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.
**Belgium
I have the following statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the terrorist attacks in Belgium.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the terrorist bombings today in Brussels. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, and expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of Belgium.
The despicable attacks today struck at the heart of Belgium and the centre of the European Union. The Secretary-General hopes those responsible will be swiftly brought to justice. He is confident that Belgium's and Europe’s commitment to human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence will continue to be the true and lasting response to the hatred and violence of which they became a victim today.
**Western Sahara
An update on Western Sahara, I know you had asked about our Dakhla office: over the weekend, the UN Mission there, MINURSO, received a request to close its Military Liaison Office in Dakhla within 72 hours. This was completed yesterday.
The three military observers based there were relocated to the Asward team site, on the western part of the Territory, controlled by Morocco. Morocco’s request to close the Liaison Office in Dakhla is the first request directly targeting the military component.
The Military Liaison Office in Dakhla is the face-to-face counterpart to the Royal Moroccan Army in the subregion, to discuss all issues arising with regards to monitoring of the ceasefire and operations, such as MINURSO patrols. Dakhla is also a military evacuation point and MINURSO uses the military hospital there, in case of need.
The three military liaison officers based there have been relocated to the Asward Team Site, making the direct dialogue with the Royal Moroccan Army, especially on ad hoc issues, more difficult.
**International Criminal Court
Earlier today, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General welcomed the judgment issued yesterday by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the case of Jean-Pierre Bemba.
The judgment of the Court reaffirms that impunity will not be tolerated and sends a strong signal that commanders will be held responsible for international crimes committed by those under their authority. It also highlights the critical need to eradicate sexual- and gender-based violence by addressing their widespread and systematic use as a weapon of war.
The Secretary-General notes that the judgment is a significant step towards bringing justice to the victims of these horrendous crimes in the Central African Republic. He underlines in this regard the importance of addressing impunity for past crimes in both the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including to ensure lasting and sustainable peace.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
Also, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the UN joint human rights office in the country strongly condemned the summary execution of a human rights defender.
Last week, on 17 March 2016, a human rights defender, Evariste Kasali, coordinator of the NGO Organisation populaire pour la paix (OPP), was reportedly killed by armed men in Kavumu, Kabaré territory, South Kivu province.
The victim was a well-known human rights defender, working on allegations of abductions and rapes of children in Kavumu and on the inaction of the authorities to address these issues. The full statement is available on MONUSCO’s website.
**Syria
Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, is continuing his meetings with the Syrian parties in Geneva, and he is meeting today with the High Negotiations Committee, a day after he met the delegation from the Syrian Government.
Yesterday evening, he spoke to the press in Geneva and told them that it is clear that the political transition is the mother of all issues. He noted that the cessation of hostilities is still holding, by and large, with some movement on humanitarian aid, but he added that progress on those two fronts cannot be sustained if we don’t get progress on the political transition. His remarks are available online.
Meanwhile, an inter-agency humanitarian convoy is on its way to Al Houla in Homs to deliver food parcels, nutrition supplies and hygiene kits for some 56,000 people. An additional convoy is planned in the coming days to bring further supplies to the area, to reach a total of 71,000 people.
Surgical items were removed from today's convoy by Syrian authorities. This practice continues to lead to unnecessary suffering and loss of life. The United Nations continues to urge the Government of Syria to allow the inclusion of all medical supplies, including surgical items.
The UN continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to all the 4.6 million people in the besieged and hard-to-reach locations across Syria.
**Yemen
Jamie McGoldrick, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, briefed the press in Geneva today, saying that the last year has been a terrible one for Yemen, with airstrikes, shelling and localized violence. One in ten Yemenis are displaced — 2.5 million people. More than 6,400 people have been killed and more than 30,000 injured, with half of those killed and injured being civilians.
Today, more than 20 million people in Yemen — 80 per cent of the population — require some kind of humanitarian assistance: 14 million people need food assistance; 7 million people are severely food insecure; 20 million people do not have access to water and sanitation; and 14 million lack adequate health care. At the same time, human rights violations have soared.
