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.
**Libya
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, briefed the Security Council this morning.
Following a year-long complex process of negotiations and compromises between the Libyan parties during the UN-facilitated talks, Mr. León said that Libya’s leaders will now have a unique opportunity to reach a political settlement that spares the country and people further bloodshed and destruction. However, success would always be dependent on the parties’ collective endorsement of the agreement, [he said], adding that Libyan ownership of the dialogue process and outcomes has been at the heart of the UN mediation efforts.
Mr. León said that the proposed political agreement was never intended to be a panacea for all of Libya’s problems. It was meant to lay the structures and principles that would guide the next phase of the country’s political transition. He stressed that the UN will continue to encourage the political parties to endorse the agreement and urged the international community to move quickly in mobilizing support for a future Libyan Government of National Accord.
The Special Representative is expected to speak to you at the stakeout and I am keeping an eye on the stakeout here, so I will tell you when to escape.
Prior to that, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court also briefed on Libya, as well in an open meeting. All those remarks are available to you.
**Death Penalty
In just a short while, at 12:30 p.m., the Secretary-General will launch a book called Moving Away from the Death Penalty at the UN Bookstore. As you will recall, the [Assistant] Secretary-General Ivan Šimonović briefed you on the book yesterday.
Stressing that the death penalty should be abolished, the Secretary-General is expected to say that there is still no proof that the death penalty even deters crime. He will add that, when States impose the death penalty, they also kill any hope for justice.
The Secretary-General will point out that the death penalty discriminates, saying that there are studies that have proven that those who are poor, mentally disabled and/or are minorities are at higher risk, regardless of guilt or innocence. The event will be covered by UNTV but it will be played back at about 3 p.m. on the internal channel and we will put the remarks out as well.
**Western Sahara
As you will have seen, yesterday evening, we issued a statement on Western Sahara.
In that statement, the Secretary-General said that, as the conflict over the future of Western Sahara and the human suffering it has occasioned near their fortieth year, the situation in north-west Africa is becoming increasingly alarming. This conflict must be brought to an end if the people of the region are to meet their shared challenges and achieve their full potential, he added.
The Secretary-General stressed that the definitive status of this territory is the object of a negotiating process being conducted under his auspices in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. He noted, with regret, that the April 2007 proposals of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front have not opened the way to the genuine negotiations for which the Council and himself have repeatedly called.
At his direction, his Personal Envoy, Mr. Christopher Ross, has intensified his efforts to facilitate the entry of the parties into negotiations without preconditions and in good faith to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
They have yet to do so, the Secretary-General said, urging all concerned within the region and within the broader international community to take advantage of his Personal Envoy’s intensified efforts to facilitate the launching of true negotiations in the coming months.
**Turkey
Also yesterday, we issued a note to correspondents in response to questions we had about the elections in Turkey. The Secretary-General said he congratulated the people and Government of Turkey on the parliamentary elections on 1 November. He encourages the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and all political parties in Turkey to work closely together to strengthen the peace, stability and democracy in the country.
**Yemen
On Yemen, just an update from our humanitarian colleagues: a UN Disaster and Coordination (UNDAC) team of 11 people is deploying to Oman today to support the response to the tropical cyclone in neighbouring Yemen. The primary task of the team is to evaluate setting up a relief supply chain from Oman into affected areas in Yemen. The team will be in Muscat tomorrow to start operations — and its work will complement the response effort of over 900 UN staff already in Yemen.
**Deputy Secretary-General’s Travels
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, continued his visit to Washington, D.C., today.
This morning, he delivered the keynote address, entitled “What is next for UN peace operations?”, at a workshop, in which he said that addressing today’s conflicts means using the full range of UN tools. His full remarks are online.
While in the US capital today, the Deputy Secretary-General is also scheduled to meet with members of Congress and senior officials of the State Department. This evening, he will deliver a lecture at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
**Ukraine
Meanwhile, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator for the United Nations, Stephen O’Brien, wrapped up a visit to Ukraine yesterday, calling for sustained and unimpeded access to vulnerable people caught in the middle of the crisis and who urgently need humanitarian aid.
