In progress at UNHQ

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.

**Saudi Arabia-Iran

I have a readout of two phone calls the Secretary-General made, one with the Foreign Minister of Iran and the other one with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia.

The Secretary-General called today His Excellency Mr. Adel Al-Jubeir, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia.  The Secretary-General also spoke by telephone yesterday with the Foreign Minister of Iran, [His Excellency Mr.] Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Speaking to Foreign Minister Zarif, the Secretary-General recalled his statement on the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr and 46 other prisoners by Saudi Arabia on 2 January.  He further recalled his condemnation of the attack at the Saudi embassy in Tehran and urged Foreign Minister Zarif to take the necessary measures to protect diplomatic facilities in the country.

Speaking to Foreign Minister Al-Jubeir, the Secretary-General reiterated his views on capital punishment and his disappointment at the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr, whose case the Secretary-General had raised with the Saudi authorities on several occasions.  The Secretary-General also reiterated that the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was deplorable, but added that the announcement of a break in Saudi diplomatic relations with Tehran was deeply worrying.  Regarding Yemen, the Secretary-General urged Saudi Arabia to renew its commitment to a ceasefire.

The Secretary-General urged both Foreign Ministers to avoid any actions that could further exacerbate the situation between the two countries and in the region as a whole.  He stressed the importance of continued constructive engagement by both countries in the interest of the region and beyond.  That [readout] has now been issued online.

**Syria

Also, to add to that, Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, is on his way to Riyadh, where I think he may have already arrived.  He also intends to visit Iran later this week.

During his visits, the Special Envoy will assess the implications of the recent developments between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the momentum of the Vienna process for Syria.  Mr. de Mistura believes that the crisis in Saudi-Iranian relations is a very worrisome development and he stresses the need to ensure that it does not cause a chain of adverse consequences in the region.

**Central African Republic

From the Central African Republic, the UN Mission in the country (MINUSCA) reports that the National Elections Authority (ANE) released partial provisional results yesterday, based on votes cast in eight prefectures and 15 per cent of votes cast outside of the country.

Final results are expected to be announced by the end of this week and confirmed by the Constitutional Court on 15 January.

Ninety-five percent of the polling stations were open on the election day last week and participation is estimated to have reached 75 per cent.

**Côte d’Ivoire

You may have also seen over the weekend that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Côte d’Ivoire welcomed the presidential pardon granted to more than 3,000 people detained since the 2010-2011 crisis.

The Special Representative encouraged all political actors to continue working for the strengthening of social cohesion and national reconciliation.

**Ethiopia

The World Food Programme (WFP) is saying today that humanitarian needs in Ethiopia have tripled since the beginning of 2015 — as severe drought in some regions, exacerbated by the strongest El Niño in decades, caused successive harvest failures and widespread livestock deaths.

Out of 10 million people now requiring urgent humanitarian assistance, the World Food Programme is expected to support the Government in meeting the needs of 7.6 million people in 2016.

Yet so far, less than 5 per cent of the resources required for the first six months of the year are available.

The World Food Programme also says that the Government is leading a well-coordinated response and has devoted enormous resources of its own to addressing the growing humanitarian needs, but that a crisis of this scale urgently requires significant support from the international community.

**UNHCR

Filippo Grandi has now taken up the position as the new UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), succeeding António Guterres.

Mr. Grandi begins this role at a time of unprecedented displacement challenges, with record numbers of people globally forced to flee war and persecution, including the more than 1 million refugees and migrants who crossed the Mediterranean to Europe during the past year.

Mr. Grandi said that UNHCR is navigating extraordinarily difficult waters, and he noted the combination of multiple conflicts and resulting mass displacement, fresh challenges to asylum, the funding gap between humanitarian needs and resources, as well as growing xenophobia.

**Israel

I had been asked earlier by one of your colleagues about a shooting incident that took place in Israel on New Year’s Day.

I can say that the Secretary-General deplores the shooting incident that took place in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 1 January, during which two Israelis were killed and seven others injured, including two currently in serious condition.

All need to speak and act unequivocally against all forms of violence and terrorism, which continue to regularly claim innocent lives across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Secretary-General hopes that whoever is responsible for these acts will be swiftly brought to justice.