In February this year, humanitarian partners were able to deliver emergency health assistance to 100,000 people, water for 3 million people, while 4 million children have been vaccinated. Last year, the UN and its partners reached 8 million people with aid across Yemen.
**Refugees
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is expressing concern regarding the new refugee policy between the EU (European Union) and Turkey. The policy became effective on 20 March, and it allows the Greek authorities to return to Turkey all new arrivals.
UNHCR is concerned that the EU-Turkey deal is being implemented before the required safeguards are in place in Greece. The agency says that Greece does not have sufficient capacity on the islands to process asylum claims, nor the proper conditions to accommodate people and examine their cases.
Since 20 March, according to UNHCR, 934 people have arrived on Lesvos, and they are being held at a closed registration and temporary accommodation site in Moria on the east of the island. The remaining 880 people who arrived before Sunday are being hosted about a kilometre away at the Kara Tepe centre, which is run by the local municipality and remains an open facility.
UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming emphasized that the agency is not a party to the EU-Turkey deal, nor will it be involved in returns or detentions. The agency will continue to assist the Greek authorities to develop an adequate reception capacity, to carry out protection monitoring and to ensure that refugee and human rights standards are upheld.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is also expressing concern regarding the new EU-Turkey refugee policy. The agency warns that the new agreement could push refugee families to take more dangerous routes. According to UNICEF, 19,000 refugee and migrant children are at present stranded in Greece.
**Honour Roll
Namibia has become the 53rd member of the Honour Roll, having paid its regular budget dues in full. Thank you, Windhoek.
**Press Encounters
Tomorrow, we have a guest at the noon briefing, and that will be Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process. He will talk to you ahead of his briefing to the Security Council on the Middle East, which will be in closed consultations.
**Questions and Answers
That is it for me. Yes, Edie. This is something to start your 51st year with. [laughter]
Question: Thank you very much, Farhan. I had a couple of questions following up on the announcement of the Dakhla closing. Has the United Nations protested officially to Morocco about this closing, and have you received any kind of explanation of why this particular site was chosen? And do you believe that this is the beginning of an effort to get the rest of the military component out of Morocco? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first off, I wouldn't speculate why Morocco is taking the actions that it's taking. Certainly, those actions are not in conformity with the Status of Mission Agreement, and we've made that clear. We're continuing our communications with the Moroccan authorities. We did respond to them on 18 March and… and at that point, we requested Morocco to suspend its demands pertaining to the reassignment of MINURSO international civilian personnel while the Security Council is considering matters. We do expect to send another note verbale, again reminding Morocco of its legal obligations. But we've also, as you know, repeatedly briefed the Security Council. The Secretary‑General discussed Western Sahara with the members of the Security Council at its monthly luncheon with them yesterday. And we are awaiting whatever the response from the Council members will be. Yes, Lou?
Question: Thanks, Farhan. Also on Western Sahara, the Secretary‑General met with Council members for the monthly luncheon yesterday. This issue was supposed to be discussed. Did he get any assurances from them that some kind of statement of support is forthcoming?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, it's clear that the members of the Security Council appreciate the seriousness of this, and it's clear that they understand the need to support the work and the mandate of UN peacekeeping missions. We are waiting to see what they will say about that, and we're hopeful that they will have a response. We've been waiting for some time to see what the united response of the Council will be.
