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 Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon.
**Iraq
We’ll start off with a Statement on the attack on Camp Hurriya in Baghdad. The Secretary‑General condemns the attack yesterday on Camp Hurriya, near the Baghdad International Airport, which left at least 26 residents dead and many more wounded. The attack reportedly also caused casualties among the Iraqi Security Forces in the vicinity of the Camp.
The Secretary‑General calls on the Government of Iraq to promptly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. There can be no impunity for such attacks. He reminds the Government of Iraq of its responsibility to provide for the safety and security of the Camp's residents.
The Secretary‑General also reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to continue its efforts to facilitate a humanitarian solution for the residents of Camp Hurriya. He calls on the Government of Iraq and international stakeholders to work closely with his Special Advisor on the Relocation of Camp Hurriya Residents Outside of Iraq, Jane Holl Lute, to accelerate the relocation process as the only safe and durable solution for the residents. The statement is online.
**Secretary-General Travels
While in Spain today, the Secretary‑General spoke by phone with President [Jakaya] Kikwete of Tanzania a little earlier today. In that call, and also in a statement we issued yesterday evening, he congratulated the people, Government and political parties of Tanzania for the peaceful and orderly manner in which the country held its elections on 25 October.
The Secretary‑General remains concerned, however, about the situation in Zanzibar and underscores that any disputes related to the electoral process should be addressed through the existing legal framework in a peaceful and transparent manner. The Secretary‑General calls on all stakeholders to remain calm, reject the use of violence, and avoid making statements that could further escalate tensions.
The Secretary‑General will leave Spain today for Geneva, where tomorrow he will meet with Peter Maurer, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He and Mr. Maurer will also speak to the press after their meeting at the Palais tomorrow. And we expect the Secretary‑General to be back in the office Monday morning.
**Iraq
Meanwhile, sorry I just wanted to add also on Iraq and the attack, that UNHCR also strongly condemned the attack near Baghdad airport and that the High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, said he was greatly concerned at the harm that had been inflicted on those living at the camp. He said that every effort must continue to be made to care for the injured and identify those who are responsible for the attack.
**South Sudan
An update on South Sudan, and just to let you know that the Under‑Secretary‑General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, spoke to Riek Machar yesterday to express his deep concern at the detention of the 12 national contractors and urged for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as the release of weapons still retained in Kaka in Upper Nile State. Meanwhile from the ground, the Secretary‑General’s Special Representative to South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Løj, also called today on the SPLM/A in Opposition leader and commanders to release all the contractors and the property without delay.
The Special Representative said that taking UNMISS personnel as hostages is equivalent to an attack on the UN and underlined that such attacks against UN peacekeepers and other personnel may constitute a war crime. She also strongly refuted that the barge had been transporting weapons cargo of any kind. All of the fuel cargo was intended for resupplying the UN base in Renk and not for the use of the Opposition.
**Ukraine
Also to announce that Stephen O'Brien, the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the United Nations, will be visiting Ukraine from 2 to 4 November. While in the country, he will meet with senior Government officials, members of the humanitarian and diplomatic communities, as well as families displaced by the conflict. Mr. O’Brien is also expected to visit eastern areas of the country to see first‑hand the humanitarian situation of people impacted by the current crisis.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
And a note from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Katanga province in the DRC is undergoing one of the worst measles epidemics of recent years, with nearly 500 deaths since the beginning of the year, the vast majority of whom are children under 5. So far this year, the province has recorded over 35,000 cases — more than the combined total from the previous three years. UNICEF and the World Health Organization are working to stem the disease by vaccination and support to existing health centers.
**Algeria
And also, the UN Refugee Agency has said they have airlifted emergency aid to 11,000 families at five camps devastated by heavy rains and flooding in southwestern Algeria, near Tindouf. This aid includes tents, blankets and plastic sheeting. Around 60 per cent of public buildings at the camps will need some kind of reconstruction following the deluge, according to a preliminary evaluation.
This month also marked the 40th anniversary of the Sahrawis being sheltered in the camps. It is one of the most protracted refugee situations in the world. Prior to the flooding, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations active in the Tindouf Sahrawi refugee operation have been facing severe funding shortfalls. A $20 million funding appeal was submitted this week to respond to the crisis.
**Cambodia
Just a note from the High Commissioner for Human Rights who today expressed his concern over the worsening climate for opposition politicians and activists in Cambodia: The High Commissioner’s office noted that 11 opposition activists are serving prison sentences for participating in or leading an “insurrection,” while another opposition Member of Parliament is currently awaiting trial on a range of charges, including incitement to commit crimes and forging public documents. More on the High Commissioner’s website.
