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.
**Canada
The Secretary-General as you know is in Ottawa, Canada. He arrived there a bit earlier today, to start a two-day visit that will take him to Ottawa and Montreal. A very short while ago, he met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and they discussed various issues, including ways to further strengthen the partnership between Canada and the United Nations. The Secretary-General stressed Canada’s contributions to the UN, including on climate change, peace efforts, human rights and the refugee/migrant issue. The Secretary-General also discussed Canada’s role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As we speak, I think they are holding a joint press encounter.
Later today, the Secretary-General will travel to Glebe Collegiate Institute to speak to a group of high school students with the Prime Minister. The Secretary-General will also visit the Catholic Centre for Immigrants in Ottawa, where he will have a chance to meet with families who have arrived from Syria and the region and who are now part of Canada’s resettlement programme. We will share more information with you throughout the day.
**Syria
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, today expressed his “utmost alarm” at the rapidly worsening human rights situation in and around the city of Aleppo and other parts of Syria, where he said that shocking violations and abuses are being committed on a daily basis. He condemns these acts unequivocally. The High Commissioner also said that women and children, the elderly, the wounded and the sick and people with disabilities are being used as bargaining chips and cannon fodder day after day, week after week, month after month. He said the situation was now “grotesque.” More information on his comments on the High Commissioner’s website.
And continuing on Syria, humanitarian agencies now estimate that there are over 51,000 newly displaced people from Aleppo city and other areas in northern Syria, following heavy clashes and aerial bombardment by the Government of Syria, allied forces and armed groups. This includes some 8,000 internally displaced persons at the camp in the Bab al Salam border crossing. It is believed that the majority of those displaced are women and children.
Sources on the ground report that people are moving north towards the border and population movement to and from other areas of Aleppo and Idleb remain extremely dynamic. In addition to the ongoing response, the UN has reiterated its request for access for cross-line deliveries to reach people in need in eastern parts of Aleppo City, western rural Aleppo and Afrin, and urges the Government of Syria to grant access without delay. Also, an estimated 120,000 people are trapped in northern rural Homs after supply roads were cut in mid-January. Several cases of acute malnutrition among pregnant women and children have been reported, as well as deaths related to lack of medical care. The last UN aid convoy to reach rural northern Homs was in October of last year. We call on access to these areas to be granted without delay.
**Terrorism
The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeff Feltman, spoke this morning at the UN Conference on the Human Rights of Victims of Terrorism, on which you were briefed extensively by Jehangir Khan yesterday. Mr. Feltman noted that terrorist groups are flouting international human rights and humanitarian law, with some of the activities reported potentially constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity. He emphasized that existing legal frameworks must be strengthened to take into account the specific needs of the victims of terrorism and that we need to do better in addressing their needs in the criminal justice process.
**Disaster
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) said today that the hottest year on record, 2015, has confirmed that weather and climate-related disasters now dominate disaster trends linked to natural hazards. The top-five most disaster-hit countries last year were China, the United States, India, the Philippines and Indonesia. More information on the Office’s website.
**Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Our colleagues at the World Food Programme (WFP) have issued a new assessment by themselves and done also by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which has found moderate to high levels of stunting among children under the age of five in nurseries assisted by the World Food Programme. This assessment confirms that many households in areas where WFP operates do not have enough diversity in their diet. These findings also come [against] a backdrop of deteriorating overall food security in the [Democratic People Republic of Korea], where there has been decreased rainfall and lower crop yields in the past two years. WFP’s operation is currently only 48 per cent funded, and the shortfall has forced it to reduce the geographic scope of its operation.
**Lassa Fever
Alarmed by an outbreak of the deadly Lassa Fever, UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] and World Health Organization (WHO) officials in Benin are scaling up an emergency response to help prevent further spread of the disease. Lassa Fever is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, urine or saliva. In Benin, there have been four confirmed cases and 52 suspected cases, and 17 people have died — two of them health workers. With the support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and humanitarian partners, national authorities have taken emergency measures in response to the outbreak. More information if you are interested in Lassa Fever on the UNICEF website.
**Appointment
Senior appointment today: the Secretary-General, we are announcing the appointment of Lieutenant General Balla Keïta of Senegal as the Force Commander for the UN peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic, otherwise known by its French acronym of MINUSCA. Lieutenant General Keïta succeeds Major General Martin Chomu Tumenta of Cameroon, who, as you will recall, passed away on 30 November of last year. The Secretary-General was of course deeply saddened by Major General Tumenta’s untimely death and reiterates his appreciation for the late Force Commander’s contribution to the work of the UN. Lieutenant General Keïta brings with him over 40 years of national and international experience. A biographical note is available in my office.