Question: Just a quick follow‑up. I mean, they haven't… you've been waiting for some time. Already last week there was a sense of frustration come from the podium. I mean, it's sending a message, them not coming up with a unified statement. Isn't that undermining UN leverage, since there's not a unified Council behind him?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we're certainly hoping that there will be a unified Council, but I think you're right that, in enough time, a lack of a statement can, indeed, be interpreted as a statement of its very own, and I certainly hope the Council members appreciate that that is how it could be perceived. Majeed?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Follow‑up on that: I just want your United Nations assessment of how the withdrawal of dozens of military and civilian staff from Western Sahara will impact the… MINURSO's inability to function and the… how this going to… from your assessment going to rise the possibility of resumption of armed conflict at… as we heard comments like that from both parties.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, and we're aware of the comments from the different parties about the possibility of renewed hostilities, and that's certainly a worry. You've seen that, since the early '90s, the Mission has been performing a valuable task in terms of its presence as a buffer force and its monitoring capacity to make sure that the situation in Western Sahara is kept largely peaceful. If it's not able to do its functions well… and right now our functions have been very well impaired across the board… that affects a lot of what we do. It's clear, for example, right now, the Mission is only able to perform a small portion of its mandate. It has, as I mentioned yesterday, a mandate to reduce the threat of mines on the ground. But a lot of our Mine Action Service personnel have now been temporarily relocated away from Laayoune, and so that's hindered. We are continuing to do some of the things that we have to do, such as monitoring of the ceasefire. But, ultimately, the question is this. We have a large number of mandated tasks that we're supposed to perform. We're clearly not going to have the ability to do a large number of them. And as it gets more difficult to provide logistical support, resupply and other things, it's going to be difficult for the peacekeepers on the ground to conduct their tasks. So how do you want us to function? What is the acceptable level of what we can and cannot do? At some level, how great a risk are you taking by not allowing the Mission to do the work that it's done, that's managed, however delicately, to keep the peace for a quarter of a century? Yes, Intisab?
Question: I have a follow‑up question regarding something you said yesterday on the same subject on an answer to one of the colleagues' questions. You said yesterday that the using of the word "occupation" doesn't come… I mean you are aware of the political sensitivity, but it comes with… it doesn't come without a political foundation, and you referred the colleague to resolutions of the GA (General Assembly). Now, for me, this answer actually contradict what you were saying until now that the using of this word came as a response of emotional reaction for the Secretary‑General's soul.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we stand by what we've said. You saw the note to correspondents we issued last week, and the Secretary‑General made clear that when he was using the word "occupation", he used it in relation to the suffering of the Sahrawi population, the displaced people that he had seen during his travels. And it was in that context. But I was asked yesterday whether there was no other justification, whether there was no other reason that the word could be used. And that's not the case. There is a foundation for using that word. Even though we are mindful of the sensitivities of the countries in the region, and we do respect that, but at the same time, the Secretary‑General's point is that you also need to respect the feelings of those people who have suffered for so many years, and this is what he was trying to speak to. Yes. Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you. I have a follow‑up question on Western Sahara and then questions on Palestine. Bear with me. On Western Sahara, when Morocco decides or dictates to the UN to withdraw number of units and the UN accepts that or submits to that, isn't that an indirect recognition of complete sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara?
Deputy Spokesman: No, it is not. We have taken this action because of security and logistical considerations on the ground. Ultimately, this is done under duress because of the pressure being put on the staff on the ground. We're trying to… we always need… do need to keep in mind the need to protect and preserve the security of our staff. And we do it in that light. But the status remains unchanged. And our position on the Western Sahara conflict remains unchanged.
Question: My questions on Palestine, I have two questions. There was a statement by Robert Piper on the attack on Ibrahim Dawabsha, the only witness to the burning of the Dawabsha family on 31 July, 2015. The statement came from the OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), okay, not from Mladenov, not from Secretary‑General. Why is that? Isn't that more important… [cross talk]
Deputy Spokesman: No, I read the statement yesterday.
Question: I know. That’s why I'm commenting on that. It should have come from the Secretary‑General…
Deputy Spokesman: I'm the Secretary‑General's Spokesperson, and I read it at the noon briefing yesterday.
Question: I know. Can you let me finish?
Deputy Spokesman: Sure.
Question: So the SG issued a statement when a tent was burned by set… by settlers, yet he issued a statement. It was on settle… settlement land by settlers, and he issued a statement. But burning a family or trying to attack family doesn't worth the issuing of strong statement from the… from the SG or his Special Representative. My second question, Farhan, a Palestinian teacher last week, her name is Hanan al‑Hroub, won the international award for the best teacher in the world. She was congratulated by many dignitaries, including Pope Francis and many others. Did the SG take a step to call her or congratulate her?