**Colombia
And I was asked earlier about a possible ceasefire regarding Colombia and statements made by President Santos: We can say that the UN welcomes the intention expressed by both the Government of Colombia and the FARC to establish a bilateral cease‑fire by the end of the year. This would be a decisive step towards ending the conflict. We appreciate the confidence reiterated by President Santos in a United Nations role in the monitoring and verification of a cease‑fire, and we note his intention to seek a mandate from the Security Council.
The UN and UNASUR have been working with the parties, at their invitation, on the design of a monitoring and verification mechanism with the participation of the international community. It is anticipated that the parties will soon finalize their discussions on this point so that a consensual request can be considered by the Security Council of the United Nations.
The Secretary‑General hopes that the two sides will seize the upcoming round of talks in Havana as an opportunity to move forward on this point as well as all pending substantive issues. The Secretary‑General reaffirms his commitment to the success of the peace process and will continue to lend all possible support through his delegate, who, if I recall, is Jean Arnault.
**Race
Hold on, I have a couple of other notes. As part of the continuing celebrations of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, our colleagues at the Department of Public Information (DPI) have mobilized more than 220 UN staff members and diplomats to take part in the annual Dash to the Finish Line race. This event takes place every year on the day before the New York City marathon. The kick‑off, I think, is right here on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.
Team UN will include the New York City Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, as well as diplomats, UN staff, interns and family members. Also running as part of Team UN are the Permanent Representatives of the United States, Finland and Tunisia. Let’s see which one of these three will come in first.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, Stephane. Can you discuss how the security situation is regarding the mission’s members in Sana’a and other…?
Spokesman: Security situation?
Question: Of the UN staff, the mission of the United Nations in Yemen.
Spokesman: No. I mean, there are staff members, UN staff members, in Yemen. Their security is of concern to us. We take those measures daily that we feel are necessary, but I will not comment on the security.
Question: Did they coordinate with the Saudis when they go about moving…
Spokesman: Again, as in any operation in any conflict zone, the UN has working-level contacts with any parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safety and sanctity of UN convoys.
Question: A follow‑up on that. Was there any inconveniences recently reported regarding…
Spokesman: Well, the inconvenience is that there is a conflict going on in Yemen and the UN is not able to distribute the aid as it should to the millions of people that need it. Mr. Lee.
Question: I'm sorry to say again something on Ng Lap Seng but I have a follow up on that. It has to do with maybe you can confirm or deny that two individuals flew in to Sana’a on a UN plane have been detained by the Houthis who accuse them of being US intelligence individuals. What was the protocol for getting on a UN plane to Sana’a? Does the UN have a position of not flying in intelligent members of a UN member state?
Spokesman: I'm aware of two people who I believe are UN contractors and their situation. I don't have an update on it. The protocol for flying on UN planes and on UN humanitarian flights is pretty clear. I can give you the details. We do not, we do not knowingly fly in or out combatants.
Question: I just wondered, could you maybe say what kind of contractors they are? I heard and reported they were making a building that the UN works in. Is that true?
Spokesman: That's my understanding.
Question: Sorry, I just want to do it quickly if I can, because it has to do with Mr. Ng Lap Seng who has been indicted. I wanted to ask you this. There was a concert held in 2009. It was for, about the end of slavery. Ostensibly, the sponsor was the World Harmony Foundation and Frank Liu, but it turned out it was something called the Culture Project that actually held it. The reason I am asking all this is I've become aware through the program of 2009 that Mr. Np Lap Seng was the chairman of the World Harmony Foundation and I’ve also heard the OLA said he couldn't directly sponsor it. They couldn't vet him and so the Culture Project was brought in as kind of a middleman. I wanted to ask you, did the UN, maybe you’ll have to check these things, but I think this is not within the scope of the audit because it was before the Sun Kian Ip Foundation even existed, if OLA found that an individual cannot be allowed to give UN money, how is it permissible that he does it in a roundabout way that was listed right on the program? Can you give me an answer to that?
Spokesman: I will look into what I know, I think what this episode has shown is that obviously there is a need for us to look at how we work with outside partners because we do, the work we do with civil society and the private sector is critical to the work of the United Nations.
Question: Is the audit, I guess what I'm saying is that this case seems to squarely bring up that the audit is not going to cover Mr…?