**Press Conferences

At 5 p.m., there will be a briefing by Ambassador Elbio Rosselli, Permanent Representative of Uruguay and President of the Security Council for the month of January.  He will, of course, brief you on the programme of work for this month.

**Questions and Answers

That's it.  Evelyn?

Question:  Yes.  In the Saudi statements, I noticed you just said there was condemnation of what the Iranians did to the Saudi embassy.  But the first statement that the Secretary‑General issued, he expressed “dismay”, a rather passive word to use.  And then the United States State Department expressed concern.  Why is there no condemnation — over 40‑plus people executed, which is… which is…

Spokesman:  We can parse the words, but I think, obviously, the Secretary‑General has spoken out repeatedly against the use of the death penalty, and he has also brought up personally the case of Sheikh al‑Nimr in a number of meetings he's had with very senior Saudi officials, both here in New York and in Riyadh.  And I think the statement can be read as a clear condemnation of the execution, and I think he expresses his deep disappointment and dismay that they took place.  Yes, sir?

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  A follow‑up on the attacks that took place against the Saudi embassy and consulate in the Islamic Republic of Iran:  The Secretary‑General, during his communication with the Foreign Ministers of the two respective countries, he condemned the attack, but what… where does the Secretary‑General stand, and what measures he's prepared to take under the Vienna Convention of 1962 that organized the safety and protection for diplomats and counsellors and embassies for the countries around the world?

Spokesman:  I think the… listen, I will not pretend to be a legal scholar, but [under] the Vienna Convention, as far as I understand it, the responsibility to protect diplomatic missions and to protect diplomats lies with the countries where these diplomats work and where these missions work.  We have seen in the past years, recently in various places, attacks on diplomatic missions, which the Secretary‑General has spoken out against and which he did again this time.  But it is clearly the responsibility of the host country to protect diplomatic premises and to protect the lives of diplomats.

Question:  A follow‑up, please.  There is a kind of pattern and standard operating procedures in the Islamic Republic of Iran to attack embassies of countries that they may have a political dispute with.  We've seen that in the late '70s with the United States embassy.  We have seen it even much recently with the British embassy in 2011, where there was also attack in Iran, motivated or fuelled by the… some elements from the Basij and other undercover agencies they have.  How can the international community and how can the international relations between these countries be in order if the embassies and diplomatic missions are… [cross talk]

Spokesman:  It is up to the host country to ensure the protection of diplomatic premises and to ensure the safety of the diplomats that are working in the country.  I think the Secretary‑General has expressed his… has expressed the importance of both Saudi Arabia and Tehran to have relations, to have diplomatic relations, so as to benefit as we have seen the peace… current peace processes in Yemen and in Iran.  The relationship between Riyadh and Tehran is an important one for those two countries, obviously, but for the region as a whole.  Matthew?

Question:  Sure, thanks a lot.  Speaking of Yemen, I wanted to know, you've provided this update on Mr. de Mistura's travels.  What's happening with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and what's his or the Secretary‑General's comment on Saudi Arabia announcing an end to the cessation of hostilities and the Houthi side saying they're not going to attend the talks in January?  What has he been up to?  And also, just on diplomatic relations, does the Secretary‑General intend to call Bahrain, UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Sudan, which also have broken relations with Iran?

Spokesman:  Well, I think the calls that he… the Secretary‑General will obviously be in touch with various other players as he sees fit.  The call… I think the importance of the calls for the two countries at the heart of the tensions we're seeing, which is both Saudi Arabia and Iran.  As for Mr. Cheikh Ahmed, he is going back to the region on 6 January, which, if my calendar is correct, is the day after tomorrow, in order to secure commitments for a new cessation of hostilities and in order to advance the upcoming talks.  Obviously, I think, the Secretary‑General, the Special Envoy very much regret the announcement by the Saudi‑led coalition on ending the ceasefire that we heard over the weekend, and he regrets the violations that we have seen of the ceasefire committed by both sides.  But despite the ceasefire violations that we've seen, the UN has provided a small measure of relief to the civilian population and allowed for the delivery by the UN of some humanitarian assistance.  Edie?  And then… Edie and then we'll go to you.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  You mentioned… you just mentioned that the Secretary‑General will consult with other countries as he sees fit.  Is there any consideration that he, himself, might go to the region to try to defuse tensions?  And when you expressed… said he is expressing concern that this doesn't cause a chain of consequences in the region, there have been certainly a lot of pundits and experts talking about the possibility of conflict between Shiites and Sunnis.  Is this one of the things he's concerned about?

