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.
**Noon Briefing Guest
In a short while, I will be joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Management, Mr. Yukio Takasu, who is here to brief you on the financial state of these United Nations.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
Also I wanted to flag again that the Secretary-General will be leaving for Washington, D.C., this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, he will co-host the Climate Action 2016 summit together with the World Bank president and other partners.
Following the opening session of the summit, the Secretary-General will hold a press conference with Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, Ségolène Royal, the Minister of the Environment of France and the President of COP (Conference of Parties) 21, as well as Mr. Stephen Catlin, Executive Deputy Chairman of the XL Group.
The summit brings together representatives from Governments, businesses, philanthropy, civil society and academia to take the climate agenda forward.
Later in the day, the Secretary-General is expected to visit the Brookland middle school in Anacostia in Washington, D.C., along with Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington. He will also visit green projects that the school has been implementing. And we will give you more updates tomorrow.
**UNRWA
Earlier today the Secretary-General spoke on the need for the sustainability for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, otherwise known as UNRWA, which, he says, is vital and plays a stabilizing role in supporting Palestine refugees in a volatile region.
There is no doubt, he said, that sustaining UNRWA’s operations for Palestine refugees is in our collective interest. Yet, barely nine months after his appeal to the General Assembly for UNRWA support, the Agency remains in dire need of resources, as you were told by its Commissioner-General yesterday.
The Secretary-General appealed to the Member States to do their utmost to support and sustain UNRWA in its work. He said that the current deficit of $81 million must be overcome as a matter of priority for this year. And he added that it is far more financially responsible to put UNRWA on a sustainable footing, which is not only good for management, but will also allow people to better plan their lives under the intense stress that they already endure each and every day. His remarks are available online.
**Middle East
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said today he was concerned about the security incidents that have taken place along the border with Gaza over the past 24 hours. He called upon all to exercise maximum restraint and to take all necessary action to prevent the risk of escalation. It is critical, he said, that peace be maintained to ensure the safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
**Syria
In Geneva, Jan Egeland, the Special Advisor to the Special Envoy for Syria on Humanitarian Issues, briefed the press on humanitarian efforts in Syria, saying that the fighting and bombardment in recent days, especially in and around Aleppo, is creating new areas with endless suffering and no access for human right workers.
On the other hand, Mr. Egeland said, during April, humanitarian workers reached more than 40 percent of all of the people in the besieged areas, compared to about 5 percent of people in such areas being reached during all of 2015. Altogether, he said, 778,000 people in hard-to-reach and besieged towns have been reached. In one of the key achievements, virtually all of the civilians in the city of Deir Ezzour received aid from 22 air drops that have been conducted successfully in recent days.
Meanwhile, following an enormous effort over the weekend, the four towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Foah, Kefraya were reached, following weeks of obstacles. But going forward, he added, requests to reach besieged areas have only been granted for about 25 per cent of the affected people, with another 25 per cent of beneficiaries being approved only with a significant number of conditions.
The Special Envoy, Mr. [Staffan] de Mistura, is in Berlin today, where, as I’ve already mentioned, he will be meeting the German Foreign Minister as well as the French Foreign Minister.
And 2 p.m. this afternoon, Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Department, will be briefing the Security Council in a meeting on Syria, and he will be discussing the situation in Aleppo, among other places.
** Yemen
On the other set of talks that are ongoing, on Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Special Envoy for Yemen, confirmed that direct talks among the parties did resume today in Kuwait.
The Yemeni parties had plenary discussions this morning in Kuwait and agreed upon the creation of three committees: one to look into political issues, another for military and security issues and a third one for dealing with prisoners. The parties plan to continue discussions on that topic this evening.
**South Sudan
On South Sudan, the head of the UN Mission in that country (UNMISS), Ellen Loej, spoke to the media today in Juba.
Following the recent positive developments in the implementation of the Peace Agreement, she said it was now incumbent on the Transitional Government to move with speed to complete the establishment of transitional institutions articulated in the Peace Agreement.
She added that it was particularly important to establish and operationalize the Joint Operations Centre and the Joint Integrated Police as soon as possible. Ms. Loej stressed that the need to address the urgent humanitarian situation in South Sudan and the Transitional Government could help to ensure the free movement of humanitarian assistance.
