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.
**Burundi
The Secretary-General was in Burundi this morning where met with President Pierre Nkurunziza. In a joint press encounter afterwards, the Secretary-General said that there is only one way to end the crisis in Burundi — and that’s through a credible and inclusive political process that is fully supported by the countries of the region, and the continent and all of Burundi’s partners. Burundi’s future is on the line, said the Secretary-General.
He noted that at his invitation yesterday, representatives of the political groups, from both the Government and the opposition, sat down together to discuss the future of the country. Nothing prevents them from continuing on this course, the Secretary-General stressed, adding that Burundi’s political leaders must be willing to summon the courage and confidence that will make a credible political process possible and to ensure that all Burundian people can once again live in peace and enjoy human rights. He also welcomed the withdrawal of some media bans, the cancellation of arrest warrants and the release of some 1,200 detainees as a goodwill gesture.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Secretary-General then travelled to Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, visiting a camp of internally displaced people, he said that he was deeply moved by what he saw and heard. He stressed that the number of displaced people has never been higher and that the international community needs to improve the way humanitarian assistance and development support are provided to ensure that no one is left behind.
This will be one of the main objectives of the World Humanitarian Summit the Secretary-General is convening in Istanbul in May. He announced that at this event, he hoped that world leaders will commit to reducing internal displacement by at least 50 per cent by 2030. He also met with rehabilitated child soldiers and with Dr. Denis Mukwege, to whom he paid tribute for his work in supporting of women victims of sexual violence. The Secretary-General should now be on his way to Kinshasa, where he will attend the Great Lakes Private Sector Investment Conference, that is opening tomorrow in the capital of the [Democratic Republic of the Congo] and we expect to be able to send you some transcripts of the Secretary-General’s comments in Goma a bit later on today.
**Turkey
And in Turkey last night, the Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, met with the Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmed Davutoglu, with whom he discussed the situation in Syria and the World Humanitarian Summit. They talked about the importance of attracting high-level attendance at the Summit, which, as I have just said, will be held in May in Istanbul.
Mr. Eliasson continues to be in Istanbul today, where he is currently participating in the High-Level Partnership Forum on Somalia, which he is co-chairing together with the Presidents of Turkey and Somalia. The meeting focused on the urgent tasks ahead for Somalia's peacebuilding process, including the need for rebuilding security institutions and for sustainable economic recovery. While there, he launched the UN Youth Strategy for Somalia, highlighting the critical role of young people in the country's peace process and future development.
**Syria
And turning to Syria, following the delivery of interagency humanitarian aid by convoy to five besieged towns last week, further convoys are under way to Moadamiyeh today, delivering further life-saving food and medical supplies for some 20,000 people in need. Convoys are also under way today to deliver aid to some 10,000 people in Kafr Batna. These are the first of what we hope to be a series of deliveries to meet the needs of people that humanitarian workers have not been able to reach for a long time. The humanitarian community continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to the 4.6 million people in Syria who are in hard-to-reach and besieged towns across the country.
**Uganda
And I was asked yesterday about the situation in Uganda concerning the elections that took place over the weekend. I can say that, with the release of the preliminary results of the Ugandan presidential elections, the Secretary-General takes note of the findings of the international observation teams. They stated that the elections were largely peaceful, yet identified a number of shortcomings and irregularities. The Secretary-General echoes these concerns while commending the voters for their participation and commitment to the process.
The Secretary-General calls on all political actors and their supporters to resolve any disputes that might arise in an atmosphere of peace, through established legal procedures. He further calls upon the Ugandan authorities to ensure that all claims and concerns related to the process are handled in a fair, expeditious and transparent manner.
Meanwhile, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed its concern at the tense post-electoral situation in Uganda, with reports of at least two people being killed and an unknown number of people injured, heavy military and police forces deployed in the streets of Kampala, and the arrests of four opposition leaders since Thursday’s elections. The High Commissioner noted that Kizza Besigye, the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, who was arrested and released on three different occasions last week, was placed under house arrest on Saturday without charge or judicial order. Yesterday morning, he was taken to a police station in Nagalaama, a town located some 30 kilometres from Kampala, after attempting to leave his home.
**Afghanistan
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today reminded all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan of their obligation to always respect the provision of health care, never to harm medical personnel and patients, and to ensure that the protected status of medical facilities is respected. In two incidents in the last week, access to health care faced attack, resulting in deaths and injuries. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Mark Bowden, added that medical facilities, personnel, and those who are receiving treatment for disease or conflict-related injuries, must never be placed at risk, let alone subject to attack.
