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 Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon, everyone.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
The Secretary-General is on his way to London, where, as you are aware, he will participate in the Syria Donors Conference opening in London tomorrow. Earlier today, he was in Muscat, where he met with the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of Oman, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said. The Secretary-General commended Oman for its positive contribution and support for the Yemen talks and the work of his Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. They exchanged views on the best way forward to bring peace and stability to the country, as well as on the Syria Donors Conference. The Secretary-General stressed the importance of the first World Humanitarian Summit that he is convening in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May to share best practices and find innovative ways to make humanitarian action more effective and inclusive.
**Syria
Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, met with a delegation from the Government of Syria in Geneva today, a day after he met with representatives of the High Negotiation Committee (HNC). In press remarks yesterday, Mr. de Mistura said that the HNC’s arrival at the Palais des Nations and start of discussions was the official beginning of the Geneva talks. Today, Mr. de Mistura will issue invitations to Syrian women and civil society representatives to contribute to the UN-facilitated talks. Both women and civil society organizations can provide vital ideas and insight to the talks by presenting the views and recommendations of important segments of Syrian society.
Mr. de Mistura, heeding the call by many Syrian women to meaningfully be able to contribute to the talks and the guidance provided by Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), has established an independent Women’s Advisory Board to the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria. The Advisory Board will allow Syrian women to articulate their concerns and ideas and present recommendations, covering all topics discussed during the talks, to the UN Special Envoy for consideration. The Board will initially be composed of a group of 12 women chosen by several Syrian women’s organizations through their own consultative process.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Secretary-General and the Security Council each issued statements condemning the triple bombing carried out near the Sayidda Zeinab shrine in southern Damascus on 31 January. In his statement, the Secretary-General underscored that the Syrian people expect to see credible negotiations in Geneva. They deserve more than the false choice between extremism and repression. He said that it is essential that the representatives of the Syrian Government and the Syrian opposition agree on immediate improvements to Syria’s dire humanitarian situation, a political transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, and a parallel ceasefire. These talks must produce an outcome that allows ordinary Syrians to decide on their future. The full statement is online.
**Middle East
The UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Aid in the occupied Palestinian territories, Robert Piper, said today that he is deeply concerned about the continued practice of administrative detention in Israeli jails and detention centres. In particular, he is alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainee, Mohammed al-Qiq, who is on hunger strike in protest against the arbitrary nature of his detention and ill-treatment.
According to data from the Israel Prison Service, 527 Palestinians, including one woman and five minors, were held in administrative detention in Israeli prison facilities at the end of November 2015. Mr. Piper reiterated the United Nations’ long-standing position that all administrative detainees — Palestinian or Israeli — should be charged or released without delay. All allegations of ill-treatment must also be independently and promptly investigated.
**Darfur
The African Union-United Nations [Hybrid Operation] in Darfur (UNAMID) says that as of 31 January, the number of displaced persons seeking refuge in the vicinity of its Sortoni team site, in North Darfur, is reported to have increased to 21,328 from 14,770. This includes 13,269 children. Aid organizations are providing emergency humanitarian assistance. The number of civilians who have fled from Jebel Marra, Jebel Si and Fanga Suk, in Central Darfur, to the Rwanda and Argo camps in Tawila, North Darfur, is reported to stand at 9,209. The Mission continues to provide protection to people who have arrived at its team site in Sortoni, and is also reinforcing its presence and outreach by deploying additional peacekeepers to the area.
An interagency humanitarian needs assessment team also arrived at the Sortoni team site today. Humanitarian organizations, with the support of UNAMID, are working with relevant national authorities to deploy interagency assessment teams to Nertiti, Thur and Guldo in Central Darfur, to assess critical needs of civilians displaced in these areas. And we were asked yesterday about a deceased Nepalese peacekeeper in the African Union-UN mission in Darfur. Colonel Bharat Prasad Singh from Nepal developed a sudden onset severe medical illness in El Fasher. He was certified as deceased on 24 January 2016.
**Libya
Expressing concern for people affected by conflict in Libya during the winter months, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Ali al-Za’tari, has called for more support for aid efforts in the country. The humanitarian appeal for Libya this year calls for $166 million to help an estimated 1.3 million people. Mr. Al-Za’tari said that despite the growing needs and the dire situation, only 1 per cent — to repeat, 1 per cent — of the overall funding has been received so far. More information is available on UNSMIL’s website.
**Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The United Nations has released $8 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for severely underfunded aid operations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The UN Resident Coordinator, Tapan Mishra, said that humanitarian needs must be kept separate from political issues to ensure minimum living conditions for the most vulnerable people, adding that the commitment and support of the international community is vital. These funds will help provide life-saving assistance for more than 2.2 million people who are the most vulnerable and at risk of malnutrition.
**Zika
As you know, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General, Margaret Chan, yesterday declared the cluster of microcephaly cases and their possible association with the Zika virus to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. She stressed that a coordinated international response is needed to minimize the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further international spread. A coordinated international response will include improved surveillance; the detection of infections, congenital malformations, and neurological complications; better control of mosquito populations; and expedited development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to protect people at risk, especially during pregnancy.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with governments to mobilize communities to protect themselves from infection. UNICEF says that registered cases of microcephaly in new-born babies in Brazil have soared to 4,180 between 22 October of last year and 26 January of this year. Working with the Government and other partners, UNICEF is engaging communities in Brazil with messages on how to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate breeding sites.
**UNICEF
The UN Children’s Fund said today that, for the first time since the start of the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, there are more children and women on the move than adult males. Children and women now make up nearly 60 per cent of refugees and migrants crossing the border from Greece to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, while children account for more than one third of those risking the sea crossing between Greece and Turkey.
Although the exact number of unaccompanied and separated children on the move is not known, more than 35,000 children, mostly young Afghans, have sought asylum in Sweden, while Germany has more than 60,000 unaccompanied adolescents primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. UNICEF stressed that welfare, protection and health systems need to be strengthened at every step of the way so that children and women are not exploited or fall between cracks. You can read more about this on UNICEF’s website.
**Appointment
And last, I have a senior personnel appointment today. The Secretary-General is announcing today the appointment of Major General Jai Shanker Menon of India as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Major General Menon succeeds Lieutenant General Purna Chandra Thapa of Nepal, who will complete his assignment on 7 February. The Secretary-General is grateful to Lieutenant General Thapa for his dedicated leadership during a particularly difficult period in the Mission's history. Major General Menon brings to his new position extensive command experience and knowledge of peacekeeping affairs at the national and international levels. Full biographical details are available in the office. And that is it from me. Yes, Mr. Abbadi?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Now that the Director-General of the WHO has declared the Zika issue a worldwide emergency and that, undoubtedly, several specialized agencies will be involved, who will be the coordinator? How does the Secretary‑General see the framework for coordination?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, in fact, that's a good question, and the coordination effort has already begun. As you know, just yesterday is when Dr. Chan proclaimed this to be a public health emergency of international concern, and this morning here at Headquarters, the Deputy Secretary‑General, Jan Eliasson, is participating in a video teleconference with the different parts of the UN system to ensure that we start coordinating our efforts to support the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization in their efforts to deal with this particular situation. Yes, Carole?
Question: Farhan, you've probably seen the reports of North Korea preparing a satellite launch or something of that nature. What's the level of concern at the UN about this? And has there been any communication with the mission?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, what I can say is that we're aware of the notification by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the concerned international organizations. Right now, we're carefully monitoring developments and are in close touch with the interested parties and the international organizations. Yes, Olga?
Question: Thanks, Farhan. Just to follow‑up on that question. The DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] authorities said they informed UN agency, also, so does UN has… have some notification of the plans of the DPRK?
Deputy Spokesman: They provided note verbales to three entities in the UN system, which are the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). And they were all informed of the intentions by the DPRK to launch an earth observation satellite in a window of time later this month. Yes?
Question: Thank you. Farhan, you know, there is somehow the peace talks in Geneva, but Syrian Government and Russian jets still bombarding the opposition and the Syrians in Syria. Most often representatives of these people are in Geneva. Is there any discrepancy in what Secretary‑General doing to prevent this? And today, also, the British foreign secretary said that Russia… accusing Russia of planning the war in Syria. What you say to that?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I wouldn't have any comment on the divergent comments by other officials concerning the fighting. What we have tried to do is see what can be done to bring the fighting to a halt. Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, spoke to the press yesterday, and one of the things he pointed out was that the International Syria Support Group itself had tried to raise the possibility that, once the talks begin in Geneva, that you would then have the start of a ceasefire on the ground. As you just made clear in your own comments, that hasn't happened. And the Special Envoy did remind the participants of the International Syria Support Group of their own role in needing to make sure that they can bring pressure to bear on the parties so that you can have a ceasefire that will be going. Ultimately, that responsibility is in the hands of the members of the Support Group, and he is trying to push that case with them. And you'll have seen, of course, the Secretary‑General's statement from yesterday, which contains some of the same points. Edie?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On Yemen, Saudi Arabia has acknowledged that one of its planes did hit an MSF [Medicins sans Frontiers] health facility in Yemen. Is this… does the UN have a comment on this, and could you tell us the latest in terms of negotiations by [Ismail Ould] Cheikh Ahmed?
