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.
**South Sudan
The Secretary-General should be leaving Juba right now. He met earlier today with South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, and visited a Protection of Civilians site. The Secretary-General told President Kiir that South Sudan’s leaders must finally work together, and stressed the urgency of forming a Transitional Government of National Unity. He also spoke on the phone with former Vice-President Riek Machar. To both leaders, he said to stop allowing politics and one-upmanship to stand in the way of peace.
Following his visit to civilians sheltered by the UN Mission [in South Sudan] (UNMISS) in Juba, he said that the hope of the South Sudanese population at the time of independence in 2011 had been betrayed. He said they had suffered decades of bloody civil war prior to independence, but that over the last two years, the nightmare had returned with a vengeance. He denounced killings, rapes, and massive displacement and human rights violations as well as epic corruption.
The Secretary-General announced the allocation of $21 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for South Sudan out of $1.3 billion that is currently needed for the UN’s humanitarian work in the country. He also called for support for the Humanitarian Response Plan, which is only 3 per cent funded — which he called a paltry figure, even by today's standards. We are putting together the transcript of the Secretary-General’s press conference he held in Juba before leaving and we will be sharing that with you as soon as that has been completed.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
And yesterday, as you saw, he was in Kinshasa, where he met with President Joseph Kabila, discussing issues related to the cooperation with the UN [Organization Stabilization] Mission [in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] (MONUSCO) and the country, as well as the electoral process. He called on the President and political and civil society representatives he met throughout the day to engage in an inclusive dialogue. The Secretary-General also expressed his concern regarding restrictions of freedom of press, freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There is no alternative to dialogue in order to ensure peaceful elections, he stressed during a press conference concluding his visit to the country. The transcript of the press conference and the readouts were shared with you yesterday.
**Syria
And the Ceasefire Task Force of the International Syria Support Group will meet tomorrow in Geneva — it will be chaired jointly by the Russian Federation and the US, and of course, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Mr. [Staffan] de Mistura. Also tomorrow, Mr. de Mistura, will be briefing the Security Council at 3 p.m. New York time — and that will be done via video conference. He will then hold a press conference for your colleagues in Geneva immediately following his Security Council presentation. Obviously, that will be probably closer to 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. and you will be able to watch that press conference on the UN Webcast page -webtv.un.org.
And making brief comments to the press, today Mr. de Mistura said he would tomorrow indicate when the political talks might be resumed. And also just to clarify, a number of Twitter accounts are claiming to represent Mr. de Mistura and I can tell you that Mr. de Mistura has no Twitter account nor does his office, so anything… any Twitter account claiming to speak for him does not speak for him.
**Libya
And turning to Libya, a new report published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documents widespread violations and abuses committed in Libya since the beginning of 2014. The report recommends urgent measures to fight against impunity and to strengthen and reform the justice sector. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein, adds that multiple parties — both State and non-State — are accused of serious violations and abuse that may, in many cases, amount to war crimes. These include unlawful killings, indiscriminate attacks, torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention, abduction, disappearances and gender-based violence.
Whilst recognizing the significant challenges facing the authorities in Libya, the report recommends urgent action to stop the proliferation of armed groups through disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and a vetting programme to remove and prevent the recruitment of individuals responsible for human rights violations and abuses. The report also calls upon the international community to ensure that the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has jurisdiction over Libya, has the necessary resources to carry out its investigations and prosecutions.
**Central African Republic
And from the Central African Republic, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in that country, Aurélien Agbénonci, has expressed solidarity with hundreds of displaced families in the country whose shelters have been destroyed in recent multiple fires. He said that humanitarian actors in the country continue to respond to the urgent needs of the people affected by these fires. He added that the humanitarian community stands beside them and continues to support them. In January and February, multiple fire incidents have been reported in a number of regions which are hosting internally displaced people. Humanitarian organizations are providing food, tarpaulins, water and sanitation kits, mats and blankets to affected people in Bambari. If you are interested, look at the press release.
**Honour Roll
And just to say thank you today to China, Rwanda and Sri Lanka, who have all paid their full dues in full and on time, which brings us to 39. Very good. Thank you for paying attention.
**Press Encounters
Tomorrow, my guest will be Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Director, Jean-Paul Laborde, who will be here to brief you on the third report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) on States affected by foreign terrorist fighters. And after that, at around 1 p.m., there will be a briefing by the President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft. Mr. Charbonneau and then…
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thanks, Steph. The European Parliament has called for an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia over Yemen. Is this the kind of thing that the Secretary‑General would support? What… what's his position? Thanks.
Spokesman: I think any… obviously, the… putting in place an embargo would be the… the role is in the hands of the Security Council. I think I would refer you to the… you know, I would refer you to the speech the Secretary‑General gave in Central Hall Westminster a couple of weeks ago in London in which he called on all those countries who supply arms to conflict to ensure that those weapons are used within the framework of international law and do not cause more violations of human rights or of international law. Sir?
