that the body that runs the Human Rights Council includes human rights protectors or… because there are a lot of allegations that some of the countries that run for that body are the biggest violators of human rights. Today we have… well, I won't name names, but, I mean, there are quite a few human rights violators that sit on the executive board and are being… and running for elected year after year… for election year after year.
Spokesman: Is there a question mark?
Question: Is that a problem? Yeah, is that a problem for the current Secretary‑General? Is it time to reform that body once more?
Spokesman: No, I don't think anyone is calling for reform of the Human Rights Council. Couple points: First, as you know, the Human Rights Council is a Member State legislative body. There are elections according to established rules. They happened today. The Secretary‑General expects every Member State, and especially those with an increased level of responsibility when it comes to human rights and participating in that body, to lead by example. I think, as a whole, the reform of the human rights mechanism, I think, has been positive. Notably, I think, we've seen with the universal periodic review, which continues, doesn't get that much attention but I think is a critical part of the human rights mechanism.
Question: Just one follow‑up. You say he expects members to lead by example. Does he think that they do?
Spokesman: He does expect them. Stefano?
Question: Yes, a follow‑up on the… on journalists arrested and repressed. We was talking about Turkey but… this happened probably only today, but you will know what happened in Egypt last week, where there has been arrest of journalists and… and this is also in the middle of elections, because in Egypt there were the parliamentary elections. So what the UN has to say about that? Especially those when there are elections…
Spokesman: Again, I think journalists pay… play a critical role in ensuring free and fair elections and it's important that they be allowed to do their work. Round Two.
Question: On Yemen, again, the… how do you describe the security situation in Aden given that 6,000 Sudanese soldiers are on their way to there and there are other… the Colombian press is talking about Colombians going to Aden. Is it safe at least for United Nations personnel to work in Aden?
Spokesman: Well, it's… the situation throughout Yemen is extremely challenging. Despite those challenges, we have a UN presence in various parts of Yemen, focusing on humanitarian work, trying to get humanitarian goods in, in partnership with local humanitarian organizations. We take the security situation very seriously, and obviously, it's assessed on a daily basis. It is, as I said, very… extremely challenging and doesn't allow us to do the work that we need to do in order to move humanitarian goods to those who need to have them.
Question: If this is the case… and the Government, of course, cannot be stationed in Aden at the moment, because Mr. [Abd Rabbuh Mansur] Hadi and [Khaled} Bahah have evacuated the place and went back to Riyadh. How would [resolution] 2216 be implemented if they cannot have control on several… on…?
Spokesman: The difficult part is getting the political process back on track.
Correspondent: Yeah, but relinquishing Sana'a, for example, and other cities to such groups… The fate of Aden…
Spokesman: I appreciate your opinion, but I think we need to get the political process back on track, and we need to have a semblance of a humanitarian pause. Yes?
Question: On Yemen, too, Taiz City, under siege for the fourth week in a row. Houthis preventing water, fuel, food, medicine from entering the city. Do you have anything to say on that?
Spokesman: You know, I think the situation as a whole demands that every party that's a party to this conflict respect international law, international humanitarian law, and allow us to get humanitarian goods in and allow us to give assistance to those who need it, and they all need to agree to meet around the table and get the political process back on track. Carla and then Matthew.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Recently, there was a case of an elderly man in Saudi Arabia who was sentenced to something like 300 lashes for having been found with alcohol in his car. His children said that would probably kill him, the punishment. Does the Secretary… do you have any updates on that, and does the Secretary‑General have anything to say about… what can I say? … a punitive system which metes out what would appear to be torture as a regular…
Spokesman: I think… I don't have any specific information on the case you mention. I think the Secretary‑General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and others have clearly spoken out against lashing. Matthew?
Question: Sure. I want to ask about South Sudan, Burundi and the John Ashe case. But I do want to ask one follow‑up, just to understand what you're saying. You seem to say that no one is asking for reform of the Human Rights Council. And… did you say that?
Spokesman: No, I think what Benny was trying to get me to say was that we were calling for a reforms.
Correspondent: Oh, okay.
Spokesman: I'm not saying, I don't speak for everyone.
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask, are you aware of the critique?
Correspondent: You speak for me.
Spokesman: Of course, I listened to Benny and I'm aware of the critique.
Correspondent: For example, in the most recent session, there was a… a resolution was proffered about the human rights situation in Yemen in which the Secretary… speaks a lot, it ended up getting converted…
Spokesman: No, I completely… I think it's a legislative body. There are discussions. No one is saying any parts of the UN is perfect, cannot be improved. I know very well what Benny was trying to get me to say and I didn't say it.
Correspondent: I just heard the words. I didn't hear your thoughts. So…
Spokesman: I have none.
Question: No, no. Okay. I wanted to ask you this. The… the… one is small and one is larger. And this is about the John Ashe case. One, in the charge sheet, which is now nearly a month old. I'm sure you've read it now or seen it. There's a segment in it in which John Ashe, it is said, that on September 4th, 2013, he was emailing to Ms. Yan, who's indicted, Ms. Piao, who's still waiting to be… detained but not yet indicted, about a reception. And he said, "Although the Secretary‑General's office had asked Ashe to pay for the reception in its entirety, Ashe told Yan and Piao that he warmly welcomed your generous offer to pay half the cost for this reception." So the question has arisen whether the "he" in this sentence… and I don't ask you to parse what was written by the FBI but to ask you to know or find out… did the Secretary‑General have knowledge that Sheri Yan and the Global Sustainability Foundation were paying for this reception? Who is it that warmly welcomed it?