**World Radio Day
And this Saturday is… World Radio Day. And to mark World Radio Day, UN Radio will be celebrating its seventieth anniversary — the birth of UN Radio is also World Radio Day. It’s a multiday commemoration, but the actual Day is Saturday, and it marks the birth of UN Radio. UN Radio, in partnership with UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization], is celebrating the Day under the theme, “Radio in emergency and disaster situations” with the hashtag #RadioSavesLives.
Today, as part of World Radio Day, UN Radio is organizing in their studios in the First Basement an open house. All staff at the Secretariat are invited to the studios to familiarize themselves with UN Radio’s work as the voice of the United Nations. You are also welcome to try your hand at being a radio presenter or being interviewed, if you have a story to tell about UN Radio. There will be social media coverage via Periscope, and you can catch via WebTV and a number of social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook.
**Earlier Questions
A couple of questions left over from yesterday. The questions of elephants and the protection of endangered species in South Sudan — the UN Mission, not surprisingly, has seen that report. The UN panel of experts on sanctions, which has visited South Sudan a few months ago, has been looking into illegal financial resources that could have an impact on the conflict. This research included poaching. It is the primary responsibility of the South Sudan Wildlife Service to ensure that no illegal activities related to wildlife, including poaching, take place in South Sudan.
Also, on reports of violence in Maridi, in South Sudan, UNMISS has a Temporary Operating Base nearby in Mundri, and troops there are conducting patrols. However, denial of access continues to be a major issue. The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, known as CTSAMM, is in charge of monitoring the ceasefire on the ground. Their report can be found updated daily on the webpage of the Joint and Evaluation Monitoring Commission.
And concerning the Darfuri students being held in Khartoum, the UN-AU Mission there is indeed concerned by the reports of detention [of] students at El Geneina University. The Mission continues to follow up regularly on this matter with the appropriate Sudanese Government authorities.
And I wanted to confirm an answer I had given yesterday for which I was, for once, indeed correct. Karen Abuzayd has taken a leave of absence from her role on the Syrian Independent Commission to serve as the Secretary-General’s Adviser on international migration. She holds one job. One person, one job. There we go.
**Honour Roll
We want to say thank you to Monaco, the twenty-ninth country to pay its regular budget dues in full and on time. You're on fire. Sylviane.
**Questions And Answers
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The political adviser for President Bashar al‑Assad [inaudible] said that the bombing will continue, the bombing on Aleppo will continue till the Turkish border. And there is also another concern. They are waiting till they be successful, they are successful in this battle to come to the negotiating table. Is it a problem? Is it a concern for the Secretary‑General or for Mr. de Mistura?
Spokesman: Of course. I mean, I think the continued bombing continues to be a concern for everyone at the United Nations. The bombing needs to stop, full stop. I mean, we've, I think the words of the High Commissioner, I would refer you to the words the High Commissioner for Human Rights said today. The suffering of civilians, the bombing needs to stop. People need to put the interests of Syrian civilians up front, and the violence needs to stop.
Question: What are… your talk… you said that the… there are 51,000 new… new refugees in Turkey going to, Syria into Turkey. Where are the men? You're talking about women and children. Where are the men?
Spokesman: I think it's prominently women and children, but obviously there are also men involved. The point is that these are civilians. As we said, we are very grateful to the Turkish authorities for the humanitarian solidarity they have shown, but I think our… we would always like to see better, more and increased access. I did forget to make one announcement, is that, at 1 p.m., in this room, there will be a briefing by Princess Nisreen el‑Hashemite, the Executive Director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust. She will brief on the High‑level Forum for the commemoration of the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is taking place today in Conference Room 1. And the briefing is being sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Malta. Yes, Gabe. I see you. I see both of you. I'll come to you. Yes, sir.
Question: Okay, thank you. My question is about Yemen. I want to ask you about the VICE News report that says that the Saudi Government sent a letter to the UN and to aid agencies on 5 February asking that they leave Houthi‑controlled areas to avoid bombing. Can you confirm that the, this letter apparently went to OCHA, but can you confirm that the UN has received it and what, if the Secretary‑General has seen it and what his response is?