Spokesman: Let’s let that first phase end and then we can move on. Miss Lederer.
Question: Thank you, Steph, I assume that Staffan de Mistura is at the Vienna talks. Is he actually one of the participants?
Spokesman: Yes, he's very much in the room. In fact, I think the picture that I saw and what I know he is at the head table sitting next to Foreign Ministers Lavrov and Kerry, so he's very much in the room.
Question: Is he planning to hold bilateral meetings with any of the participants?
Spokesman: I think the meeting, as I understand it, may still be going on. Rather intense discussions are being held. So, let's… let me get an update from them because as things are moving rather quickly, I don't want to speak from here. Mr. Klein, and then Ali.
Question: Yeah, UN procurement task force was highly precarious at the time was abolished, I believe, in 2009. And there was concern whether its skill set and human resources were specialized in investigations of fraud and conflicts of interests, etcetera, were going to be moved over to OIOS. And so I want to know to what extent an adequate skillset that existed on the current task force and the resources to go with it have transferred over to OIOS still there and are they still there and could you, if you need to find this out, if you can tell us kind of how many auditors and their qualifications and experience are examining the current…?
Spokesman: Clearly, OIOS is responsible for investigating fraud with the United Nations. It has been necessary skill set to do so. The staffing, the number of staff who work in OIOS, is not a state secret, we can give you the breakdown and they are as needed experienced investigators and auditors.
Correspondent: I'm only asking this because, just looking at the history of this procurement task force, which was very effective, and then under pressure from some Member States was abolished, there was also at the time pressure put on not transferring the skill set and the human resources that go with it to the OIOS. So I want to know whether that has been resolved and overcome, and if you can tell us how many specifically are being assigned to this particular audit of the foundations and their qualifications.
Spokesman: OIOS has the skill set and the staff necessary to conduct audits and fraud investigations. What is being requested of OIOS in terms of looking at these foundations is an audit. It is not a fraud investigation, so that is an initial step. It's an audit and it's done by auditors looking at the financial and other relationships between the Secretariat and these two foundations and the Secretary‑General has full confidence that they will do a good job. Iftikhar.
Question: Thank you, Stephane. A follow-up to the situation in Yemen, is the United Nations now involved in investigating the bombing of the hospital following the Saudi denial and the United Nations is involved at all in the bombing?
Spokesman: We do not have the necessary skill set, to use Mr. Klein's terminology, for people deployed on the ground in Yemen to do a forensic investigation. The Secretary‑General stands by the statement that he made regarding that, the bombing of that hospital earlier this week. Joe.
Question: Stephane, is there any reaction from the SG [Secretary-General] in regards to the news this morning that the US is going to be sending a small contingent of troops to northern Syria to fight ISIL, does he welcome that? Is there concern?
Spokesman: Obviously we just see the news reports at this time. As you know, the United Nations Secretary‑General is very much focused on bringing the parties to the table and as we've always maintained that a political solution is imperative and that's one of, the reason why we are actively, we are in these talks in Vienna.
Question: Thank you. Stephane, yesterday the Saudi-led coalition bombarded fishermen in Yemen, killing 200 of them in that massacre, a real massacre. There are a lot of footage and photos about this massacre. Are you aware about that? Has anybody…
Spokesman: I haven't seen that particular report, but I think the Secretary‑General has repeatedly called on all the parties involved to avoid any sort of civilian casualties or the active targeting of civilians or civilian infrastructure.
Question: How is the situation near Hodaideh seaport? Are there ships docking there?
Spokesman: I'll try to get you an update from our colleagues in OCHA. In the back and then Mr. Lee.
Question: Thank you, Stephane, Mexican News Agency. Yesterday, Reporters Without Borders called for the creation of a Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for the protection of journalists given the increase of attacks on journalists worldwide. Is the Secretary‑General considering the creation of such a recent representative…?
Spokesman: This was brought to our attention and attention of others in the UN System, as well as diplomats. The safety and protection of journalists is something the Secretary‑General is very attached to and has spoken out for. There are already existing structures dealing with those issues, including with UNESCO, but obviously this is a discussion that is, that will continue to be had.
Question: So you are considering or contemplating…?
Spokesman: I did not use that word. I will stick to the words that I used. Mr. Lee.