Deputy Spokesman: Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed is continuing with his efforts. One of the things the Secretary‑General did in terms of supporting the work of his Special Envoy was to raise the issue of Yemen and the need for the consistent support of the Special Envoy's work with the Omani authorities. As you know, Oman has played a pivotal role in trying to help the Special Envoy organize talks among the parties. We don't have, at this point even, a date for face‑to‑face talks, but he is continuing with that. Regarding the announcement made by the Saudis, you'll have seen, of course, our often expressed concerns about the offensive actions taken by the parties on the ground in Yemen and the cost it's had in terms of civilian casualties. And we appreciate any efforts to investigate the actions taken by the military forces on the ground. Yes?
Question: Sure. On Yemen and Burundi. Just on… just a follow‑up on that. There's a report today from Sana'a of a Saudi airstrike killing five and landing right next to a school in… in… in Sana'a. So, I'm wondering, like, is… who… how does the UN system, I guess, report… you say that there's this concern. How do they report or confirm or deny things like that? And where actually is the envoy? Like, what is he doing? Did he go to Oman with the Secretary‑General? What is his current work plan to try to get that back on track?
Deputy Spokesman: He's travelled to a number of places. In recent days, he had been in the United Arab Emirates, and I believe he's continuing with his travels. Yes?
Question: Thank you. One follow‑up on the DPRK: So, you said that DPRK has informed three UN agencies about the possible launch later this month. Could you specify about this timeframe, from when…?
Deputy Spokesman: As far as I'm aware, the timeframe is between 8 and 25 February. Yes, Oleg and then Matthew.
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Yesterday, Stéphane [Dujarric] was asked about this initiative of France to hold international conference on Palestine for reaching the two‑State solution. Any updates? What's the UN point of view? Are you ready to participate? What role can you play in it?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I think, ultimately, you'd need to check with the Government of France what their intentions are. I'm not aware of how far that particular plan has proceeded. We, of course, have welcomed a variety of efforts to bring the parties together, but for us, the focus is making sure that we can bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to real negotiations with each other so that we can salvage the idea of a two‑State vision of… you know, for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. And you had a follow‑up?
Question: Yeah. And as a follow‑up, are there any updates on the movement of the Quartet, their activities? What are they doing?
Deputy Spokesman: Nothing new to say from what we've been saying. As you know, Quartet envoys have been involved in trying to work with the parties on ground, but there's no new travels to report just yet. Yes?
Correspondent: Sure. I wanted to ask, on Burundi, just, I guess, I wanted… there… first of all, there's a report of more grenade attacks and violence in Butare and the capital. And also, the two international journalists that were arrested have been released, but their visas and accreditations have been revoked and their cameras and notebooks taken. And I'm wondering what the UN thinks of that and if you have overall any kind of new plan by Mr. [Jamal] Benomar or otherwise in terms of how to try to get a greater presence or more protection.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, certainly, the Secretary‑General brought up the whole idea of what the international community, and particularly, the African Union need to do to support Burundi. And I would refer you back to the comments he made over the weekend when he was at the summit of the African Union leaders. Beyond that, of course, Mr. Benomar has continued with his work. He did travel with… to Burundi at the same time as the Security Council mission, and you'll have heard last week what the Council's mission has come up with. We continue to have concerns about the violence. And, again, much of that is dealt with in what the Secretary‑General has said, and we certainly hope that the African Union will continue their efforts to follow up the situation, as they have been doing in the last few days in Addis Ababa.
Question: Also, I wanted to ask you, I've seen a readout of a meeting the Secretary‑General had with, I guess, a Polisario official about Western Sahara. Also they're reporting that there's some obstruction to the Secretary‑General's long‑announced intention to visit Western Sahara. One, can you confirm that a meeting took place in Addis on the issue… on this issue? And, if so, what's the readout? And, two, what is his current plan to travel or not to Western Sahara?
Deputy Spokesman: First of all, no, there… I wouldn't have a readout of that meeting. But, second of all, the main point is that the Secretary‑General is very firm in his intention to visit Western Sahara and the region. We do not have a precise announcement on dates to give you right now, but he does intend to do that, and we will announce it when we can. Yes?