Spokesman: Yes, it's been, there's been an exchange of letters between the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia and our colleagues at the Office of Humanitarian Affairs. You know, what I can tell you is that the United Nations continues to call on all parties to allow access for humanitarian workers wherever they are needed to be, that access needs to be free and unfettered for humanitarian workers and, obviously, humanitarian goods. And it is also important to note that all the parties involved in this conflict and any conflict need to make sure they do their utmost to protect those humanitarian workers.
Question: [Inaudible]?
Spokesman: Yeah, sure. No, go ahead.
Question: And do you accept, it sounds like the response from Saudi Arabia, so you can confirm that a letter went back from Stephen O'Brien to the Saudis and that the Saudis responded, apparently clarifying that it was only meant to be around military installations. Do you accept… does the UN or the Secretary‑General's Office accept that premise?
Spokesman: I think the, the only premise that we accept is that humanitarian workers need to have free and unfettered access to all the areas where they need to be, and it is incumbent on all the parties to ensure that they protect those humanitarian workers. Abdelhamid, then Matthew.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Yesterday, both the Russian and the Syrian ambassadors said that they have asked the Security Council to hold a special meeting and briefing on the humanitarian situation in both Yemen and Libya, and the Security Council was a little bit reluctant. They only focus on the humanitarian situation in Syria, and they are obsessed with Syria, but they are neglecting the humanitarian situation in both Libya and Yemen… that's what the ambassador said. Any comment on that?
Spokesman: Not particularly. I don't think, listening to what I've been saying here, we've been ignoring the humanitarian situation in any of these countries. Matthew, then Masood, then Evelyn.
Question: Sure. I want to ask about the sexual abuse allegations and also Burundi. On… I guess I want to ask you to confirm that a number of Member States met this morning on the 38th Floor with Mr. Mulet about the still-not-released or completed response to the Deschamps Report. And I wanted to know, is it true that this is, in fact, now being delayed until March? And if so, why is that? I mean, I guess what I'm… they… a number of them said it's kind of a legacy issue for Ban Ki‑moon, and so what… what can you say to those who would say it was supposed to be the end of January and now it's going into March? Why is that?
Spokesman: It's obviously, it's not that it's a legacy issue for the Secretary‑General. It's an issue that is very close to the Secretary‑General's heart, and he wants to be very firm in dealing with the issues raised by the Deschamps Report. I think an important step… a number of steps already have been put into place, whether it's quicker reporting on the ground, whether it's putting the right procedure, you know, improved procedures in the Office of Legal Affairs on how to deal with issues that may arise to make sure that their cases are treated promptly. As you will have seen, the Secretary‑General has appointed Jane Holl Lute to be his sort of coordinator and point person on the issue of sexual abuse within the UN system. All of that flows from the Deschamps Report. Obviously, when we are ready to announce things more officially, we will do so, but I think it is something we are working on as quickly as possible and as thoroughly as possible.
Question: Okay. I mean, I guess I just, is there some reason for the delay? Because a number of the people there…
Spokesman: There are, you know, we've announced a number of steps since the Deschamps Report has come out.
Question: Okay. And I wanted to ask, on Burundi, I guess I want to just… if you're aware, I've seen that Mr. Šimonovic apparently yesterday said that the UN wants to be present when mass graves are examined. And I wanted to know a little bit more about that. Is that… has that been in… has that request, you know, been made? Has there been a response by the Government? And also why Mr. Šimonovic, ASG [Assistant Secretary-General], doesn't say it in a more public way?
Spokesman: I think Mr. Šimonovic has been here quite a few times at the briefings. We'll try to get him here some more. As you know, I think the High Commissioner for Human Rights had talked about satellite photos and traces of potential mass graves. A prosecutor was named in Burundi, tasked to investigate those reports. As part of our support, we have offered… the High Commissioner for Human Rights has offered technical support, including to the Government of Burundi to help with that investigation, including forensic experts. I've not heard that we have gotten a response back from the Government of Burundi.
Correspondent: Just one last thing on this, because he seems to be quoted: "We would like to be present when this is done." And, obviously, there are many people or at least some people in Burundi that are… would be somewhat suspect of a Government investigation if the Government is the one…
Spokesman: I think that's in the vein of asking, offering to the Government to have UN experts there. Evelyn, then Masood. Yes. I won't forget you, Masood. Even if I tried, I couldn't, not that I would ever want to. Yeah.