He said [that] he went to Ukraine to see first-hand the consequences of the conflict in the east of the country on civilians and those forced to flee their homes. Some four million people in eastern Ukraine need assistance and protection.
Mr. O’Brien held talks with the Prime Minister and other senior official in the capital, Kyiv, also with representatives of the de facto authorities in Luhansk and Donetsk. As a result of his meetings and the welcome assurances he received, he said he is confident that he can count on all the parties to facilitate immediate, unimpeded and sustained aid delivery.
Mr. O'Brien today began a two-day visit to Russia, where he met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and they discussed ways of building on the strong partnership between the UN and Russia on a series of humanitarian issues.
Tomorrow, he will meet with senior officials and visit the Russian Emergencies Ministry (otherwise known as EMERCOM) national crisis centre.
**Europe — Refugees
With the numbers of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe continuing to be high, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) today launched an appeal for nearly $100 million for additional help for Greece and countries in the Balkans as the winter approaches.
The harsh weather conditions will likely worsen the suffering of refugees and migrants arriving in Greece and travelling throughout the Balkans. The agency is planning for up to 5,000 arrivals per day between this November and next February, and warned that winter weather could result in further loss of life if adequate measures are not taken urgently. It will work to winterize shelter and reception facilities, as well as aid packages containing winter clothing and blankets.
**Colombia
Just a couple more notes. The Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, welcomed today the commitment made by the FARC in Colombia to stop the recruitment of children under 18. The full press release is in my office and on the internet.
**Bangladesh
Regarding Bangladesh, the High Commissioner for Human Rights today strongly condemned the continuing violent attacks against bloggers and publishers in Bangladesh, calling for the Government to take urgent, concerted measures to protect all who are being threatened by extremists operating in the country.
He noted that at least five Bangladeshi writers and publishers, as well as two foreign aid workers, have been violently murdered this year in Dhaka, with many more attacked and threatened, apparently by groups that believe they have the right to impose their views on others through wanton violence.
The High Commissioner said there is an urgent need for a concerted response to prevent more killings by promptly bringing the perpetrators to justice. He also stressed that the State must ensure that journalists, members of civil society and human rights defenders are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and opinion without fear for their safety.
**Food Price
Lastly, major food commodity prices rose in October, spurred by weather‑driven concerns about sugar and palm oil supplies. According to the FAO’s Food Price Index, it went up 3.9 per cent in September. The reasons for this rise go from excessive rains in Brazil and drought throughout India and Thailand [to] intensifying concerns that El Niño may hamper next year's palm oil supply in Indonesia. There is also an update on the WFP [World Food Programme] website on their concerns regarding food due to El Niño.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Hi. Gabriel Elizondo from Al Jazeera. Thanks for calling on me. Regarding Libya, the GNC [General National Congress] has sent a letter to the Secretary‑General asking for an explanation on the ties between León and the UAE [United Arab Emirates]. Does the Secretary‑General feel that he needs to give some sort of explanation to the GNC and to the Libyan people in general?
Spokesman: I think Mr. León's tireless and unending work to try to reach an accord on a government of national accord in Libya speaks for itself. Throughout this process, he has been criticized strongly by one side or another at different points. We have not commented publicly on these criticisms. Mr. León will continue his work. As we've said, the transition will happen in the coming, in the coming days or so. But, you know, I would refer you back to what Mr. León said about the need for Libyan leaders on both ends, on both sides, to rise above their differences and keep the needs, the hopes of the Libyan people in mind.
Question: But does… but does the Secretary‑General think it's appropriate that Mr. León in his current role was also negotiating a job with UAE while he was in his role at the UN?