Question: I want to ask about South Sudan. As a follow‑up to that, there's this case of two journalists from Syria from a group called Raqqa being silently slaughtered, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul-Qadir and Fares Hamadi, who were found killed, murdered, inside Turkey. And so a number of press freedom groups are saying there should be an investigation. The idea that these were guys seeking out a reporting about ISIS crimes. Do the…?
Spokesman: I don't need to look into that report. I don't want to comment on something I'm not aware of.
Question: I want to ask you on South Sudan anyways, the contractors that are still being held. One, in what you read and what was published in UN News Centre, is the allegation that the weapons were going to the opposition or going to the government to conduct further operations against the opposition?
Spokesman: The allegations weren't made by us. Questions were raised, I think including by you or somebody else, that there may have been going to somebody else, and there may be weapons on board. The only weapons that were on board were those belonging to peacekeepers. You would have to ask the opposition to see what their motivation was to grab this barge, take the fuel, but I can't…
Question: I'm just wondering, does UNMISS believe that the opposition was grabbing weapons they thought were meant for them…?
Spokesman: There were no weapons on board. Again, I think you have, besides the ones the peacekeepers had, which have not been returned. Again, I can't speak to the motivation of people who have gone and committed illegal actions against the United Nations. You have to ask them.
Correspondent: The more nitty-gritty question I wanted to ask is that most people there are saying that it's Johnson Olony, not Riek Machar. You said that Mr. Ladsous had called Riek Machar. It seems like it's another commander, Johnson Olony, who Mr. Gordon Brown has called a warlord, who may not be under the command of Riek Machar…
Spokesman: I'm sure that contacts are being held from the ground. From here, we spoke to Riek Machar, who portrays himself as the leader of the opposition, and therefore has responsibility. Linda.
Question: Thank you. I have a question about the refugees heading to Europe. We know that tens of thousands that have arrived there on their way. Does the UN have any information about any migrants or refugees as may be heading to Saudi Arabia or to any of the rich Gulf States or to Iran?
Spokesman: I do not. We can ask UNHCR. I know that Iran has taken in refugees from different countries, but obviously the routes that we're seeing out of Syria, because most of them are coming from Syria, is through Turkey and onto Europe.
Question: A follow‑up on that?
Spokesman: What a surprise.
Question: Those who go to Jordan, for example, are any of them heading towards Saudi Arabia or other Gulf States?
Spokesman: You know, I am not aware of any obviously cross-desert routes that people may be trying to take. That's something I can't speak to here. I think as one of my guests here recently mentioned or someone mentioned, that we are getting quite a lot, there is quite a lot of financial support from Saudi Arabia and a number of the Gulf States. That being said, the Secretary‑General said there is a global responsibility for those who have signed onto the Refugee Convention to help refugees in the best way they can. Matthew.
Question: And this may be for, I wanted to ask you a question. There's a long story in a publication called Kigali Today where they interview an FDLR person who they say has escaped into Rwanda and who gives a lengthy and detailed account of his time with the FDLR. And he says repeatedly that the FARDC, the Congolese Army, works with the FDLR, that many FARDC commanders are in fact FDLR members, and the only weapons, the only ammunition FDLR has comes from the Congolese Government. Given the mandate by the Security Council to neutralize the FDLR and given, I guess I'm wondering, what is the response of MONUSCO or the UN System to a seeming defrocking of a connection between the two?
Spokesman: I did not read Kigali Today today. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
Correspondent: It’s more than an opinion.
Spokesman: You're entitled to an opinion. I'm entitled to an opinion. Obviously, as you know, MONUSCO, within parameters of its human rights due diligence policy, has been supporting the fight against the FDLR.
Correspondent: The purpose of my question was to say it seems in fact that the incoming president of Security Council, Mr. Rycroft, in a Twitter response today said that he hopes that MONUSCO can work with the Government to neutralize the FDLR. The article alleges…
Spokesman: I understand what your end goal is here. The UN does work with the Government to the best of its ability within the parameters of its human rights due diligence policy. And then that's it. And then I'm going home.
Question: Is it true that United Nations personnel are using US Embassy compound in Sana’a?
Spokesman: Let me, let me check on that for you. If you use the microphone, you may.
Question: The UN contractors, are there any threats, have any threats been issued in regard to…?
Spokesman: For South Sudan?
Correspondent: Yes.
Spokesman: No specific threats that I'm aware of, but the point that these 19 people who are under contract with the UN are being held against their will, sorry, are being held against their will by an armed opposition group is not a situation I think anyone would want to be in, direct threat or no direct threat. They need to be released. Thank you.