Question: Thank you. Can I do a follow‑up and then I ask my question? So, I follow up on Yemen. There are talks about humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen. Would the Secretary‑General support that call? This is my follow‑up on Lou's questions. And I have my question about Shukria Mekdad, the wife of Faisal Mekdad. Is there a due process for… in which she applied to… for that position at the UN, or is she politically appointed to that position? Also, on Syria, the airdrops, it seems, they didn't reach the targeted people. We… there are reports about that. Thank you.
Spokesman: Okay. Let me take it in order, if I can remember all three of your questions. On Yemen, I haven't seen those particular reports, but obviously, the Secretary‑General and his Special Envoy have been calling for a pause in the fighting so as to get humanitarian aid through to all those who need it in Yemen. So, we've… this is something we've been calling for for quite a long time. On your second question, I did see the article in the news this morning about Madame Mekdad. I would refer your question, which is a valid one, to the World Health Organization (WHO). On your third question, on the airdrops, I think, as we said yesterday, WFP [World Food Programme] did carry out high‑altitude airdrops. When the plane returned to base, the crew was debriefed. It's become clear that there [were] some technical difficulties due to the high altitude and due to the high winds, the weather conditions and especially the winds at the high altitude. They were doing it at about 7,000 metres, which is very high for an airdrop. What WFP tells us is that 10 out of the 21 pallets are unaccounted for. Four landed in and around the drop zone and were damaged, as the parachutes did not open on time. So, there will be other airdrops done in the time… in the coming days. Obviously, as we've always said, the airdrops are really a last resort. And, I think, to give you an example, the amount of food that was contained in one plane is the equivalent of just one medium‑sized trucks. So, over the last week, WFP has delivered about 100 truckloads of food to different places. And that's what makes the airdrops so difficult and so costly. And I was asked, I think, Emoke… somebody had asked me yesterday what was in the pallets. And I'm told they contain vegetable oil, lentils, rice and salt. The food contained in one of those planes is enough to feed 2,500 people for one month. And, obviously, the aim is to provide aid for about 200,000 people that are trapped in the city.
Question: Just a follow‑up, if I may. So that 10 unaccounted for pallets might have gone to Da’esh area or who…?
Spokesman: If… they're unaccounted, so obviously, I can't account… WFP's unable to account for them. So, they're, obviously, trying to figure out where the pallets may be, and more importantly, schedule more drops. Yes, Go?
Question: So, only six landed in the target area and were not damaged. Right?
Spokesman: 10 of the 21…
Correspondent: Simple math.
Spokesman: No, there's nothing such as simple math, at least for me. Ten out of the 21 are unaccounted for, and I think, out of the ones that are accounted for, four landed in around the drop zone, but were damaged.
Question: So seven are okay?
Spokesman: That's what I would assume, yes. Okay. Yes, sir, and then Matthew.
Question: Yes. Stéphane, tomorrow press conference of de Mistura in Geneva, can we have an audio link with this office in this room here to ask questions from here, too?
Spokesman: That may be a little challenging. I think we will leave your colleagues in Geneva to ask the questions. I think many of you have representatives in Geneva, and then we'll have the WebTV so you can watch it. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I had some questions about being pushed into the street with no due process, as you said. But, I wanted to ask you about… I’ll put those at the end. I wanted to ask you about Burundi first. I saw the statement by the Secretary‑General praising the reopening of some radio stations and the release of prisoners. And I wanted to ask you two questions about that. One is, is he aware, and what do you say that two… two of five radio stations have opened and they've been forced to sign pledges to not undermine the country's security? Is that… does he think that that type of pledge is legitimate? And on the prisoners, most people are saying that the… this document signed by President [Pierre] Nkurunziza doesn't involve the release of any political opponents, FNL [National Liberation Front] members or anything else. It's sort of a… it's one of those fake releases where these are people that have nothing to do with the unrest.
Spokesman: I think what the Secretary‑General did yesterday was to welcome these as initial steps and said that it was not enough and he would want to see more. I don't have any particular reports on pledges that were signed. Obviously, as a matter of the principle, radio stations in Burundi should be able to broadcast freely and fairly any news that they want. And, as for the detainees, I don't have the details of who they were. Obviously, there are different reports. But as I said, we would want to see more people released.
Correspondent: Well, the document that the President signed, it's been published and it's clear that it doesn't cover the… the… the… the people that are part of the opposition.
Spokesman: I think it's… as I said, we welcome this as an initial step, and we'd like to see more.
Question: And will there be follow‑up? What follow‑up is the UN going to give having…?