Spokesman: I think… as you said, I can't speak for the writings of an FBI agent. What I can tell you is that the Secretary‑General has asked for an audit to look at the relationship, financial and otherwise, between the two… the foundations and various parts of the Secretariat. So I imagine all of that will be covered by that.
Question: Sure, but he doesn't need to audit his own understanding. I guess I'm just asking you… I know he's travelling. But it's very simple… Did he know who was paying for it?
Spokesman: If I have something else to add, I will.
Question: The other one it's arisen because as the case goes forward, obviously, the immunity, the state of immunity of Mr. [Francis] Lorenzo and Mr. Ashe is a big issue. So it's said that in oil for food, for example, the UN waived the immunity of UN staff because it was a criminal case, and countries are free to waive the immunity of their diplomats. So the question is, for the actions of Mr. Ashe while he was PGA [President of the General Assembly] and Antigua Barbuda couldn't waive immunity, I wanted to know, who can? Can the…?
Spokesman: As you know, the President of the General Assembly is not a staff member.
Correspondent: Sure.
Spokesman: It is not up to the Secretary‑General to waive his immunity. That is something between the Government to which the… the country of which he's a citizen and the United States.
Question: But is… I guess what I'm saying is the immunity of a PGA not based on being PGA? Isn't that an office that carries its own immunity…?
Spokesman: It is not under the authority of the Secretary‑General.
Question: But, does OLA [Office of Legal Affairs] know… is there a person in this building or now in China, actually, that has absolute immunity, i.e.… because he's not operating under his country. Mr.… for example, Mr. [Mogens] Lykketoft is not currently a diplomat of Denmark, so it's not up to Denmark to waive his immunity. Who covers…?
Spokesman: This is not an issue for the Secretary‑General. Next question?
Question: Thanks a lot. I'll be very… I'm sure you've seen finally, after much delay, the AU [African Union] released its report on South Sudan. There's a lot in it, and many people are saying many things about it, but the thing I'd wanted to ask about is the section that has do with the UN. And it says… this is in paragraph 37. And this is… it's sort of surprising. It says, "The commission was unable to access any data in the possession of UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] which had been documenting the violations committed since the start of the violence despite the resolutions of the Security Council mandating it to cooperate with AU CISS. So what does DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] say?
Spokesman: Well, obviously, we welcome the report and the issuance of the report, which the Secretary‑General has called for, had called for. I think the issue of transparency is an important one, as is the issue of accountability. As for the details of the report, I think we're still reading through it. So if I have something to add…
Correspondent: Right. Eventually, there's some direct allegations about the mission…
Spokesman: I understand.
Correspondent: Okay. I have one more but I want to…
Spokesman: Yes, sir.
Question: Staying on Yemen, Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed said on the stakeout very clearly that six of the seven points are included in resolution 2216. I have read both of them, and I found that six out of the seven… what he said is not accurate. For example, ceasefire… 2216 does not demand immediate ceasefire. It does not include that forming a new government within 60 days and other points similar to that. So are you on the same line with the envoy…?
Spokesman: I think I have really nothing to add, and I'm not going to start parsing what the Special Envoy said to you at the stakeout. You know, he's currently… I think he left today for Bahrain, where he's having some meetings, and then he'll be going on to Doha and Amman, and then he'll be back in New York. And I'm sure he'll be delighted to speak to you directly.
Correspondent: Okay. On Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is facing death sentence. The only… his only crime was criticizing the leadership of the country. He was shot when he was arrested. Several bullets went through his body. He was… I don't… nobody believes that due process has been given to him. And the Court is going… has endorsed the sentence.
Spokesman: I mean, I think the Secretary‑General has noted with concern the decision by the Court to uphold the sentence… the death sentence against Sheikh Nimr al‑Nimr and, I would say, despite numerous international calls to pardon him. As you'll recall, the United Nations opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, and the Secretary‑General urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to commute all death sentences, including that against the Sheikh, and declaring a moratorium on capital punishment in the Kingdom with a view toward a total abolition. Matthew and then we'll go, maybe.
Correspondent: Okay. Burundi and Darfur. Burundi, this is a pretty softball. There's a… I haven't asked you yet about tweets, but this is a tweet from the official account of Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi: "No one living abroad should consider himself superior to those who stayed in Burundi since most of them have left their families here." So people see this as an open‑source threat to retaliate against the families of those who have fled the country. And I'm wondering…
Spokesman: I haven't seen the tweet. I shall look at it.
Question: And the other one is… you mentioned the Security Council meeting on Darfur. In fairness, the Permanent Representative of Sudan said about these… these… these containers, he said… you know, he had a response. His response was that it was UNAMID's fault that they didn't provide the inventories in advance and now that they've been provided. So I wanted… was it… was it UNAMID complaining about the containers or a mission on the Council? What's the response to that?
Spokesman: Obviously, the containers were not released as they should be. We'll see who… I think the important thing for us is that they are in the process of being released, and the food and rations are being sent to those in the field who need them.
Correspondent: And his lengthy… this is the last one, I promise. His lengthy speech in the Council, the Sudanese perm rep, did not mention the issue of the Tabit rapes at all, and afterwards he told me because it's no longer an issue. I wanted to confirm from you, has the UN entirely stopped looking into, asking for access…
Spokesman: You know, the issue of access and freedom of movement for the mission and its assets continues to be challenging and continues to be an issue.
Correspondent: But this was an investigation of a mass rape.
Spokesman: I understand. We still have not been able to gain access.
Question: Are you trying to?
Spokesman: We still have not been able to gain access.
Correspondent: Okay.
Spokesman: Thank you. See you tomorrow.