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.
Good afternoon.
**Myanmar
I have a readout of the Secretary-General's conversation with President Thein Sein of Myanmar.
The Secretary-General, in his call, congratulated President Thein Sein and the people of Myanmar for the successful conduct of historic elections on 8 November. The high turnout of voters was evidence of the enthusiasm with which the people participated in the process, and the peaceful, orderly, open and dignified manner in which it unfolded was a tribute to the organization and leadership of the President and Government, as well as the professionalism of the Union Election Commission.
The Secretary-General highlighted that future generations would benefit from the foundations of democracy established by President Thein Sein's administration. He said the United Nations would continue as a partner with Myanmar as it moved forward on the path towards a peaceful, inclusive multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy.
The Secretary-General underlined that, as discussions proceeded for the formation of a new government, all major stakeholders must work in a spirit of unity, reconciliation and cooperation to address the major challenges confronting the nation, including those of national reconstruction, stability and development, as well as in tackling the issues of communal polarization, marginalization of minorities and advancing the peace process.
Speaking of the recent escalation of tensions in Shan and Kachin states, the Secretary-General expressed concern at their impact in loss of civilian lives, as well as on the peace process. He encouraged all parties to resolve their differences at the negotiating table.
**Syria
As you know, Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, will brief Member States on the latest developments in the political process in Syria, including last week’s talks in Vienna, in an informal meeting that is being held currently in the Trusteeship Council — but it is an informal meeting of the General Assembly. That started at 11 a.m. The meeting is closed, but following the meeting, around 12.30 p.m., Mr. de Mistura and the President of the General Assembly will be delighted to take your questions at the stakeout in front of the Trusteeship, at about 12:50 p.m., I am told.
**Middle East
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, informed the Security Council this morning about the continuing violence between Israelis and Palestinians. He said that, over the past month, there were 35 reported attacks, including stabbings or attempted stabbings, shootings, or car-rammings, by Palestinians against Israelis in Israel and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. They left six Israelis dead and 36 injured, including in an attack today in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 11 Palestinians were killed and over 3,500 injured in clashes across the West Bank and Gaza in recent weeks.
Mr. Mladenov said that, in recent days, the epicentre of violence has moved to Hebron, which, like Jerusalem, has holy sites revered by both Muslims and Jews and has been a cause of friction for decades. He said that he plans to return soon to Hebron with the UN Country Team to discuss with the Governor and the Mayor what programmes can be initiated to support the recovery of the area and community dialogue. His remarks are in my office.
**Sahel
The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, is traveling to N'Djamena, Chad, to take part in the summit of the G5 countries of the Sahel. There, he will join the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sahel, Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, and deliver a message on the Secretary-General’s behalf. For those of you, like me, who did not know what the G5 countries were, they are Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Niger. Every day we learn something here, together.
In advance of the summit this week, the second report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Sahel Strategy was published. In it, the Secretary-General expresses his “concern about the dim prospects facing millions of young people in the Sahel”. The Secretary-General also notes that the security situation in the region remains volatile due to the continuing crises in Mali and Libya, the presence of extremist groups like Boko Haram and Al-Qaida, and drug trafficking.
Nearly 4.5 million people have been uprooted from their homes across the region, highlighting the extent of humanitarian needs caused by natural and man-made crises across the region. Under the leadership of the Special Envoy, the United Nations is seeking to address the root causes of instability in the areas of security, governance and resilience.
**Yemen
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Head of Operations, John Ging, warned today that the health and education systems in Yemen are at the brink of collapse, following a visit to the country between 15 and 17 November. Mr. Ging said that eight months of conflict has had a devastating effect on all aspects of life in Yemen, with the health and education sectors the hardest hit. A sharp reduction in imports and a ban on exports have reduced public and commercial revenues, resulting in collapsing services and livelihoods.
Mr. Ging stressed the need for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, adding that it is unacceptable to prevent aid deliveries or steal humanitarian supplies. He also appealed for the immediate lifting of the siege on Taiz and an end to the bureaucratic obstacles in delivering aid inside Yemen.
**Sri Lanka
Our humanitarian colleagues also tell us that heavy rains and floods in recent days have affected more than 132,000 people in 11 districts in Sri Lanka. That’s according to aid agencies and local authorities. Nearly 4,000 homes have been totally or partially destroyed. The United Nations is supporting the Ministry of Disaster Management response by providing basic household items to families that have been impacted.