Spokesman: Mr. [Jamal] Benomar has an expanded team there. They are in constant contact with the Government. Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Mr. Danny Danon, sent a letter to the Secretary‑General demanding… that's what it says… that he condemn the statement by Iran's new Iranian ambassador to Lebanon. Would the Secretary‑General first issue a statement? The second, when I asked you the other day if there is a precedent of this kind, I was asking if there is a Member State demanded, not corresponding, with this. I know every Member State correspond with the Secretary… I was asking…
Spokesman: Can you put your microphone a little closer…?
Correspondent: Oh. I was asking if there is a precedent that a Member State sent a letter to the Secretary‑General demanding that he issues a statement. That was my question. So… thank you.
Spokesman: You know, I will rephrase the answer, but I think in the same spirit, the Secretary‑General gets a lot of démarches from Member States from across the spectrum of the 193 Member States that we have, and we issue the statements that we do. I have not seen the letter from the… the latest letter from the Israeli ambassador, and I'm not sure I know which statement of the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon you're referring to. Evelyn, and then we'll go to the back.
Question: Thanks, Steph. Human Rights Watch had a shocking statement on Burundi today, saying that authorities are targeting opponents with brutality, killing, abducting, torturing, arresting and so forth at an alarming rate. Is someone going to respond to it? The agencies there, are they…?
Spokesman: Well, obviously, the Secretary‑General…
Correspondent: I mean, the… this was not… he couldn't have seen this…
Spokesman: I mean, obviously, the Secretary‑General and his Special Adviser, as well as the UN human rights presence in Burundi are very much focused on the issues of political violence and issues that are raised with the authorities. Yes?
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. This are some report that some UN official are travelling to Colombia in order to create the condition for the political mission related to peace process. Can you confirm that?
Spokesman: I know there are… we are in the preparatory phases, and we'll get you some details, but I would not be surprised if we have colleagues who are traveling to Colombia, but let me try to get you some details on that. Joe. Welcome back.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On the implementation of the cessation of hostilities in Syria, is the thinking here in this building that it's going to be possible to separate so‑called moderate rebels from those proscribed groups like Al‑Nusrah who are there fighting together? Is this almost an impossible thing? And a second question, on Saudi Arabia, there's a prince who's been arrested in Lebanon. You may… maybe you were asked about this, and the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] are asking their citizens to leave Lebanon over this.
Spokesman: From where? Lebanon?
Question: Saudi Arabia's got other GCC countries told their citizens to leave because they could be in danger in Lebanon simply because a Saudi prince was arrested for smuggling, and he's still in jail in Lebanon. Does the UN have any… I know this is kind of a multilateral issue, because there are more countries involved. Is there any position the UN has, or is there anything to say on that? Thanks.
Spokesman: On your first question, I think all… a lot of these details are still, obviously, under discussion. I think to say that the military situation on the ground is complex would be a rather strong understatement. I think the initial important first step is to see a cessation of the violence. I'm sure Mr. de Mistura will have more details to offer, and I think we also need to look to the International Support Group for Syria (ISSG), which will be meeting on the cessation of hostilities… their task force will be meeting tomorrow, Friday, in Geneva, and at lot of responsibility for ensuring that the cessation of violence continues will fall on the shoulders of the ISSG and all of those that they have an influence over within Syria. On Lebanon, we've obviously been following very closely the current tensions that exist between Lebanon and a number of the Gulf countries. I think, whether it's the Secretary‑General or Ms. [Sigrid] Kaag, the political coordinator, always stress the importance of ensuring the political stability in Lebanon and also to shield Lebanon from the current regional tensions. The UN support continues to reinforce Lebanon's stability at all levels, including for the Lebanese army, as called for by the Security Council, and the international community also continues to stress the need, obviously, to fill the presidential vacancy. But, Ms. Kaag has been holding regular meetings, not only with the Lebanese authorities, but with the diplomatic core in Lebanon. And I think the message to shield Lebanon from the current instability we're seeing in the region and to… for all the countries in the region to ensure not to do anything that may destabilize Lebanon, that would be the message.
Question: Can I follow‑up on Syria? For the first time, John Kerry went on the record the day before yesterday and talked about a possible plan B, which is if the… if the cessation of hostilities fails, they would look towards breaking Syria up and creating a kind of a Sunni state or Sunni‑stan, it's being called, in Eastern Syria and possibly Western Iraq. What's the UN's position on the territory integrity of Syria?
Spokesman: I think our focus continues to be very much on plan A. Sylviane?
Question: Follow‑up… thank you, Stéphane, follow‑up on his question about Lebanon. The funding for the Lebanese army promised by the Saudis went now to Sudan. Any reaction on that? Five billion…
Spokesman: I think it is important that there be continued international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and for the stability of Lebanon, as stated by the Security Council. Obviously, Saudi Arabia is free to do what it wants with its money, but we hope that others will step in and help fund and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure the political stability in Lebanon.