Correspondent: [Inaudible].
Spokesman: I said Evelyn, then Masood. Madame.
Correspondent: [Inaudible] it's the other way around.
Question: Thanks, Stéph. We'll keep your agenda straight here. On the frightening story of Aleppo and Homs, who is… who besides the Syrian Government is preventing supplies from coming in? Do you have names of anybody else?
Spokesman: No, I think we…
Correspondent: Because just saying armed groups doesn't make it…
Spokesman: We have gone, you know, we've gone through this. Negotiating access involves going through a number of checkpoints some of them manned by people with weapons. Sometimes the groups are, it's clear who these people are, sometimes it's not so clear. It's a very delicate… it's a very delicate process, and it's a very complicated one. And so as, it's something the UN and its humanitarian partners keep trying to do, but it is something that is being led on ground. I don't want to further complicate their lives by talking about more here.
Question: Also, when you… you keep talking about the SG stop, stopped the bombing in Syria. Who is bombing besides Syria and Russia? Anybody else flying around?
Spokesman: Well, I think we…
Correspondent: Except in ISIS territory…
Spokesman: There are a lot of people flying around, as you put it. It is important that any, that everyone involved in military activities, you know, especially the anti‑terror activities, do their utmost to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. And I think we've seen, we've seen quite a lot of indiscriminate bombing in and around Aleppo and other places, and it needs to stop. Masood. And then Mr. Abbadi. Sorry.
Question: Can I follow up?
Spokesman: I'm sorry. Sure, yes.
Question: I know that people are bombing in ISIS, a lot of the them, but who is bombing in Aleppo that needs to stop? It's just two people…
Spokesman: Well, the Government, Government and some of its…
Correspondent: …or anywhere else in Syria.
Spokesman: …coalition partners.
Correspondent: Yeah, and anywhere else in Syria besides ISIS areas.
Spokesman: I think there's, you know, there is a lot of military activity going on in Syria. Masood, then Mr. Abbadi, and then…
Question: On Syria again, the Secretary‑General's Special Representative, Staffan de Mistura, has been saying again and again and has been quoted as saying, especially, that Saudi Arabia, which is becoming obstacle in the peace process in, not Iran, in that region. So, the question is this. Saudi Arabia has… is becoming a… what is it that the Secretary‑General can do to bring Saudi Arabia around to thinking that the peace process is the best way forward? Because, similarly, it has been accused of doing, of bombing Yemen to smithereens.
Spokesman: I think the message to Saudi Arabia and all the other members of the International Support Group for Syria is clear, that the, we need, they need to bring pressure on the parties over which they have an influence to stop the violence. And that's, the message is not only to Saudi Arabia — it's to everyone — is that the political process is the only way out of the conflict, whether it's in Syria or in Yemen.
Question: But, no, but the thing is the Secretary‑General's own representative has been saying it. How forceful can Secretary‑General be with the Saudis to tell them that they have to somehow accept a peace process?
Spokesman: I'm not, I'm not sure I can answer your question.
Question: What I'm saying is that when Secretary‑General's own representative, Staffan de Mistura, is saying Saudis are an obstacle to the peace process, how forceful can the Secretary‑General be…?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General has been very direct, and his Special Envoy has also been very direct in delivering those messages. Mr. Abbadi, then Ronda.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. As you know, the United States Supreme Court has decided to postpone President Obama's implementation of the regulations on climate change further to the peace… to the conference in Paris. Is the Secretary‑General concerned about this action which might lead other states to follow suit and delay the implementation of the measures adopted in Paris?
Spokesman: Well, I think, you know, obviously, this is an internal process to the United States in how to review the commitments. But, I think, you know, ruling, I think, yesterday underscores the need for all the parties to put… to put an early entry into force the Paris agreement and to finalize, for all the parties… to finalize their domestic processes. My understanding is that the Supreme Court decision or whatever decision was made yesterday is not… is not final. I think the US has provided clear leadership in securing a successful outcome to the Paris agreement, and we're fully confident that the United States will continue to provide that strong leadership as I think the Paris agreement, as we all know, was a historic step forward. And it is now up to all the parties who committed themselves in Paris, as I said, to finalize their own domestic processes and put their commitments into place. Ronda, then Oleg.
Correspondent: Yeah, I wondered what the Secretary‑General's view is of South Korea suspending operations in Kaesong and the resulting increase of tension that's come from all of that.