**Central African Republic
And just an update on the deployment of the Mauritanian troops in the Central African Republic: In addition to the arrival of 225 troops that we announced last week, another 225 arrived in Bangui on Sunday. They will proceed to replace the troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Bambari, in Ouaka prefecture. And furthermore, 300 troops from Gabon have also been deployed in Bambari.
**South Sudan
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports intercommunal fighting between Murle factions this afternoon in Pibor, in Jonglei State. The Mission says that rocket-propelled grenade rounds and small arms were fired in the town and the market area of Pibor, with some rounds landing in the vicinity of the Mission’s compound. The Mission calls on all the parties to refrain from fighting. Yesterday, approximately 1,000 civilians sought shelter in the Mission's Protection of Civilians site in Pibor.
**South-East Asia
And just to flag that the UN refugee agency says that maritime movements in South-East Asia were three times more deadly than in the Mediterranean last year. The latest report, which provides key numbers and trends for movements in the Indian Ocean, says that an estimated 33,600 refugees and migrants of various nationalities took to smugglers' boats in 2015. This includes 32,600 people in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, some 700 people across the Straits of Malacca and over 200 who were intercepted en route to Australia. The bulk of the passengers were Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. More information from UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees].
**Europe
And our colleagues at UNHCR also say they are concerned by recent restrictive practices adopted in a number of European countries that are placing additional undue hardships on refugees and asylum-seekers across Europe. It says that it appears some European countries are focusing on keeping refugees and migrants out, more than on responsibly managing the flow and working on common solutions.
**Zika
And I just wanted to flag that the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, and the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa Etienne, are now in Brazil meeting with key officials, including from the Ministry of Health, to assess the Zika virus situation and response in the country. They are also expected to meet with President [Dilma] Rousseff today, as well as visit the National Center for Risk and Disaster Management. And they are expected to hold a press conference at 5 p.m. in Brasilia tomorrow — if you have people in Brasilia who are interested in attending. Carole and then Emoke.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Stéphane, just on Burundi, the Secretary‑General spoke about this inclusive dialogue that President Nkurunziza raised with him. Now, what has changed? Because clearly, the definition of inclusive dialogue has been different over the past months, whether it's from Nkurunziza's side or the UN’s. So can you specify what has changed?
Spokesman: Well, I think the Secretary‑General was happy to see a number of goodwill measures declared by the President, the release of a number of detainees, lifting of some sanctions. I think, as he said in Burundi today, it's not enough. We need to see more. I think it was also a good sign that, at his invitation, representatives of both the Government and the opposition met around the same table. It's only an initial first step. It's up to the Burundian people and their leaders to move this forward. We know, towards the end of this week, a delegation of African Heads of State will also go to Burundi, are being dispatched by the African Union. We… you know, we do hope that the Secretary‑General's visit could lead to a renewed political dialogue. But, you know, we've been there, I think, before, so we're obviously cautious. But, I think the Secretary‑General was happy to see some movement in the right direction. Emoke?
Question: Thank you. Stéph, do you have any comment on the latest WikiLeaks revelation that the NSA [United States National Security Agency] allegedly intercepted a call between the Secretary‑General and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2008?
Spokesman: No, we've seen the report. Obviously, we would call on all Member States to respect the sanctity and the inviolability of diplomatic communications between leaders and those diplomatic communications emanating from the United Nations. Maggie and then…
Question: Steph, sorry, could you just clarify on the Mauritanian troops going to CAR [Central African Republic]? Are all the Congolese guys gone, then?
Spokesman: The DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo]… they are basically all gone. A handful are remaining to deal with logistics and equipment. I think something like less… somewhere around 20, I think, remain and are dealing with the transportation of the equipment. But the DRC contingent for all intents and purposes and operationally has now left.
Question: And anything on President [Barack] Obama's comments today on the closing of Guantanamo Bay, the final closing?
Spokesman: You know, I think we've just seen the announcement. I think the UN human rights machinery and others have always welcomed any plans that would lead to the closing of Guantanamo. I think we've always… the Human Rights Office has always urged all branches of the US Government to work together to close the Guantanamo detention centre. But, this must be done in the right way. And I think the Human Rights Office renews its call for all Guantanamo detainees to be released to their home countries or to a third country, should they be at risk of persecution, or transferred to regular detention facilities in the US mainland or other countries for a fair trial in accordance with international principles. Linda and then Pam and then…
Question: Thank you, Steph. Following up on the question of refugees, you said there's concern about some restrictive practices by several European nations to basically try to keep more migrants out. My question is this: I know the Secretary‑General has said that the whole refugee issue dealing with Syria is a global issue, that countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America also bear a responsibility. So, I was wondering, is… what is the UN doing to help… to perhaps urge these countries to take… you know, to take refugees? Is there not a responsibility by other countries? And finally, there's the issue of the Gulf States. There's been mention that the Gulf States are keeping out the refugees. So, is there any reaction to that?