She called for appropriate public financial management reforms and institutions to help tackle the deteriorating economy in the country. And she underscored that concerted efforts in relation to national reconciliation and healing should be a priority for all. The transcript is available on the web.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Mission in that country (MONUSCO) reports that yesterday, 3 May, suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) elements attacked the village of Luna, in Beni territory, in North Kivu.
According to initial reports, 16 civilians were reportedly killed, at least seven injured and several were abducted. Some houses were also apparently looted and burned down.
The attack caused the displacement of some 1,500 civilians from the area towards Ituri province.
The UN Mission is deploying a fact-finding mission to gather more details about this horrific incident.
**UNICEF
A new report released by our friends in UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and its partners reveals that 462 million children live in countries affected by crises and nearly one in six — that is 75 million children aged 3 to 18 — are in desperate need of educational support.
The new report, entitled “Education Cannot Wait”, will be launched at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul on 23 May. It aims to raise nearly $4 billion to reach 13.6 million children in need of education in emergencies within 5 years, before reaching 75 million children by 2030.
**Ukraine
And on a related topic, Orlando Bloom, the UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador, travelled to conflict-hit eastern Ukraine to raise awareness of the global education crisis facing children in humanitarian emergencies.
Bloom visited classrooms hit by shells just three kilometres from the frontlines of the conflict that broke out two years ago.
According to UNICEF, one in five schools and kindergartens in the region have been damaged or destroyed and 300,000 children are in immediate need of assistance to continue their education.
**UNESCO
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) today launched a guide to help teachers deal with the issue of violent extremism.
UNESCO says the guide provides practical tips to educators seeking guidance on how to discuss this touchy subject in classrooms.
The publication also recommends resources to develop a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of violent extremism and responds to frequently asked questions. It is initially published in English and French with more language editions to follow.
**FAO
Our colleagues at FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) kicked off an international conference in Antalya, Turkey, today focused on the better nutrition and sustainable agriculture in Europe and Central Asia.
**Darfur
As a follow-up to what I was asked yesterday, I think, by you, Mr. Lee, on Kalma camp in Darfur: The African Union-UN joint mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports that on the night of 30 April, armed men on camels entered the Kalma IDP (internally displaced persons) camp in South Darfur and shot and injured one of its residents.
The injured person received emergency medical treatment from the UN Mission at its patrol site in Kalma, and was then transferred to the Mission's hospital in Nyala.
Further shootings were reported in another part of the camp by armed men in a vehicle, although no casualties were reported. The Mission is investigating the incidents.
The Joint Special Representative, Martin Uhomoibhi, visited the Kalma camp today, where he met with IDP community leaders and representatives and assured them of the Mission's continued efforts and their protection.
**Questions and Answers
And I think I'll stop here. Carole?
Question: Stéphane, on Syria, does the Secretary‑General have an opinion on how quickly the ISSG (International Syria Support Group) should meet, considering what is happening on the ground, because it is clearly now in the hands of the Russians and the US?
Spokesman: I mean, from our standpoint they should meet. We would like to see a meeting as quickly as possible. As you said, both the Secretary‑General and Mr. de Mistura have underscored the critical need of the chairs and the rest of the ISSG to meet, to help bring the cessation of hostilities back to life in a sense. Mr. Charbonneau?
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. On the question related to Cambodia, the Government there has been making some rather, sort of, some say wild accusations against the UN, NGO (non-governmental organization) people, and now there is an UN staffer who is on the verge of getting kicked out of the country. Do you have any details on it? I mean, is there any concern being expressed to the Government? Do you have anything on it?
Spokesman: Sure, we’re very well aware of this issue. In fact, the issue of the staffer has been raised directly with the Cambodian Government. We've informed the Government that the staffer, Mr. Soen Sally, is an UN official and the issue concerns the performance of his official duties as part of the office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in Cambodia. The Government was informed that, accordingly, Mr. Soen Sally was immune from legal process in respect for this matter. The UN will continue to engage with the Government of Cambodia in order to obtain appropriate resolution to the matter. Benny, then Matthew.