Spokesman:  Well, you know, I think we all hear and listen to pundits and experts.  Obviously, a breakdown of relations between Riyadh and Tehran could have very serious consequences for the region.  At this point, Mr. de Mistura is there.  He will assess the situation.  As I mentioned, he will also go to Tehran later in the week.  As for any possibility of the Secretary‑General traveling, I think we're a bit premature.  Obviously, if there's something to… if he is travelling, we will announce it from here, but this is obviously something the Secretary‑General is following extremely closely.  And I think he would call for all leaders in the region, whether political or religious leaders, to avoid adding fuel to the fire by making any statements that would increase tensions between different religious groups in the region.  Yes, sir, and then we'll…

Question:  Starting from Yemen.  It's noticeable that Riyadh declared end of the ceasefire, not Mr. [Abdrabuh Mansour] Hadi himself, the President.  Usually, Mr. Hadi… well, last time, he declared there will be a ceasefire.  So how come Riyadh this time declared that there's no ceasefire or end of ceasefire?

Spokesman:  I think that's a question that you should address to someone in Riyadh.

Question:  Another issue is, where's Mr. Hadi now?  What I understand is that Aden is under control of Al‑Qaida totally as of yesterday…

Spokesman:  I don't… I have difficulty enough keeping track of the UN's Special Envoy.  [laughter] I don't keep track of senior officials from other countries.

Question:  About the incident of… in Tehran, the Saudi… the Iranians have arrested 40 of those involved in the incineration of the embassy.  How does the United Nations view such an action?

Spokesman:  Obviously, I think it's… we have seen those reports.  We've seen also statements from the Foreign Minister, criticizing the takeover of the embassy.  I think anything that brings the perpetrators to justice is a positive step, and any statements that try to cool the situation are also positive.  Mr. Klein?

Question:  Yes.  In addition to Mr. de Mistura's visits to both Saudi Arabia and Iran, in the Secretary‑General's phone calls with the Foreign Ministers of both countries, did he explicitly seek and receive assurances from both countries that whatever their tensions are between them would not in any way interfere with their continuing participation in the Syrian… International Syrian Support Group?

Spokesman:  That was the aim of the phone calls.  I would obviously leave it to them, to the Foreign Ministers of both countries, to speak on what their leaders… their Foreign Ministers said.  You know, on Syria, I think it's important to note that… and on Yemen, we have… the UN is operating the political process under Security Council mandates that still stand.  Those are firm instructions, firm mandates from the Security Council, from the international community, will be pushing forward and very much hoping that this… the current tensions will not impact negatively on the two peace processes we speak often of, right here in this room.  Yes, go ahead.

Question:  Me?

Spokesman:  Yes, please, go ahead.

Question:  Thank you.  Do you have any comment on the terror attacks in the Pathankot air base in India and also the Indian consulate in Mazar‑i‑Sharif in Afghanistan?  The Pathankot air base attack is still ongoing; operations are still going on.

Spokesman:  Yes, on the attack at the air base, as you said, the operation is still ongoing.  I don't have anything in particular to say on that.  I don't have enough details to speak to it.  On the attack on Mazar‑i‑Sharif, obviously, it is an attack we condemn.  Especially in light of what we've said, an attack on a diplomatic outpost — that needs to be protected.   Yes, go ahead.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  My question is about territorial disputes in the South China Sea.  China conducted test flight to the airport on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and Viet Nam claimed there is serious violation of the sovereignty.  What is the United Nations position on the sovereignty of South China Sea?

Spokesman:  The Secretary‑General has spoken out on this on a number of times, including visits to the region, and his hope is that the various issues in the South China Seas will be resolved in a positive spirit and in the spirit of international law and in a peaceful way.

Question:  So follow‑up:  Is it correct the United Nations recognize the South China Sea as international waters, not territorial waters?

Spokesman:  I will not comment on that.  I don't have any… I'm not equipped to answer that question at this point.  Oleg and then go to the back.

Question:  Thanks, Stéphane.  I believe that Ban Ki‑moon today met with the new Ukrainian Permanent Representative, at the presentation of credentials.  Was there any exchange between them?  Did they talk about anything?  Thank you.