Spokesman: I think you're right. There is a global responsibility to refugees. And if you look at the numbers, the vast majority of refugees are being hosted in developing countries, in countries in Africa, in Asia and in the Middle East. Those countries, in a sense, whose own needs are great, and yet they are also hosting large population of refugees. This idea of a global responsibility on dealing with the refugee crisis, not only in terms of where the refugees are hosted, but also managing the flows of refugees and migrants, how do you create a dialogue between those countries of destination, the countries of transit, and the countries of arrival is one of the main factors, I would say the driving factor, for the Secretary‑General's call for the General Assembly to hold a special session on the issue of migration. His Special Adviser, Karen AbuZayd, is working on exactly those issues. And they need to be worked out at a global level, and, as you said, the responsibility needs to be shared. Pam?
Question: Yes, Steph. The… there are several UK politicians… several UK politicians have called for the classification of the persecution of Yazidis and other religious minorities in Syria as genocide, and the ICC [International Criminal Court] Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has also said she's prepared to begin an inquiry. And the Security Council hasn't moved that forward in terms of a referral. Has the Secretary‑General or anyone, given the cessation of hostilities that's about to happen, perhaps on Saturday, said anything or feels as there's any kind of extra protection they can give to the Yazidis?
Spokesman: Well, I mean, I… if… the Yazidis, if I'm not mistaken, are mostly found in Iraq. I think the Secretary‑General and his High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly called attention to the crimes that are being committed against the Yazidis that could very well amount to war crimes. The designation of genocide has to be done by a competent judicial body. It's not the Secretary‑General's authority to designate something as genocide. But, I think the UN system as a whole has been mobilized to bring support to those Yazidis who have managed to escape from the hands of extremist groups and to ensure that their plight is not forgotten. Yeah? And then, sorry, we'll go to you.
Question: Bashar al-Assad called a parliamentary election for 13 April. What do you think about its viability, and how does it stand in relation to the peace process?
Spokesman: You know, I think it is important that the Syrian people be given… Syrian people have to have a voice in deciding their future. Obviously, the next step in what we're seeing now is the implementation of the cessation of hostilities, which is scheduled to take place very early Saturday. Mr. [Staffan] de Mistura, who was supposed to be here in New York, will continue to brief the Security Council, but by video link from Geneva. He's cancelled his trip to New York, so we hope to have some more details on the next steps from his briefing. Edie?
Question: [Inaudible] do you know when he's speaking?
Spokesman: I believe it's Thursday. We can check with the Council, but what I do know has changed is he will no longer be coming. He's briefing by video.
Question: Actually, what I was going to ask is, we had heard he was coming and if he could talk to us, is there any chance of getting him to do a video news conference with us?
Spokesman: We can ask. We'll ask. Okay. Maggie?
Question: Just following up on Linda's refugee/migration question, so Austria said that they're going to put daily limits… caps on the number of refugees coming in. And I think Slovenia maybe also is following suit. So, does the SG have a particular response to that? Does he want to wade into that?
Spokesman: I think… this is exactly why the High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed his concern at the policies announced by Austria. Also, there was a meeting of heads of police services of Austria, Slovenia, I think Croatia, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, issuing a statement announcing they had jointly… agreement to profile and register refugees and asylum seekers at the border between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece, as well as taking a number of additional measures. And I think we… the… UNHCR's concern is the domino effect of these restrictions… increased restrictions at the borders. It is something that I think the Secretary‑General shares his concern with the High Commissioner for Refugees. Yes, Pam? And then…
Question: Can you elaborate a little on the WHO [World Health Organization] Brasília press conference? Dr. Chan has mobilized more support. How much of the additional support for fighting Zika in Colombia and Brazil has been fulfilled?
Spokesman: I don't have those numbers from WHO. Obviously, you know, Brazil is at the epicentre of this renewed outbreak of Zika, and I think the presence of Dr. Chan along with the head of PAHO [Pan American Health Organization] underscores the critical role of support that the WHO is playing in this. Igor?
Question: Yes. About the video link from Geneva with Mr. de Mistura, would it be on Thursday or some other date?
Spokesman: Last information I have is Thursday, but we'll check as soon as I get back to my desk if that has not changed. Okay? Thank you. Have good day.