Question: Stéphane, Today’s the eve actually of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel and therefore I want to ask if the Secretary‑General has any opinion on stuff that came up in Britain, specifically that comparison between Israeli actions and the Nazis, is that… does that fall within the Holocaust denying?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General has been clear in speaking out against the denial of the Holocaust, against those who raise doubt about the atrocious actions of the Nazis and others during the Holocaust, which led to the millions of deaths of Jews, gypsies and others during the Second World War. He will continue to follow that position and to raise his voice when needed. Mr. Lee?
Question: The reason I'm asking about the comparison between Israel and Nazis is because it also happened here in this room when the Palestinian Ambassador mentioned pretty much the same thing, that he compared between Israelis and the Nazis.
Spokesman: I think such comparisons are not helpful to any politcal process. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure, some things, but you mentioned this attack in the DRC that you said was by the Allied Democratic Forces or ADF. There is reports of the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) taking Red Cross workers hostage in DRC and I'm wondering: Is the UN aware of that? Do you believe that the FDLR is behind it?
Spokesman: We are aware of the situation and we are not going to comment on it at this point.
Question: And I wanted to ask you something about Burundi. I wanted to, and maybe you can know or you can get this from DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations), my understanding that Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous, when he briefed the Council on 27 April, about the three options for Burundi, said that it would take to deploy 3,000 would take a minimum of 18 months and couldn't be finalized for 24 months, so, one, I just think maybe you will deny it, just to know, and, if it's true that he said that, how can it be when the UN says things like, you know, never again, rights up front, that it would take more than a year, a year and a half to deploy 3,000 troops?
Spokesman: I don't know if Mr. Ladsous said this. What is clear is, as you know, and as everybody knows, it's not as if the UN has a standing army or standing pool of police officers to send on a moment's notice. When it takes time to mobilize large groups of soldiers, of police officers, and it takes time because Member States have to be willing to give them up, they have to be transported, trained and so forth and these things take time. We are fully cognizant of the urgency to move as quickly as possible on Burundi or any other situation. And once we get clear guidance from the Security Council, we will move as expeditiously as possible. But whenever is decided, a number of people need to be mobilized, the rapidity of the deployment will depend not only on the United Nations but on the Member States.
Question: Sure, but I mean since this year and a half figure.
Spokesman: I said I can't confirm it because I don't know if he said that.
Question: Will you ask?
Spokesman: You can also ask them. Yes, sir, in the back.
Question: Thank you. I would like to go back to your points of clarification about the Polisario representative. I would like to know what is the legal status on the basis of which he has access to the UN premises.
Spokesman: Well, as I said in my clarification, which you can reread, he represents the Polisario, which is a party to the situation in Western Sahara, and under that rubric, he has access to the building. I mean, I have nothing to add to what I've already said.
Question: But just a follow‑up, do other non‑State representatives who are a party to conflict, do they have the same access to the UN?
Spokesman: Yes, there are other examples. Ms. Lederer, and then Joe, sorry.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On Central African Republic, is there any update on figures on sexual abuse and exploitation cases? The investigating team has been there for a long time and we have been promised an update for a long time.
Spokesman: They have been there for, you know, last update I provided I think was about a week ago or so. We will try to give you an update in the coming days. The investigative team continues its work. The OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services) investigators as far as I know are still in Kamo Prefecture. Mr. Klein?
Question: Two questions. First one on the World Humanitarian Summit, would it be possible to provide us with a list of the donors, if any, who are helping to pay for the costs of the summit? I know Turkey, Mr. [Stephen] O'Brien says has been very generous as a host country, and there are $700,000 some odd allocated in the OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) budget for the summit, but are there other donors and can we get a list? My second question on Syria, I understood that Mr. O'Brien was also going to be doing, participating in the briefing; at least he was listed, I think?
Spokesman: Yeah, that was my understanding. We will double check. [Mr. O’Brien did participate in the Syria briefing.]
Question: And is there any… you talked about the average in April of reaching 40 per cent of the hard to reach areas with the humanitarian aid, but since the fighting resumed in and around Aleppo, is there any more recent data in terms of since that began?