Question: Farhan, just to clarify more on North Korea. So, this notification to the… the three agencies, does it require a response? Do… how does it work?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, like I said, we're aware of the notification that's been made to organizations, and we're in close touch with them, and we'll carefully monitor developments. Beyond that, there's nothing to say at this stage. Yes?
Question: Yes. Maybe I missed something, but on North Korea also, is it the drought that's causing malnutrition, or what did they say about why they need to go there to help ameliorate malnutrition?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, part of what they said is that the aid operations have been severely underfunded. And so, consequently, we'd need money to make sure that there will be sufficient aid for 2.2 million people in need. That's why what we did is release money from our own Central Emergency Response Fund for $8 million.
Question: But, why are they in need?
Deputy Spokesman: There's been a consistent set of needs over the years in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Right now, part of the problem is making sure that our existing appeals are adequately funded. Yes?
Question: Sure. I'd wanted to ask Stéphane this, but I'm… I'll… I guess I'll ask you it. Yesterday, I was trying to ask, and I think I was cut off, but my question was, he said, "Who gets to use this room is really my decision." So, I wanted to ask you, it's something I've asked him before…
Correspondent: Here we go again.
Deputy Spokesman: Let's make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to ask questions, please.
Question: Thanks. What I wanted to ask is that there was… there was an instance in 23 September 2014, where the French delegation of François Hollande used the room. There was some… it was called a misunderstanding. I have some communication with Stéphane. At that time… I guess what I want to know is, between then and now, how often does this happen? And is it really the case that one individual decides who uses the room? And I ask because we're often told here that everything is about Member States. And so, I wanted to know, between 23 September 2014, and Friday when it was, again, I guess rented… lent out… excuse me… to UNCA [United Nations Correspondents Association], how many private uses of this room have there been? And I'm asking because, given that it's the… it's… you know, I think it's an extraordinary claim to say it's one person's decision who uses it, I'd just like to know how many times was it used?
Deputy Spokesman: It's our office that gets consulted on these matters. There's a big difference between providing rooms for briefings, where we try to make sure that briefings are open to all reporters, and providing the room just as a room for a different sort of event by an organization or by a group. But, in any case, it's our office that controls the use of the room.
Question: So, do you have the information? Can you give a list?
Deputy Spokesman: It's not really…
Correspondent: It's important because at least it…
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, we have the…
Correspondent: …when something is public and when it's not. Excuse me. I'm sorry. I mean…
Deputy Spokesman: I was being assured your question would be accorded with due respect, so please do not talk over my answers.
Correspondent: Sure. I wanted to clarify. Go ahead.Deputy Spokesman: The basic point is, yes, you know, we know who holds meetings in this room. We're the ones who have the keys. We hold the responsibility for opening of the room up. We do that primarily for press briefings. Every now and then, there are things like organizational meetings or other things that are not briefings.
Question: So, why is there a problem providing that list, if you have the list and you, obviously, have the information? Is it somehow confidential?
Deputy Spokesman: It's not confidential. But, frankly, the problem with the room last Friday had to do with a violation caused by one individual hiding in the room, surreptitiously recording colleagues…
Question: I didn't hide. Again… I'll say it again. I'm sitting there live tweeting it and Periscoping it. So, it's hardly hiding. But, I want to ask you again, in the spirit of transparency, you have the information. This doesn't seem like there's any reason that it's secret. Just can you provide a list of uses of this room by your office lent out between 23 September 2014 and Friday?
Deputy Spokesman: I can ask Stéphane, but honestly, this is something that we provide information for our colleagues in the Department of Public Information. It's not a secret. And it's… and to that extent, but I don't want you to muddy the issue. The problem of last Friday was not a problem having to do with the use of the room.
Correspondent: I'm not muddying the information.
Deputy Spokesman: That was entirely legitimate. What’s unusual is for one person to…
Correspondent: When François Hollande held a press conference here, I was asked to leave. They said they would call security, and I didn't leave, because I feel there's a right to cover events in this room. If you can provide the list, you should provide the list.
Deputy Spokesman: All right. You can say what you want to justify your actions. Yes. Yes, please?
Question: I was wondering if you have any update on the preparations for the mission in Colombia, if there's any team been deployed there to prepare already.
Deputy Spokesman: We are trying to get the team set up. That's in process. And we hope to be able to announce the Special Representative who will be in charge of the team. That announcement is not ready yet. Yes, you had…?
Question: Yes. In Oman, did the [Secretary-General] in his talks with Omani officials ever ask for any funds for refugees in Syria or Jordan and so forth?
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah, in all of his travels, the Secretary‑General has made very clear the need to provide funding for refugees and he's done so here. Have a good afternoon, everyone.