Spokesman: Sure. I mean, obviously, we're very much aware of the report. I would say that it's important for the international community to maintain its unity of purpose in addressing the nonproliferation challenges that we're seeing on the Korean Peninsula and posed obviously by the recent nuclear tests and the launch of the ballistic missiles by the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea]. As we've stated before, we hope the measures taken by the international community collectively or individually will contribute towards achieving a verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. You know, as the Secretary‑General has said, he has always stood ready to support a peaceful process to lead to denuclearization. Yes?
Correspondent: But, that sounds like he's in support of the closing of the action taken by this…
Spokesman: You know, I would try not to interpret what I just said and stick to the words. Oleg.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On Syria, there have been a number of allegations from the countries from US, Great Britain, that Russia is bombing Aleppo. And today the Ministry of Defence of Russia actually presented some new allegations that it were… that it… the US planes were actually bombing Aleppo. They convened some raids. Is there any way the UN can verify and check which planes are… were actually bombing?
Spokesman: We don't have, the work of the UN on the ground in Syria is very much focused on the humanitarian… on the humanitarian issues. Obviously, there is also some disarmament chemical weapons work being done, but those people who are on the ground are focused on the humanitarian issues. We don't have the capacity nor do we have military observers who can, who can render those judgments. What is clear is that anyone who is conducting indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas needs to stop.
Question: Yes, but you do say, when the Syrian Government is bombing, you say that this is the Syrian Government bombing. What's wrong with this case?
Spokesman: No, I have no further comment to say to your question. Ann.
Question: Ann Charles, Baltic Review. It was reported in The New York Times today that, as part of its expanding efforts to deter Russian aggression and statements made by Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary‑General of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization], that all 28 defence ministers approved a plan to expand military presence in the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Hungary and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Do you expect any reaction from the UN or the UN Secretary‑General on this development?
Spokesman: No particular reaction. I mean, as a matter of course, the Secretary‑General would look for any, would support any steps to de‑escalate existing tensions but no particular comment on the NATO decision. Somebody else who didn't have a question… yes. Sorry. Go ahead.
Question: Thanks. So, given Karen AbuZayd's new role in the summit of large movements of refugees and migrants, where does Peter Sutherland's role come into this, and will he be involved in this summit?
Spokesman: Yes, Peter Sutherland is a Special Adviser to the Secretary‑General, I believe, on a dollar a year. Karen is, sits in the Secretary‑General's Office. Her job is really to focus on mobilizing the Member States here and ensuring the right diplomatic process to lead up to the various events.
Question: So Peter Sutherland will still be involved in the summit?
Spokesman: Yes, he continues. He continues to be involved. Round two. Abdelhamid.
Question: Thank you. I have two questions related to Palestine and Israel. The health of the journalist Mohammed al‑Qiq, who has been on hunger strike since 21 November 2015, is deteriorating by the hour. And I wonder why Mr. Mladenov didn't say one word in the last few days. Because he's… his health is reaching a critical point now. That's one question. The second, the ethics committee in the Knesset have decided to prevent three Arab Knesset member from entering the Knesset, two of them for four months, one of them for two months. Their crime is because they visited the families of one of those… some of those Palestinians who children were killed and their bodies were kept by Israel. So they were accused of violating the ethic clause in Israel. So, they have decided to punish them by not entering the Knesset. Do you have any comment on this and…?
Spokesman: On your second one, I'm not going to comment on the inner workings of the Knesset. On your first one, this is a case that we directly have spoken out about, that Mr. Mladenov has also spoken about. I mean, obviously, as his health deteriorates, our concerns increase. And we will once again call for his release. Gabe, and then Sylviane, sorry.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Appreciate it. Just to be clear, back on Yemen, just to be clear, does the UN plan to change any of the way they operate in Houthi‑controlled areas in Yemen based on this letter?
Spokesman: We operate along our own security assessment of where we feel it is safe. That's an assessment we make. There is obviously coordination with the Saudi coalition so people are warned as to where convoys are going and where convoys are. We don't operate in the dark. Once they're informed, they're, obviously, they have a responsibility, all the parties have a responsibility to ensure that those convoys are safe. But, we will continue to operate under the rules we have been operating on.
Question: Last follow‑up on Yemen, thank you. And that's it for me on that, is, if aid agencies were not able to operate in Houthi‑controlled areas, what would the ramifications be?