Spokesman: The Secretary‑General would expect all of his envoys not to let their search for a next position impact the work they're currently doing. On that, Mr. León's work, I think, at the head of UNSMIL [United Nations Support Mission in Libya] and as the mediator in Libya, speaks for itself. And, as we said yesterday, the Secretary‑General very much thanks him for the dedicated work he's done. Fathi? We'll move down.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. A follow‑up on Gabriel's question regarding Mr. León's negotiation for a second job while he was still a Libya envoy, and it's happening with the UAE, which is covertly or overtly involved in the situation in Libya. How ethical is that? And is there any guidelines of the Secretary-General's Office for his Special Envoys to put a moratorium on whether they can seek a job, which nobody can deny that, but is there a time frame? What's the ethical foundation for, while you are a Special Envoy for the SG, negotiating a job offer with a country that is involved covertly or overtly? And this impacts the credibility of the Secretary‑General himself. Any remarks from the SG?
Spokesman: I think, again, to go back to what I've said, they are… The Secretary‑General would expect all his envoys or anybody in any position not to let any discussions they may have to find future employment, as it is their right to do, have an impact on their current work. I think the issue of impartiality is critical for the work of any mediator. I think, throughout this process, we've seen Mr. León being criticized at various points from both sides, and I think again, the work that he's done, the effort he's put in, speak for themselves. And, as I said, the Secretary‑General, I think, thanks him very much for all the work that he's done. Majeed, Matthew, then I'll go to Edie.
Question: Thank you. Follow‑up on that, Stéphane. I have two questions. First is about the UN envoy to Libya. Was the Secretary‑General himself or his office aware that Mr. León was negotiating such a job offer from UAE during the summer period that was mentioned? And my second question is about Syrian refugees. There are recently Syrian activists complained about the lack, about how the slow of the resettlement of the refugees is happening right now from Iraq, especially, and in Turkey, which is like… it takes some of them 15 years. They tell them, “Wait until 2020.” What will the UN's planning to do about this issue?
Spokesman: I think I would not disagree with you about the slowness of the resettlement process, and this is one of the issues and one of the reasons the Secretary‑General, along with the Deputy Secretary‑General and other senior UN officials involved in this issue, have been pushing the international community and especially those countries that are willing to receive refugees and migrants to streamline the processes, to make it easier for family reunification, and so people don't have to wait 15 or 20 years for an answer. On your first part of your question, I have nothing to say on that.
Question: So can you please…? Do you know if they are aware or not…?
Spokesman: I think… I have nothing to say on that. Matthew then Edie.
Question: I also want to ask about this Guardian e-mail revelations. And my question… I mean, it's a very specific question. Did Mr. León seek guidance from the UN Ethics Office while he was engaging in these emails with the UAE about a $1,500‑a‑day job with them? Two, are there any other current SRSGs that the Secretary‑General is aware of who are seeking other posts with countries or companies that have an interest in the places where they're based?
Spokesman: I'm not aware of any others. Again, I think the message to all the Secretary‑General's envoys and mediators is that they need to ensure that their work remains impartial and not impacted by any future plans they may have. As to the advice he may have asked for of the Ethics Office, that's… as always, relations between the staff and Ethics Office is one of privilege. It's not for me to ask or to know.
Question: But I guess the overall question is should there be rules… was he required to seek… it wasn't him asking for protection against retaliation. It would be the need to seek clearance to do something that on its face is a conflict of interest. So I guess… does Ban Ki‑moon believe, at least in these circumstances, SRSGs should seek an opinion from the Ethics Office…
Spokesman: There are guidelines for mediators, and again, the Secretary‑General would expect a certain, you know, his envoys and mediators not to let any future, search for future employment impact their current work.
Question: And does this with… combined with the John Ashe/Ng scandal and, to some degree, the CRA… the CAR [Central African Republic] rapes, does this… rather than say that it's a trend, does this show a need for more rules to be… rather than just expectations. Maybe he didn't understand. Is there a need before the Secretary‑General leaves office to set rules so that this doesn't keep happening?