Deputy Spokesman: I'm not aware that he's taken any step for a call, but certainly, we appreciate her contributions, and we would like to appreciate the award that's been given to her for her service. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask… Question's on Burundi, but I want to ask on Western Sahara before we move off it, I want to ask you the following: One was, yesterday, you'd said that the… the 8:30 event or whatever… whatever we can call it, in the… in the Security Council, wasn't… wasn't… had no Secretariat… had no Secretariat involvement. And then, later in the day… this is what I wanted to ask you about. Later in the day, myself and a colleague were in the second‑floor hallway and… and asked the Secretary‑General what it was being accomplished on Western Sahara, and he said, "We had a good meeting in the Security Council today." So I wanted to know, what does that mean? Was there…
Deputy Spokesman: He was talk about the luncheon.
Question: He said “in” the Security Council.
Deputy Spokesman: He was talking about the luncheon. He had a luncheon with the Security Council.
Question: Right. In the Security Council?
Deputy Spokesman: I mean, you can quibble with his prepositions, but that's what he was referring to.
Question: I guess I'm asking… on what basis do you say there was no Secretariat involvement in the 8:30 event?
Deputy Spokesman: On the basis of the fact that I'm aware of my colleagues in Security Council Affairs Department (SCAD) and they had no involvement. There were no interpreters even.
Question: I also have another question on Western Sahara.
Deputy Spokesman: Okay.
Question: Okay. Thanks a lot. I wanted to know… I've seen a photograph of military equipment, which has been put on alert in the last few days, and I've also seen a chain of e-mails that this was sent to Mr. [Edmond] Mulet from Mr. [Christopher] Ross, also to Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous. And I wanted to know, since they've received this, what's their reaction to it? And will you give a readout of Mr. Ladsous' and [Atul] Khare's meeting of TCC's (troop-contributing countries) yesterday afternoon at… in… on the second floor of the Conference Building?
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding that, this is simply a discussion with troop contributors at a time of great concern about the situation in Western Sahara, so they provided an update on the situation there.
Question: And what about the equipment? What's the response of this e-mail between Mr. Ross, Mr. Ladsous and Mr. Mulet showing essentially missiles and massed troops?
Deputy Spokesman: I… this is one of a number of issues that needs to be resolved, and we'll have to see what they do in further discussions. Yes, Michele?
Question: Thanks, Farhan. The Yemeni Government has said that peace talks will be held on 17 April in Kuwait, and this is going to be accompanied by a temporary ceasefire. What can you tell us about that?
Deputy Spokesman: I cannot confirm that at this stage. What I can tell you is that Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Special Envoy, has been engaged in travels. He's been trying to finalize preparations for face‑to‑face talks. As a result of that, as I mentioned yesterday, he had spent three days in Sana'a. He had since gone on to Riyadh. If there's an announcement to make on talks, he will be the one to make it, but we're not at that step just yet. Erol?
Question: Farhan, I understand that you are going to go forward with the probably… probably with the statement after the verdict on Radovan Karadžic on two counts of genocide will be issued the day after tomorrow in The Hague tribunal. However, it was another development two days ago, 12 kilometres from Sarajevo, in Pale, on former stronghold of the Serbian army, there was Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadžic. The current President of the smaller Bosnian entity pronounced the name of Radovan Karadžic… gave the name of Radovan Karadžic to the campus of the local university. I wonder whether the Secretary‑General would like to comment on this issue, giving the name of accused standing on trial in Hague to the campus, obviously which has to do with indoctrination of a future generation?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, we don't comment on the naming of buildings or of streets or anything like that. Obviously, from our standpoint, the name of Radovan Karadžic is not one that is associated with honour and integrity. And it's something that we could probably discuss further in a couple of days when we expect the verdict to be pronounced from The Hague. Yes, Nizar?
Question: Yeah, on Yemen, Human Rights Watch is accusing Saudi Arabia of committing war crimes by 36 air attacks. Does United Nations share that view? Also, do you have details about these 36 air attacks against civilian targets?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we… you've heard of the concerns we've expressed about air attacks, including the reports by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his office. So I would just refer you to that. We've mentioned this repeatedly, our concerns about the aerial assaults, as well as the… our concerns about activities by the Houthis and the GNC (General National Congress) side, as well.