**Malaria
With just six weeks left until the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals, the sixth goal — reducing the malaria burden — has been achieved. Thanks to collective efforts and increased financing, the world has surpassed this Goal’s targets to halt and reverse malaria incidence, with more than 6.2 million malaria deaths averted since the year 2000. Today, more than 100 countries are free of malaria and at least 55 countries are on track to reduce malaria case incidence by 75 per cent by the end of this year. More information on the worldwide web.
**Sanitation
We mentioned yesterday that today is World Toilet Day. Some 2.4 billion people globally do not have toilets and roughly 1 in 8 of the world’s population still defecates in the open. UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund], USAID [United States Agency for International Development] and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued today a new report, Improving Nutrition Outcomes with Better Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, that brings together for the first time years of research and case studies which demonstrate the link between sanitation and malnutrition, and also provides guidance for action. Lack of sanitation, and particularly open defecation, contributes to the incidence of diarrhoea and to the spread of intestinal parasites, which in turn cause malnutrition.
**Trees
The FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] have asked to announce that today, they have an updated version of an online tree assessment tool. It allows countries to get a clearer picture of the biomass, carbon content and ecosystem services of trees and forests than previously possible.
**Press Conferences
As I mentioned, 12:50 p.m. today, the PGA [President of the General Assembly] and Staffan de Mistura outside the Trusteeship Council.
Tomorrow at 11 a.m., Janos Pasztor, Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change, will be briefing you ahead of COP21 [twenty-first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]. That’s at 11 a.m., in this very room.
And then at around noon, I will be joined by Daniela Mercury, singer, activist and UN Equality Champion, and I will also be joined by Charles Radcliffe, Officer-in-Charge of the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They will be here to brief you on the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Latin America. Voila. Then Mr. Lee. Then Masood.
**Questions and Answers
Question: I have some countries-specific questions, but I wanted to ask about… maybe you can answer this. The meeting that's being held on Syria, the meeting by Mr. de Mistura, I'm just going to ask why it's closed. I'm thinking you might say because it's an informal meeting. Then I'm going to say previous informals were open, like when Kofi Annan as envoy briefed under previous PGA; who makes the decision?
Spokesman: That's a question for the organizers of the meeting.
Question: Unless, of course, did Mr. de Mistura make the request? I guess I’m asking.
Spokesman: I'm not aware that he did.
Question: I wanted to ask you, there's been a release of three Americans in Yemen, the Omanis have confirmed. So I want to know, since there were these two Americans, two individuals who you confirmed were flown in and taken into detention, can you state whether either of these or the remaining individual has been released?
Spokesman: No. I have no comment on these press reports except to say, to stress that I think, in a wire story earlier today, they were identified as UN contractors. These are people that we have no contractual relationship with. Masood?
Question: Stéphane, I have two questions. Thank you. This recent cooperation between Iran and the international community, which has been deflected, it is being said that Iran is cooperating on its nuclear programme and, in some cases, reversing the trend of escalation of its nuclear technology. Does the Secretary‑General has any comments on that?
Spokesman: You know, obviously, the terms of the agreement reached between the P5+1 [China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States, Germany] and Iran are fairly clear. It has responsibilities for those Member States themselves. It involves issues having to do with sanctions in the Security Council as well as a role for the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]. There is no role for the Secretary‑General in this process. Obviously, the Secretary‑General firmly believes that Iran has a role to play in solving a lot of the crises that we're currently seeing in Yemen and in Syria. And very much hopes that the spirit in which the Vienna Agreement was agreed to will have a positive effect on these other crises.
Question: Yes. And on the… Stéphane, on this Yemen thing, the Secretary‑General has been appealing, especially to the Saudi Arabia, which does not seem to stop bombing over there, and the humanitarian condition, as you say, Mr. John Ging has been pointing out, is becoming bad to worse. Would the Secretary‑General again appeal somehow? Or…?
Spokesman: I think that the appeal stands and is often repeated. Currently, his Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, I believe, is in Muscat, where he will have some discussions. He will continue his regional shuttle diplomacy and is very much focused on getting the parties to the table, and I think, as we've said publicly here, announcing a date for such a meeting. Yes, sir?
Question: Thank you. [inaudible]… I don't see the wisdom why the Special Envoy, Mr. Mladenov, had to divide the Palestinian killed. In one paragraph, he said of the suspected Palestinian assailants, 24 were killed. And then he said, according to OCHA, 11 people were killed. So, as if he’s dividing those who killed as assailants and those who are killed as just innocent victims. I don't know. I don't see why he didn't put all the number of the Palestinian victims together to make the number look… stands for what it is, rather than divide it.