Spokesman: I think all the issues you mentioned are separate and different. In some cases, it is about respecting existing rules. Others about strengthening the office as it is with the issue with the PGA [President of the General Assembly]. For the CAR issue, we'll have to wait and see what the panel recommends. Edie?
Question: A follow‑up on that and then another question. In terms… obviously, it is another incident that does not reflect favourably on the United Nations and its procedures the way it operates. Does the Secretary‑General think that he needs, in view of this, to spell out to current and future SRSGs and other high‑level officials the potential conflict of interest that could bring damage to the UN's reputation? And…
Spokesman: I think…
Correspondent: Go ahead.
Spokesman: I think it is always good to remind people of the rules and guidelines. The Secretary‑General expects all his staff and especially the senior staff that was in leadership to behave with a high ethical standard. Your second question.
Question: On the Western Sahara, could you tell us exactly what Christopher Ross is going to be doing that's different from what he and all of his predecessors have been doing to try and move this issue forward?
Spokesman: Mr. Ross will continue his work as Personal Envoy of the Secretary‑General to push for settlement of this issue we talked — has gone on for more than 40 years — in line with the Security Council resolutions. And, obviously, as in any situation like this, the parties also have a responsibility to move forward in good faith. Sylviane and then Joe.
Question: Regarding resettlements of the migrants and refugees, is there any plans to resettle refugees from Lebanon in order to “alléger”?
Spokesman: To alleviate, yes.
Question: … alleviate the weight on Lebanon?
Spokesman: I think it is clear to everyone that Lebanon has been carrying an outsized weight on its shoulders and opening its doors and literally its homes to Syrian refugees. Every country has a responsibility to deal with the refugee crisis and to live up to its responsibilities under the relevant 1951 Refugee Convention. The issue of resettlement, if I'm not mistaken, is one that is negotiated direct, you know, through UNHCR and the International Organization of Migration with specific countries. I think we would all want to see the weight lifted off of Lebanon's shoulders. A big solution to lifting that weight, if not the critical solution, is finding an end to the war in Syria and getting the political process back on track. Mr. Klein? And then we'll move back…
Question: And follow‑up. On the… on the…
Spokesman: Your microphone.
Question: On the young girl, there is more than 60,000 young newborns in Lebanon. Is there anything to do about the…
Spokesman: On the issue of statelessness?
Question: …on the issue of stateless…
Spokesman: I would refer you back to the very strong comments by the High Commissioner for Refugees that he made yesterday here in New York. Mr. Klein. We'll move backwards and then we'll go back to the second round.
Question: Okay. Thank you. With regard to the statement you read out on the Turkish elections, in the past, the Secretary‑General has commented specifically in terms of irregularities or problems leading up to elections, including intimidation of the press, opposition parties, and so forth. There are widespread reports that in Turkey, opposition newspapers and TV stations were raided or taken over, stations taken off the air, bombings of an opposition party headquarters, and so forth. I'm wondering why the Secretary‑General has not, in the case of Turkey, followed the same standard he has in the case of other elections and noted his concerns about those… that pattern of activity.
Spokesman: You know, if I'm not mistaken, I have addressed those issues here in the past… in the past few days. Obviously, on the elections themselves, we were not supporting the elections. We were not requested to support or observe the elections. It is clear that — and I think I said this before — that, prior to any election, that the press be allowed to do its work freely, as a free press is a critical part of the preparation for an election, a way for people to be informed. And the Secretary‑General very much hopes that, moving forward, the ruling party, along with the other parties in the parliament, will work together to bring peace and to work on keeping stability in Turkey. Olga?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. You probably don't like this kind of announcement questions but can you…
Spokesman: Try me.
Question: Secretary‑General…
Spokesman: I like a challenge. Go ahead.
Question: Secretary‑General has been invited to the… to take part in the International Council Forum in Saint Petersburg in December this year in Russia. Can you confirm he's gotten the invitation and will he go there?