Question: But, when you pledge, is it… there is a pledge or it's a commitment.
Spokesman: I think when there is a pledge, that is something… that is a question, I think, best addressed to the Saudi authorities. Yeah?
Question: Thank you, Steph. Today, a military commander in Libya confirmed the presence of a French military adviser to fight the Da’esh. Do you consider that helpful, or is something that can create a problem to the mediation of Mr. [Martin] Kobler?
Spokesman: I haven't seen that report. Let me check and get back to you. Abdelhamid?
Question: A follow‑up on Libya, in fact, if there is any update. The parliament, I think, met Tuesday. And there are developments… the Americans had bombed a military camp that belongs to ISIS. Forty-one people were killed. And we haven't heard from the Spokesman for some time about Libya. If you have an update…?
Spokesman: If I don't… if my memory serves me right, I think we echoed some comments made by Martin Kobler just two days ago, following a preliminary vote in the parliament in Libya. And obviously, the message continues to be that all Libyan parliamentarians should put political differences aside and unite for the future of their own country. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. Darfur, Western Sahara and some other things. In Darfur, the… South Africa has said that it's re… you know, pulling its entire force back, 1 April, and what I wanted to ask is whether… I've heard and published that it's due to something called a tactical violation by the South African battalion. And I've also heard that DFS [Department of Field Support] is, unlike in other repatriation cases, stands to pay for the entire repatriation to South Africa. Can you, one, state why they're being repatriated, and two, why DFS would pay for it?
Spokesman: I do confirm that they are being repatriated. I will get you some… I have some detail… I thought I had some details here, but we'll see what I can get you right after the briefing.
Question: I guess my question is, given this… although this doesn't appear to be a case of sexual abuse repatriation, does Ban Ki‑moon's stated commitment to transparency and repatriations cover repatriations like this? And I want to insist to know who's paying, and if the UN is paying, why it's paying.
Spokesman: I will get some… I will get more detail…
Question: Okay. Can I ask you about… this is actually just a procedural. It seems that Mr. [Christopher] Ross is in the region around Western Sahara. Can you say what he's going… is it in preparation of a Ban Ki‑moon trip? And if there's any comment on Morocco breaking relations with the… various EU [European Union] institutions due to a court ruling that a trade deal that included Western Sahara was, in fact, illegal?
Spokesman: No on your second part. I do understand Mr. Ross is travelling in the region. We may have an announcement on travel, maybe something tomorrow.
Question: Do you have any… can you say now when the… the… the long‑delayed OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] audit of the contacts between Ng Lap Seng, Frank Lorenzo, Global Sustainability Foundation and Sun Kian Ip Foundation and UN‑affiliated entities will be completed?
Spokesman: My understanding on the OIOS investigation on this… in the Secretariat should be ready next month. In terms of South Africa, what I… we were told is that DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations), obviously, confirms having been informed by the South African… their decision to withdraw its contingent from Darfur. Discussions on the matter have taken place, and mutually agreed to [date] for the cessation of operations is 15 April. Obviously, we thank South Africa for its support to UNAMID [United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur]. And we are in discussions with filling the gaps that will be provided… that will be created by their departure of the 797 South African soldiers who have been serving in Darfur for five years. Any more details…
Question: Is it a repatriation or not?
Spokesman: I will see what else I can get.
Question: And is the UN paying?
Spokesman: I'll see what else I can get. Yep?
Question: Okay. One thing… I'd like this to go smoothly, so I'll do it really quickly. I noticed that on Monday, when I was not able to attend the briefing, that you had a little Q&A about my accreditation status. So, I just want to state one thing very briefly. A legal letter has been received by DPI [Department of Public Information] to not touch my office, not touch any of the files, but I need to cover the meeting this afternoon. I'm just stating that, because I thought it was inappropriate. But, my question is as follows: Is it common UN practice to… to tell a journalist to leave the building and give up Resident Correspondent status without ever once speaking to them? Is that considered an investigation? What is the lowest standard that the UN can go to to have something to be considered a review of the facts?
Spokesman: I would encourage you to direct all those questions to Ms. [Cristina] Gallach and to DPI.
Question: I have one more question. Is it… what are the rules for the use of physical force by UN security? Because on Friday evening, I was pushed down the escalator and into the street, and my laptop was thrown on the street, and I… and I was offering absolutely zero physical… physical… so I wanted to know what is the recourse for someone to whom this happens? That's my question.
Spokesman: I would encourage you to raise all these issues having to do with your accreditation, your treatment, and so forth to Ms. Gallach.
Question: What are the rights of people not to be pushed by UN security?
Spokesman: That's… that was my answer to your question. Thank you.