Spokesman: I'm not sure I understand your question. I mean, I think you can always address it to him… to his office. I think the numbers of the civilians who have been killed, who have died, in this conflict recently is clear and is one more reason, if we needed one more reason, to push the parties to get back to the peace process.
Question: My second question, as you… as probably everyone knows that Israel has had now banned the Islamic movement inside Israel led by Raed Salah, taking advantage of what happened in Paris and mid… in the midst of all this wave of antiterrorism and anti‑ISIS, he took advantage and banned a legal movement which has been functioning for many years inside Israel. Is there any comment on that?
Spokesman: I don't have anything in particular on this at this time. Yes, Luke?
Question: Two questions on security. The first: couldn't help but notice the NYPD [New York Police Department] Jersey barriers stacked on 42nd Street, sort of reminiscent of the preparations for the general debate. Is there some kind of plan afoot to increase security here at the United Nations?
Spokesman: That's a question best addressed to the NYPD and the host government. As you know, they are responsible for the security outside of the perimeter and we rely on them and thank them for all the work they've been doing.
Question: And I guess also, in the wake of the Paris attacks, has the SG been made aware of any threats towards the United Nations, either general or specific?
Spokesman: No, I… obviously, we're very closely situation… monitoring the situation in Paris. I think the Secretary‑General said a number of times he's very happy that the conference is going ahead. Obviously, there will be… the host, our French host will take the measures they need to take, and I think we're also very pleased to see the recommitment of world leaders to attend this critical conference. The Secretary‑General, during his time in… at the G20, was repeatedly told by the leaders that he met that they would be in Paris for the G20.
Question: I was also asking about here in New York City, if you're not aware of any threats against this building.
Spokesman: As I said, the security is assessed on a daily basis, and we're always in close contact with the host country. Cara?
Question: Thank you. Thailand has deported two Chinese pro‑democracy activists back to China under Chinese pressure, even though the two men were UN‑registered refugees. This is not the first time that countries have sent UN‑registered refugees back to China. Does the UN protect refugees or not? And what is it doing to make sure this doesn't happen again?
Spokesman: I will check with our colleagues at UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] in… to see if they have anything specific on this case. But what is clear is that those who are registered as refugees have rights and are entitled to protection, and it is up to Member States to live up to the commitments they've made by signing on to the 1951 Convention on Refugees. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I want to ask about South Sudan and then Macau. In South Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has asked publicly for UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] to increase the space available to IDPs [internally displaced people] in the Malakal protection site, saying basically they're crammed in and seems to violate even the sort of standards put out by UN and others. What is UNMISS doing about these? They have more space.
Spokesman: What UNMISS is doing is sheltering over 100,000 people since the start of the Civil War in very difficult conditions, in places that were not designed to house people. They were not designed to be… to hold internally displaced people. These were, for most of them, logistics bases. The mission is constantly trying to improve the conditions, whether it's hygiene and living standards. Obviously, we're limited by space, by funds, and we're trying to do the best we can.
Question: Well, I guess… I mean, but are they saying MSF doesn't understand that? They work in the camp but they're saying the people…
Spokesman: I'm not saying MSF… MSF says what it feels needs to be said, and I say what I feel I need to say.
Question: Okay. The other thing I wanted to ask you about is, in light… after the indictment of Ng Lap Seng, something called the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty has cancelled a similar conference to the one held in August he was going to hold in Macau, and this is due to the corruption scandal. But it turns out this World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty was founded by UNDP [United Nations Development Programme], is listed as one their partnerships, is somehow also related to office of South‑South Cooperation, which, it seems, was going to move part of its headquarters to Macau until the scandal broke. So my question to you is, it seems like there's more… as time goes by, the… the… the, you know, intertwinement of Ng Lap Seng with various UN bodies, in this case, one that wasn't found… you always said founded by the General Assembly, only hosted in UNDP, this was a UNDP entity. How did this happen and what…?
Spokesman: I would refer your question to the UNDP press office.
Question: But as you've referred to me the office of South‑South Cooperation, and they’re not answering any more…?
Spokesman: Call UNDP. Obviously, the Secretary‑General has launched the audit that he talked about. He's asked… and he's asked all of the other entities to take a look at their relationship.
Question: Can one of these entities have a press conference? It's been like two months now. Has the…?