Spokesman: I cannot. As you know, when we announce travel, we announce it a little closer to the date to confirm it. But I don't have any information.
Question: What about the invitation?
Spokesman: I have not seen the invitation, but I will check. Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you. The GNC says that they have already submitted a request for the Secretary‑General to investigate Mr. León. Do you confirm receiving a letter from the GNC that based in Tripoli requesting…?
Spokesman: Yes, a letter has been received.
Question: Requested to investigate. The second, there was also rumours in the past about somebody like Tony Blair, but I want to ask you, does the Secretary‑General appoint the Coordinator of the Quartet or who are appoints the Coordinator of the…?
Spokesman: Mr. Blair's appointment was a joint appointment by all the members of the Quartet, and I would not draw any comparisons between Mr. Blair and Mr. León.
Question: On Mr. León, when you found out or when the Secretary‑General found out, was it another case of “we're surprised and shocked”, or was it “we're not very concerned because it didn't impact his work”?
Spokesman: Again, I would say I think Mr. León's current work in Libya and his efforts, tireless efforts, speak to itself and speak to the value of his work. Yes?
Question: Yeah, follow‑up on Libya. Is there going to be a response to that GNC letter and is the Secretary-General concerned that this issue can impact the work of the successor of…
Spokesman: As I said, I think we've had a lot of public criticism of Mr. León at one time or another from various parties based in different Libyan cities. It happens just like we're seeing on the issue of Yemen of different sides criticizing… criticizing the envoy. It's part of the process, so to speak. Mr. León will continue, as he said, to focus on his work in the coming days and on getting a government of national accord built. Yes?
Question: Yeah, can you be a little more specific in terms of the transition? You say it will take some days and…
Spokesman: No. I cannot.
Question: So it's… it's still open‑ended…?
Spokesman: No, I think coming days or so. It's as far as I will go. I've learned not to predict things with hard dates and times. Yes, sir?
Question: My name is [inaudible]. I'm the correspondent for the Haiti Observateur newspaper. I'm asking… I'm actually… I see yesterday that the General Assembly adopted the resolution welcoming the Ark of Return. My question is, when is it going to be fully operational? Since the day it was unveiled, it never… the fountains never worked. So I'm wondering…
Spokesman: I think the… You're talking about the… the sculpture to mark the transatlantic slave trade that's on the…?
Correspondent: Yes.
Spokesman: Yes. My understanding is that there's some technical issues with the fountain and with the water. I think they're trying to resolve them, but I don't think it's that simple, unfortunately. But the Ark of Return is very much out and for the public to see, and I think it's… quite a number of the visitors if you look out on the plaza are going to see it and see the strong message that it puts forward. I will try to get you an update on the issue of the water and when it's going to start to flow again. Round two.
Question: Thank you very much for another question. On Libya, I just want to make sure I understand correctly, does the Secretary‑General plan to give an explanation as the GNC requests?
Spokesman: As I'm sure some answer will be provided to the GNC, but it will be provided to the GNC first. Yes, Fathi?
Question: [inaudible]
Spokesman: Not anything that I can add at this point.
Question: Does the Secretary‑General — just to be clear here — does the Secretary‑General think it was appropriate for Mr. León to be negotiating a job with a government that has a vested interest in the very negotiations that he was part of? Yes or no?
Spokesman: I think I heard your first question. I would refer you back to what I said in the beginning. Thank you.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Will the Secretary‑General be willing and ready to release the guidelines he issued to the Special Envoy…?
Spokesman: I think the guidelines for mediators are a public document and they're online. Mr. Lee?