Spokesman: Well, I think, first of all, aid agencies, unfortunately, throughout Yemen are not able to operate in the way we'd want, and we are seeing the impact on it, the thousands and thousands of civilians who are not getting the aid they need. I mean, as we've reminded everyone here already before the conflict, there was already a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Any limit, increased limit, on our ability to do our work and the work of all our humanitarian partners would have a devastating effect on an already horrible situation. Sylviane.
Question: The offensive on Aleppo in Syria has been launched by the Syrian army backed by the Russian, Shiite, Iranian and the Lebanese fighter Hizbullah. Do you have any concern… the Secretary‑General has any concern about the involvement of Hizbullah in this particular case? Did he call the Prime Minister Tammam Salam to express his concern?
Spokesman: I think our concern is about the involvement of all the violence and the conflict, violence, we're seeing in Syria and all the involvement of violent fighters in Syria. It's important, again, that the parties, the members of the International Support Group, which is, I think, was, started meeting about 15 minutes ago in Munich, use the influence they have, either direct or indirect, on all the parties to see, to ensure there's a halt to the violence. Oleg, then Matthew.
Question: Stéphane, except for using the influence by the members of the Support Group, is… are there any concrete steps from the group itself needed to move ahead…?
Spokesman: I mean, I think that those would be, I think it's clear that the members of the Syrian, many members of the International Support Group for Syria have an ability to control and directly impact the situation on the ground.
Question: And on Yemen, is this the first time when such communication is done between the Saudi Arabian, UN… I mean when they warn that they're going to bomb someplace, please withdraw your personnel? Did they do…
Spokesman: There's all sorts of contacts at different levels between the Saudi‑led coalition and OCHA. Matthew.
Question: Sure. I want to ask about South Sudan, Sudan and Western Sahara. On South Sudan, I guess I wanted… yesterday I'd asked you about Maridi, and today I want to ask you about Mundri. Seems like, basically, there are offences in at least these two places, maybe more, by the SPLA sagainst the SPLA‑IO. And I'm just wondering, were you able to get any… did you hear anything back from…?
Spokesman: Again, you should also take a look at the website from the Joint Verification Mechanism. They are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire. So, their updates, I understand, are going up daily. As soon as we get updates from the field, we share them with you.
Correspondent: Okay. And I wanted to ask… this one seems to be within the UN's bailiwick. The 7,000 staff members in Sudan have set 14 February as a strike date for this payment of their salary in dollars to the Bank of Khartoum. And I'm wondering… seems like…
Spokesman: That issue is being, is being dealt with locally. I know there's a dialogue between the staff members and the Mission. Evelyn. Sorry. Go ahead, Evelyn. Evelyn, go ahead. Your microphone, please. Your microphone, please.
Question: Would you like to comment on the inner workings of Congress putting… suggesting passing legislation which Obama hasn't signed yet, but he may sign some of it, passing legislation that puts secondary sanctions on those who deal with North Korea?
Spokesman: I think two things: One, what is good for the Knesset is good for the US Congress, so I will not… I will not start to discuss the inner workings of national parliaments. And second, I would refer you to what I've already said about Kaesong and concerted international action. Mr. Lee.
Question: Sure. I guess, close with Western Sahara. I wanted to ask, there's been a statement by the Polisario, the head of the… President of the Republic or head of Polisario asking the Secretary‑General to ensure that no UN official attend this thing, it’s called the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, which previously, as you know, Douste‑Blazy attended, and there was some confusion. Is the Secretary‑General aware of this call, this, you know, request, and has such a message gone out?
Spokesman: I have not seen that request.
Question: And also on Western Sahara, yesterday, it was said that… that there was obviously consultations – Mr. Feltman spoke. It was said afterward that a visit by the Secretary‑General before the April review would be ideal. And I know you don't announce the dates, but is that something that… that… that he's going to be trying to do?
Spokesman: I'm not going to contradict the President of the Security Council. Oleg and then, I will then release all of you.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador, yesterday said that he met Ban Ki‑moon, I believe it was the day before yesterday, and the meeting reportedly took place in the Security Council rooms. What was the goal of the meeting? What were they discussing?
Spokesman: The Secretary‑General regularly meets and speaks by phone to all Permanent Representatives, and we don't give a readout of those meetings.
Question: But, it does go on the schedule, right? That's the question I was asking yesterday. Did it happen so quickly that it didn’t… I just want to understand…
Spokesman: No, some of these internal meetings don't go on the schedule. Thank you.