Spokesman: I mean, the latest data that I have is what Mr. Egeland shared with you this morning. What has happened is, because of the increased fighting in Aleppo, it is now becoming increasingly difficult for us to reach Aleppo, so in a sense the increased fighting in Aleppo has created another hard-to-reach area, one more reason is, if we needed one, to call for a renewed cessation of hostilities. Mr. Abbadi?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. When would the Secretary‑General come down to the briefing room and give a full‑fledged press conference?
Spokesman: Maybe before the summer we could work on something. Yes, ma'am?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On the Sahara, we learned that…
Spokesman: Your microphone needs to be on, I'm sorry.
Question: We have learned that a staff working for the Secretariat and now he is on home leave for one year, I think, has joined Independent Diplomat, you know, this lobbying group. The thing is that this person was working in OLA (Office of Legal Affairs) on the Sahara issue and now she is, this person, she is working on the same subject with this lobbying group. And the question as I said earlier this person is on home leave and she is paid by the Independent Diplomat. Don't you see here a conflict of interest that can affect the principle of neutrality of the United Nations? Thank you.
Spokesman: I hope you would not expect me to be up to date on the activities of all the thousands of people who work for the UN. I'm not aware of this particular case, so I can't comment on it.
Question: But can you come back to me later, I mean, on this question?
Spokesman: Well, you have to maybe perhaps be a little bit more precise with your question so I can get information, if I can get it.
Question: By precise, you mean do you need the name?
Spokesman: Well, I think that would probably help to start clarifying the issue.
Question: Her name is Mona Khalil and she works for OLA.
Spokesman: I will find out whatever I can, but I can't promise you anything. Oleg?
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. Actually, clarification: do you have any indication if the meeting of the Council is going to be open or closed, do you know that?
Spokesman: Open is my understanding.
Question: All right.
Spokesman: Farhan will come in with a piece of paper if I'm wrong.
Question: Okay, and on the other related topic, on the Aleppo bombing of the hospital on the 27th, the Russian Foreign Ministry of Defence today came out with a statement that actually there was no air strike on the hospital and it was intact. They provided two pictures, one taken by a drone and one like in the days after the alleged attack and a satellite image of a year ago, which showed that exact same amount of damages to the hospital, which means, they say, there was no such attack at all. Is that something you would like to study, this satellite image?
Spokesman: You know, we would hope that that information is shared with the cessation of hostilities working group in Geneva. We can only speak to what we have seen and to the reports of deaths that we have seen as a result of the attack.
Question: But did you see them or you got reports from some people on the ground?
Spokesman: These are reports that we've received from sources that we usually use. Go ahead, sorry, no — Emoke, you haven't had a question.
Question: Actually I have two questions. First one is a follow‑up on the Central African rapes question. I know that when there are allegations against UN troops or affiliated with the UN mission, that goes on the website; but in the cases when it's before the UN troops, will that be also be published or compiled somewhere?
Spokesman: We will try to share as much information as possible, whether they are UN troops or non‑UN troops, the focus obviously being on the victims.
Question: Right, but is there going to be a database for that type of allegations, as well, since we are expecting some of those?
Spokesman: I believe so, but I may stand corrected. Let me check.
Question: My other question, sorry, do you have any comment on the passing of Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, who is the Swedish artist who created the knotted gun sculpture just outside?
Spokesman: You know, we are all extremely saddened by his passing. I think the artwork that he left behind, especially the knotted gun, has become a true symbol of disarmament, has become a true symbol of peaceful resolution of conflicts. It's a piece of art that is seen by thousands and thousands of people every day, staff members, visitors. I think if you walk out on the plaza, it's rare not to see tourists taking a picture of it and it truly… it's a work of art that has become iconic and we mourn his passing and send our condolence to his families. Yep?
Question: I have a question on Syria, but I would like clarification on my first question: You said that there are other non‑State actors who have… who are parties to a conflict which is facilitated by the United Nations and who have access to the UN. Is there a list accessible somewhere?
Spokesman: I mean, one off the top of my head, I know representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community who are part of an UN-facilitated process, who also have access to this building.
Question: Yeah. My question now on Syria, Mr. Egeland said that it is increasingly difficult for the… for humanitarian aid to access parts of Syria, especially Aleppo. So besides the inter-Syrian talks, is there any talks between the UN and the Syrian Government or any other parties in the conflict to facilitate access?