Spokesman:  Not that I'm aware of.  It is a traditional presentation of credentials.

Question:  Yeah.  On Rwanda, what is the UN position, the Secretary‑General position, regarding the [Paul] Kagame decision to run for the third term?

Spokesman:  I would refer you back to what the Secretary‑General has said on these issues in various speeches, notably at the African Union.  

Question:  As you know, probably, Russia has offered to mediate in the crisis within Saudi Arabia and Iran.  How does the UN view this possibility?

Spokesman:  We've seen these press reports.  I think anyone who can have a positive impact on calming the situation, anyone who can work to that… in that direction, that would be a welcome activity.

Question:  Thanks, Steph.  Just to clarify.  You said the aim of the phone calls yesterday and today was to stop any kind of spillover into the international support…

Spokesman:  That was one of the aims, indeed, yeah.

Question:  One of the aims?  Did the Secretary‑General obtain any kind of assurances that it would be contained and that would not happen?

Spokesman:  Again, I don't want to speak for the other side, but we have Mr. de Mistura who should be in Riyadh now or on his way within a few… arriving within a few hours.  The Special Envoy for Yemen will be travelling to the region, as well.  I think the proof will be in the pudding, so to speak.

Question:  Just one quick follow‑up.  You said that the SG raised the case of the cleric with Saudi authorities.  Did he raise it with the King?

Spokesman:  He raised it at the senior-most levels of both… in Riyadh and with the Foreign Minister here in New York.  Mr. Lee.  Go… sorry.  Then with Giampaolo.

Question:  Sure.  I wanted to ask you about Burundi.  I'd put in some questions in the interim, but first, what is the… is it the UN's understanding that the [Pierre] Nkurunziza Government and parliament have rejected the idea of peacekeepers?  What is the UN's knowledge of abduction of young men by Government authorities from Mugamba and a response to a report of increased of rapes in opposition neighbourhoods by RFI over the weekend?  And, finally, what's the status of the deployment of various… provided different… you know, names that… that… that civil society in Burundi says were involved in attacks?  Are they being deployed to CAR [Central African Republic] or not?  [cross talk]

Spokesman:  I've mentioned the case of the lieutenant colonel.  I have no further update from that or the other two officials you mentioned.  Obviously, the Secretary‑General remains very concerned about the ongoing violence that we've seen in Burundi.  Just to reiterate that the current crisis can only be resolved through an inclusive and credible peaceful dialogue.  The Secretary‑General welcomed the resumption of the talks in Entebbe late last year.  They were attended by his Special Adviser, Jamal Benomar.  Mr. Benomar, I believe, is in New York, and I think you'll probably hear from the Security Council President that they will hear from Mr. Benomar at some point in the coming days.  Signore?

Question:  Is the trip of Mr. de Mistura in Riyadh and Tehran the consequences of these two phone calls or was it already scheduled?

Spokesman:  It had already been… it had been scheduled, but obviously, the importance of the trip is increased, in light of what we've seen.  

Question:  On the situation in South Lebanon, today the Israelis bombarded several towns and villages in Wazzani and neighbouring… injuring some civilians there.  Is there any update on that?  And what's the position of the United Nations?

Spokesman:  I have not received any updates from UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] on that.  [He later provided an update from UNIFIL about the recent violations of the Blue Line.]  Yes, sir?

Question:  Sure.  I wanted to ask you something on Sri Lanka, which is that, in the last couple of days, the President [Maithripala] Sirisena has said that there's no requirement of a special court for events in later stages of the conflict and also has announced some parcels of land to people in the north, but there seems to be a demand by the Tamil National Alliance that the military disoccupy land, that… private land that it continues to be in.  What's the UN's response to that?  What's the UN's, I guess, involvement, including through the peacebuilding commissioner and any other way…

Spokesman:  I'll have to check… [cross talk] I don't have an update.  I'll check.

Question:  And this… over the… I guess it was on… maybe could be New Year's Eve, in your highlights, there was a thing from Liberia about an investigation of use of force by peacekeepers.  And I wanted to ask you to confirm that this is the use of force against a 13‑year‑old boy for taking a biscuit or cookie off a UN vehicle and for some update on what will… and that the alleged perpetrators were Bangladeshi.

Spokesman:  I'll check. 

Thank you.  See you tomorrow.

For information media. Not an official record.