Question: When you talk about… I mean when they talk about negotiations that face to face next month in 15 April, between now and 15 April, every day there are crimes committed in Yemen and attacks. It seems like this ceasefire in Yemen has become a mirage and it has taken such a long time. There is no ceasefire for over a year now in Yemen. Will the Secretary‑General make a new call for immediate ceasefire before… at the anniversary of the first year?
Deputy Spokesman: We are pushing for a ceasefire as soon as we can get it. Obviously, we had tried in the past, and the parties on the ground did not comply with the ceasefires that they had agreed to. What we want is a ceasefire that is solid and will stick. And Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed is working to that end.
Question: On Western Sahara, just a quick one…
Deputy Spokesman: Hold… let's go around to people who haven't asked yesterday. Yes, Go?
Question: Thank you. On Brussels, so the… ISIS claims responsibility a while ago, and we know that this attack… these attacks happened just four days after detention of Salah Abdeslam, who has been deeply involved in the attack in Paris last November. So would you comment on this chain of terrorist attack in Europe?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, it's certainly been a concern, the number of terrorist attacks in different parts of Europe, and, of course, this is part of the wider concern of activities by groups like Da’esh, who, as you know, we have opposed their activities in other countries, such as Iraq, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere. There's clearly a need for unified front against Da’esh. The Secretary‑General is pleased that the nations of the world have taken this seriously, and there's a need to coordinate our efforts to make sure that this group cannot continue to harm the lives of so many civilians and so many countries.
Question: Can I follow up on that?
Deputy Spokesman: Hold on. Like I said, let's go to people who haven't asked yet. Olga?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Do you have any update on the humanitarian delivery since Syria? And while the regime of the cessation of hostilities is still ongoing, do humanitarian agencies try to reach more areas than Foah, Kefraya, Kafr Batna and Deir Ezzour? Thanks.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. Yes, just earlier, I was just mentioning there's a convoy on the way to Al Houla in Homs to deliver food, hygiene kits, and other things to 56,000 people. And then there's an additional convoy that will also be heading out in the next few days to the Homs area to reach a total of 71,000 people. So those are in process over the next few days. Yes, in the back.
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Last week it was the second anniversary of the General Assembly resolution on Ukraine's territorial integrity. What's Secretary‑General's position on that, especially the… especially the… in terms of the Crimean annexation by the Russia? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you'll have seen what the Secretary‑General's statements on this have been. Certainly, we hope that the situation can be resolved. We're aware of the process that's been under way in recent months between the Russian and Ukrainian authorities, and we hope that that can continue to work out. Yes. Abdelhamid, then Majeed.
Question: Thank you. The Israeli press disclosed on Tuesday that 17 Yemeni Jews were smuggled out of the country by a collaboration between the US State Department and the Jewish agency. Is there any violation of international law there? And what is the position of the UN of smuggling certain groups based on their ethnicity or religion?
Deputy Spokesman: I don't have any comment on this particular issue, which I believe is being dealt with by the relevant countries. Yes?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Just one quick question about… as a reaction to the Brussels attacks, has there been any special security measurement at the Headquarters here in New York and in Geneva in reaction, do you know?
Deputy Spokesman: Certainly, in Brussels where we have UN offices, there have been security measures. I believe there have been special security in place for our colleagues at… working at the UN information centres there. And some people, I believe, will be working from home. Other people will be sent home as soon as it's safe to do so. Regarding security measures here, we tend to take any security threats against the building seriously as we get them, but at this stage, as you can see, we're safe to go about our work. Yes?
Question: I want to ask about Burundi and then separately about South‑South News. In Burundi, there was a meeting, obviously, this morning between the Foreign Minister and the Secretary‑General and Mr. [Jamal] Benomar and Mr. Mulet. I wanted to… to… I don't know if they had yet known, but I wanted to know if there was any response, you know, from the UN. A general that's a supporter of Pierre Nkurunziza has been killed in the… in military headquarters, Darius Ikurakure. And people are saying now that much of Bujumbura is under lockdown. There's an attempt to result in crackdown on people. Was this discussed in the meeting? When we will get a readout of the meeting? And even if it wasn't discussed, what is the UN's response to both the killing and the response by the Government in Bujumbura today?