Spokesman: I think you should refer… you can call the UNDP press office. Majeed and then Masood and then…
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. I wanted to ask about Syria. Given the details of those… the Vienna discussions, the UN has a big role… will have a big role in the upcoming months. Can you tell us, was there be any discussion with the Secretary‑General about the… when these discussions going to start in preparation for 1 January talks about the timing, and also my second question is, the President of Syria, Bashar al‑Assad, said that there will be no negotiation until certain areas, I quote, taken most of the part… until most of the part of Syria is liberated from terrorists. That means…?
Spokesman: I heard the comments. First of all, I think you're welcome to ask Mr. de Mistura a number of these questions. There are internal discussions going on now. We've, so to speak, received our marching orders from Vienna… the two Vienna meetings. Mr. de Mistura and his team and various parts of the system are very hard at work in trying to push their way forward and to implement the tasks that were given to us. I don't want to jump hurdles. This is done on a step‑by‑step basis. And I think discussions will be had with opposition groups. Discussions will be had, obviously, with the Government. But I don't want to legislate those or… excuse me… comment on those publicly through here.
Question: [inaudible]
Spokesman: I think… that was the answer to my second question. Evelyn, you haven't had a chance yet.
Correspondent: Yes.
Spokesman: First… people who haven't had a question first. Then I go to round two. That's…
Question: [inaudible]
Spokesman: I don't… exactly, yeah. Thank you.
Question: Thank you, Stéph. Is there a general update on Burundi? And my question is, there was an interesting story in the Washington Post that you may have mentioned before and that's that the refugee… the Burundian refugees going to Rwanda are being conscripted into an army and the danger there would be that they could possibly conduct an insurgency inside Burundi.
Spokesman: I haven't seen that. I will take a look at that report. And your first… and the update… I need to get an update from Jamal Benomar's travels, but I think, given the time it takes to get there, he's probably just getting into the region now. Masood?
Question: Yes. Stéphane, I asked you this question about ten days ago, and now again, this appeal has been made by Nepal to India to lift the blockade, both economic and food blockade that Nepal… I mean India has raised upon Nepal. Is there anything that the Secretary‑General…?
Spokesman: Masood, with due respect, I think you may not have been… between the time you asked the question and today, we did issue a statement, I think, a couple of days ago. So I would refer you back to that statement, because our position is unchanged. Linda and then Matthew, and then the stakeout is starting a little earlier. So I'll let you go.
Question: Thank you, Stéph. I was just wondering, regarding the ISIS attack in Paris, I was just wondering how often or what the latest is in terms of the Secretary‑General being in touch, perhaps, with President [François] Hollande. And I was also wondering if he had had a chance or has been consulted about the upcoming French draft resolution here at the UN.
Spokesman: The conversation… the Secretary‑General had a conversation with President Hollande just yesterday, if I recall. Obviously, we've seen these reports of a French resolution. It's up to, obviously, the sponsors to the French to do what they wish… to do what they wish with it. Evelyn, then Matthew. No? Okay. Matthew, last question. Then the… okay.
Correspondent: I can ask that briefly.
Spokesman: Okay.
Question: If… should there ever be a ceasefire in Syria, the UN is supposed to monitor it. We have any idea if that's DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations], outsourced…?
Spokesman: I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. Obviously, the… there would be an extremely important role for those countries, such as Russia and the US and other regional… other powers who have an… who can have a positive impact on the country to ensure that the ceasefire is put in place. The monitoring of such a ceasefire will obviously depend on a number of other factors, but it would involve different parts of the system. Matthew, and then we'll go?
Question: Sure. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in his anticorruption campaign, has ordered the arrest of the former National Security Adviser for $2 billion of phantom arm contracts. Turns out that this adviser worked extensively with the UN Counter‑Terrorism Implementation Task Force, CTITF, including meetings at Greentree. So I'm wondering, is there any… $2 billion is a lot of the money. Was the UN entirely unaware of these? Does the UN have any comment on its counter‑terrorism partner being indicted for massive corruption?
Spokesman: I think the partner is Nigeria, and we continue to partner with Nigeria. We obviously have no information as to the relate… as to the specific charges levelled against this gentleman. We hope the justice system in Nigeria follows its course.
Question: But when CTI… when they're working with… as they were, at Greentree and elsewhere with the counter‑terrorism programme, is there any… is there any vetting by the UN system to make sure that…? [cross talk]
Spokesman: I mean, I have no… I have no… as I said, I have no information on this particular case. I think one would imagine that, if people are involved in criminal activity… and I'm not speaking specifically about this gentleman, one would not speak about it with its partners. Thank you.