Question: So I have other questions, but I wanted to ask you on this one, you'll remember the case of Alexander Downer, when he was the, I guess, part‑time envoy to Cyprus, having an outside business job. Did he seek an Ethics Office opinion in that case? And do you think that, given the Secretary‑General has said that these financial disclosures, including public financial disclosures, somehow bring sunlight, will Mr. León ever file a sort of “after service”? Would that system catch this? Or is there a need for greater disclosure?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General would expect all of his staff, especially senior staff and envoys, to behave at the highest ethical standards. Whether or not people ask for an advice from the Ethics Office, that's between them and the Ethics Office. Mr. León is a full‑time… he’s not a part‑time envoy, is a full‑time envoy. At the risk of using the same words over and over again, I think, if you look at the tireless efforts he put in, the extended time that he stayed, the fact that he never gave up on trying to reach an agreement and is continuing at it, the fact of the criticism he's faced from all sides at various points, I think, speaks, speaks for itself.
Question: Right. But it's two separate things. I mean, somebody can be criticized. That doesn't mean that taking this job was right. Right? I mean…
Spokesman: I…
Question: I'll move on. Something on Western Sahara, but I want to be sure to ask you this one. Previously, when this John Ashe/Frank Lorenzo thing first broke, I'd asked you why South‑South Awards had been able to put out one of its press releases through the office. You said it was a mistake. I accept that. Now it seems UNTV has on its website and at the time was repackaging and still has up material from South‑South News. It's the only outside media that I can find that has segments branded with their… and so I wanted to know… it doesn't seem like it's a mistake; there was a number of them. What was the relationship between Frank Lorenzo and Mr. Ng's South‑South News and the UN?
Spokesman: As far as UNTV, I would ask you to ask DPI [Department of Public Information]. I don't know off the top of my head.
Question: Do you think it's appropriate? Same question.
Spokesman: I would prefer an opinion if I knew the facts.
Question: Stéphane…
Spokesman: …for once.
Question: …I just want to distinguish between two things. We comment on the performance of Mr. León negotiating a job deal, and you take us back to criticism of his performance as Special Envoy. They're two different things. Every Special Envoy has been criticized by both parties or one party at a time from Brahimi to Ashraf Qazi to Jamal Benomar, everyone. But we're not talking about that. So you take us every time we ask about this specific incident of negotiating a job…
Spokesman: Abdelhamid, I appreciate your effort to give me a lesson in spokesmanry, but please give me a question.
Correspondent: No, I'm just…
Spokesman: Okay.
Question: …that my question is, a man in the job negotiating a job in the government that has a stake in what he was doing, and this is what we want an answer. Why he…?
Spokesman: You know, I think this is the way it works. You guys ask me a question. I answer the question to the best of my ability. Whether it may not meet your needs — sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I too am criticized from all sides in this room. [laughter] It comes with the job. But I think… I don't know what… I really have no more words to use in the questions that have been asked today. Let's see if we have more words. Matthew?
Question: Okay. One… to go to policy for a moment, the Western Sahara statement yesterday, I wanted to… it… two questions. Is the Secretary‑General aware of a plan by the King of Morocco to actually visit Western Sahara on 6 November, which many people, some people call it a provocation, some people say it's totally within his rights but…?
Spokesman: I've seen those press reports.
Question: And is this… is the statement in some way related to that? What's his message to the King of Morocco in terms of actually going to…?
Spokesman: I think the message to the, the message to the parties, I think, is very much in the message. It's not a statement to the King of Morocco or to the Front Polisario. It's a message to the partiers to mark the sombre anniversary of 40 years of unresolved conflict.
Question: But is a visit by the king at this time helpful to what the statement is trying to…?
Spokesman: I think we'll… we may have more to say on that later.
Question: Okay. And also on this, is it true that Mr. Ross, in the course of his journeys, has been unable to meet with the King of Morocco?
Spokesman: I don't know. I will see when his last time was.
Question: Have you heard about the case of the UN in Nairobi of the legal staffer who's charged with domestic battery? So what I wanted to know is, one, do [you] have any statement about the action? But when did UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] know about this incident, and what's it going to do?
Spokesman: I think you would have to ask UNEP. I think they put out a press release. Obviously, anyone who is being charged for this sort of crime does not benefit from any sort of immunity. So we hope that the justice system runs its course. Good day.