Deputy Spokesman: What I can say on this is the Secretary‑General condemns the reported assassination of Lieutenant Colonel Darius Ikurakure. Such acts of violence risk exacerbating the current crisis in Burundi. The Secretary‑General reiterates his appeal for Burundians to resolve their differences peacefully and to engage immediately in an inclusive and transparent political dialogue.
Question: Can I ask… I mean, I guess… I mean, I'm wondering if that was a prepared statement, why was it done in this format? If the question had never been asked, would the statement be issued? Was it to be issued later? I'm just wondering.
Deputy Spokesman: You know how "if asked" guidance works; right? All of the things that are "if asked" guidance are read once they're asked.
Question: Right. But who decides what goes under "if asked" and what gets announced? Like, you didn't do Brussels as an "if asked".
Deputy Spokesman: There are people who, in fact, do decide these things, yes.
Question: Can I ask you about South‑South News?
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah.
Question: Okay. In light of the new indictment of Vivian Wang, I have so… some questions, because it's… the… the intertwining of the two… of the UN is… particularly DPI (Department of Public Information) and South‑South News seems extensive, so I want… just in rapid fire…
Deputy Spokesman: I would object to that characterization, but proceed.
Question: All right. Then let's see. Let's go down the line. In… in the… the… in the 64th meeting of the UN-DPI NGO, there's a reference slipped into the text to South‑South News distribution. I want to know, is that at reference to South‑South News? And if so, what's it doing in there? I also wanted to know… Stéphane Dujarric did an interview with South‑South News, which is online. I wanted to know… you know, we can… there's a funding… there was a matching programme for a grant… a thing that the Secretary‑General appeared at in which, on UN News Centre itself, it says this was a matching grant from South‑South News. So I wanted to know, what was the protocol for this now maligned or described as essentially corrupt and a vehicle for bribery entity to make such matching grants? I also wanted to know, as I've asked before without explanation, how South‑South News got its content into the UN webcast archives, which no other entity does. So I'll stop… there's more, but since you say they're not intertwined, can you describe those five intertwinings and what the UN is going to do about it given that South‑South News is not part of the Ban Ki‑moon‑defined audit of bribery in the UN?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we'll see what any audit… what the results of an audit are once that's completed, first off. Second off, I believe we researched into the appearance of South‑South News on the UN archive. I believe one of my colleagues has been looking into that, and we'll try to get further information on that. Stéphane Dujarric gives interviews to lots and lots of people, including most of you in this very room. That has nothing to do with checking out the credentials of who it is who is interviewing him when that happens.
Question: Since the… [cross talk]
Deputy Spokesman: It’s the same as with the rest of us. Please stop interrupting me.
Question: Okay. Well, you did yesterday. Yesterday you walked out as I was asking questions. So I just want to make sure you remain…
Deputy Spokesman: You were not asking questions.
Question: Yes, I was.
Deputy Spokesman: No. No, you were trying to defend an action that you took some time ago which you know to be in the wrong. I'm not going to engage with you on that. I’ve said my piece on that. [cross talk]
Question: I was asking you a question about how this room was used. [cross talk] Say whatever you want, but don't leave the podium, please, until the questions are finished.
Deputy Spokesman: I will answer all your questions. I do not give in to bullying from anyone any time. Anyway…
Question: You're the one at the podium.
Deputy Spokesman: I do not give in to bullying from anyone at any time. Anyway, regarding the status of South‑South News, however, I mean, in light of the latest information, that is something that is being reviewed. And we'll have to see where we go with that.
Question: So this one where it says… it says matching funds from the media platform South‑South News, this is a un.org News Centre story. What is that about? Can you… I guess I'm wondering, you said that you're looking into the archives, but I asked this question more than a month ago. So how long does it take to find out how, during the tenure that Mr. Dujarric was in charge of UN Television, this information got put in? I mean, what exactly are you doing to investigate it is my question.
Deputy Spokesman: One of my colleagues has been asking around about how that was. Yes?
Question: On Western Sahara, you mentioned MINURSO is being evicted by… under duress. Do you mean that there's a real threat from the Moroccan army jeopardizing their lives, the lives of individuals, I mean, under weapons or any kind of military threat?
Deputy Spokesman: No, the problem is that in order for us to have the ability to stay in a place, we need to have things such as basic supplies, like food and water. You need to have things like accommodation. Once those things are taken away or the promise of those things are taken away from the [relevant] country, then the question is, how do you have people stay in a place where they have literally no place to stay? We've… so that was part of the logistical considerations. And there are security considerations, as well, but we want to make sure that we can keep our staff safe and give them things like the accommodation and the basic means that they need for their day‑to‑day survival.
Question: The Moroccans say that the demographics of Western Sahara has been changed by Polisario, by importing people from Mali, from Senegal, from other countries, and rehabilitating them in the Western Sahara. How true is that according to United Nations reports?
Deputy Spokesman: Obviously, we're aware of the differing views on Western Sahara. What we are trying to do is bring the parties together. What that means is, ultimately, there needs to be cooperation with the work of MINURSO on the ground. What that means is that there needs to be cooperation with the work of the personal envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross. And ultimately, there needs to be an ability to deal with the United Nations in all of the work that it's trying to do, whether diplomatic or otherwise.
Question: I have another question regarding the Middle East. Yesterday Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary‑General of Hizbullah, said that in any future conflict with Israel, all targets with Israel, including nuclear reactors, including chemical storage depots and other biological storage areas, will be targets in such conflict. Do you have any statements regarding that, any response to such a threat and also threats from Israel against Lebanon, in this regard?
Deputy Spokesman: Obviously, we are concerned about any rhetoric engaged in between Israel and Lebanon, between the parties in those two countries, given the bursts of fighting that have taken place between the countries over the years. We want to make sure that people avoid any provocative rhetoric and that the situation along the Blue Line is de‑escalated at all times.
Question: How about, I mean, maintaining nuclear reactors in densely populated areas, several parts of Israel? Is that legitimate? What the United Nations can do about that?
Deputy Spokesman: Ultimately, you're aware of the work that the UN and its bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, do. But, like I said, the crucial thing is all parties avoid any sort of provocations or any actions that could exacerbate tensions along the Blue Line. Yes?
Question: Sure. I want to ask about South Sudan and also something on media access. In South Sudan, there are reports that, beyond what occurred in Malakal… and if you have any update on the investigation particularly of the shooting by… reported shooting by UN peacekeepers of people seeking shelter that was alleged by the IDPs (internally displaced persons) themselves, this would be the time. There are reports of weapons in other protection of civilians sites, and the allegation by IDPs is that the UN is not conducting searches for the weapons out of deference to the Government and majority groups in these states. And so I wanted to know, can you say whether UNMISS, in light of what has happened in Malakal, has begun weapons searches in the other POC (protection of civilians) camps that it maintains?
Deputy Spokesman: The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) does what it can to try to keep a peaceful and weapons‑free atmosphere in all of the protection of civilians sites. There's a logistical challenge about that, given the sheer number of people in all of those areas. We've said this many, many times, and we'll say it again, but there was never a capacity by a UN peacekeeping mission to take care of tens of thousands of people at different sites for long periods of time. To their credit, they've done that. And to their credit, those sites have remained largely peaceful for several years. But it is a challenge. And given the amount of space in those camps and the amount of people living there, it's a… it's something that will continue to be a challenge.
Question: Given what's happened in Malakal, is the Secretary‑General seeking additional resources from the Fifth Committee or otherwise to actually do searches given that people used weapons smuggled into the camp to commit murders in Malakal?
Deputy Spokesman: As for the Malakal issue, that's continuing to be reviewed. Like I said, that there is both a review by UNMISS and by Headquarters, and we'll have to see what the results of those are. Yes?
Question: Farhan, given the fact that Morocco pulled out their army or forces from the peacekeeping mission, is… did the Secretary‑General discuss with the Security Council the possibility to send other troops or other peacekeeping groups?
Deputy Spokesman: The problem is not about specific nationalities. The problem is one about whether MINURSO is going to be given the ability to do the functions that it has been doing for the last quarter of a century. That is the subject of our discussions with Morocco. That is the subject of the note verbale that we expect to send. And, ultimately, that is something that is being considered by the Security Council. We have a mandate. We are not at present being allowed to carry out the mandate in the way that we're supposed to do, and Morocco at present is not abiding by its commitments under the Status of Mission Agreement. Yes?
Question: Yeah. Kuwait and other countries — United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia — are deporting people based on their ethnicity or based on their sectarian affiliation. How does the United Nations view such actions?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we have a general concern about deportations and how they're carried out, but we would need to look into the details of this before commenting specifically on it.
Question: Well, they are public. Even names are… in one incident, for example, out of United Arab Emirates, 20 people from the same family were deported after spending decades in that country.
Deputy Spokesman: Like I said, we would need further details on how this is being carried out, but this would be something to be looked into. Yes?
Question: Sure. Thanks a lot. This is the media access question. If you don't mind, let me finish it, and then you can go, and I won't say anything, and then everything will be apparently smooth. So the questions are as follows: There was a meeting today in… down the second floor — I don't know if it's ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) or Trusteeship — about revitalisation of the General Assembly. It was described as being about the selection process for the next SG. Given that non‑resident correspondents cannot enter that area and given the claim of Cristina Gallach of the DPI that the amount of access is identical, that there is no… that there is no difference, how is it that those with non‑resident passes, given that… you said that you had one before, and you had full access. Well, that was before the glass turnstiles were installed down where you go to the stairs and the ramp to go down, and these passes don't work there. So how is a non‑resident correspondent interested in covering the process for selecting the next Secretary‑General supposed to, as others can, stake out that meeting? And the second question is a much more specific question. These focus booths that were promised when we moved… when the press corps moved back to the Secretariat, there were supposed to be four of them. They were supposed to have UN phones where you could call missions. There are no phones, and it seems like we're down to one focus booth. And a UNCA (United Nations Correspondents Association)-affiliated troll Twitter account has today announced that these booths are not even for reporters at all. And in fact, in using them, I've been repeatedly asked to leave them. So I wanted to know, what happened to the provision that… that non‑resident correspondents can have a space to make a confidential phone call in? And is it true, as UNCA appears to believe, that these focus booths are not, in fact, for reporters at all, but only for UN staff?
Deputy Spokesman: Those are good questions for you to be asking our colleagues in the Department of Public Information… [cross talk]
Question: They don't speak to me. They didn't speak to me before throwing me out, so I'm asking you here. They're simple questions.
Deputy Spokesman: You have objectively not been thrown out. I'm looking at you right now.
Question: You're looking at me now. I was physically thrown onto First Avenue, and my laptop was thrown on the street, and there's audio of it. So you can say what you will. If you're comfortable with it, it's fine… [cross talk]
Deputy Spokesman: It is clearly not the case that you've been thrown out of the building because you're in the building.
Question: I was physically thrown out on 19 February. Do you deny that? [cross talk]
Deputy Spokesman: This room is part of the United Nations, and you’re here right now. [cross talk]
Question: I was thrown out. You don't understand… apparently, you don't understand the words that I'm saying. I was thrown out. It's a past tense. I was told from the Security Council stakeout that I had to march down the escalator and go onto First Avenue, or I would be turned over to NYPD (New York Police Department). This is what I was told. It's all on audio. You can listen to it or not. But I dispute your statement. But here's my question. Maybe you don't want to talk about the focus booth, because this was a huge…
Deputy Spokesman: Your volume is rising. Take it down a notch.
Question: Okay. My question is this. Given that this event may still be going on and given it's about the important topic of next SG selection, how is it that people either that currently have or who have been downgraded without due process to non‑resident correspondents status, how are they supposed to stake out and cover this meeting?
Deputy Spokesman: That's a good question to ask our colleagues in media accreditation. Please do so.
Question: I'm asking you. I don't want a minder. I want to stand as I could before 19 February in front of the room… [cross talk]
Deputy Spokesman: I'm not the in‑house representative for you. You can deal with media accreditation. [cross talk]
Question: You told me to leave the room. You said I lie a lot. It's all on tape, so I'm asking you.
Deputy Spokesman: I stand by what I said.
Question: Okay. Very good.
Deputy Spokesman: Have a good day.