Spokesman: Yes, on a regular basis our colleagues, our humanitarian colleagues in Syria talk to the Government and other groups in order to facilitate the access of humanitarian workers to those, the populations who need it. Olga?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Also to follow‑up on Syrian talks, there is the understanding that another round of talks will be in May, so what is the… what will be the process of preparation for this?
Spokesman: The process, in a sense, never stops. I mean, Mr. de Mistura and his team continue to work on the issues. I think as his trip to Moscow and Berlin highlights, the focus right now is not only on the humanitarian but also on getting the cessation of hostilities back to life. And that is why he is having the talks he is having with various… he saw Secretary [John] Kerry, Minister [Sergey] Lavrov, and he is seeing others. We need the support of the ISSG and we need the violence to… we need to see the violence drop.
Question: Is it necessary for Staffan de Mistura to double check with parties of the conflict who is going to come, which delegations?
Spokesman: Again, I think these are proximity, fluid talks. When Mr. de Mistura is well experienced — as he said himself, 47 years and a few months in diplomacy — he will call for the talks when he feels the temperature is right. Matthew, Oleg, and Lou and then we will go to our guest.
Question: I will try to slip two in, and one is a follow‑up and the other one will be fresh. On this question of Polisario, I wanted to ask, I have been asking a couple times but I have kind of a new… the question of the stakeout that was recorded but was temporarily stopped, then began again, not going into archives, the Turkish Cypriot community that you mentioned, their’s always go up. Yesterday MSF and ICRC, which are not Member States…
Spokesman: It's archived.
Question: It's archived now, great. Can you explain what the delay was?
Spokesman: No.
Question: You won't?
Spokesman: I don't.
Question: Okay, then I wanted to ask you actually about the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) audit, and I know you will try to not… what I wanted to ask is it seems like this was completed by its own terms in November, like it was, been completed for a very long time, so what took so long to release it? Have the recommendations, which it said it recommended as to be done in February and March, been done? And it also mentions that the UNDP South‑South office was paying, had two contractors within the Office of the President of the General Assembly, it doesn't say whether it was under John Ashe or Sam Kutesa, but what I am wondering is it doesn't say about assigning accountability. Who in the UN system is going to find out how it was that UNDP South‑South erroneously, according to the audit, was paying people in the…?
Spokesman: I think, you know, the mechanics of the audit, that is a question for UNDP Audit Office or South‑South. It's not what I'm going to get into here. I think the audit uncovered a lot of issues that had occurred under the previous head of the office. And I know the current head of the office is very much focused on implementing the recommendations and most, a lot of them… some of them have already been implemented.
Question: It says that the previous, at least it says right at the beginning of the audit the previous director, Mr. Yiping, didn't… Yiping Zhou didn't return the phone call of the auditor. So I'm wondering in the UN system, when somebody leaves with this kind of a mess and then refuses to even respond to phone calls, is there any repercussions, or is he basically…?
Spokesman: I think there is a moral responsibility, but there is no other pressure points for us. Oleg and then Lou.
Question: Stéphane, from this podium and some other UN officials including Ban Ki‑moon, you said that during the military actions on terrorism, the international humanitarian law, human rights law should be strictly…
Spokesman: Followed.
Question: Yeah, exactly. And what with regards to actions beyond military, like mass screening of data or, for example, like providing personal information like Social Security, tax data to the police or other law enforcement officers, because this possibility of… was for example discussed in the briefings by the Counter-Terrorism Committees, what does Ban Ki‑moon say on this?
Spokesman: I'm not sure I get your question, but international, any activity against terrorism needs to respect international law. I mean, you are not… the Secretary‑General is not going to call for the suspension of international law. So whatever measure, is counter-terrorism measure are put forward by Member States, need to respect international law.
Question: And also with regards to the counter-terrorism strategy, should it be like a global approach, or you would prefer like country specific?
Spokesman: I think it's both. There is a global approach needed and then countries also need to put in place measures, and the UN is there to support them if there is need for assistance. Mr. Charbonneau, then we’ll go to our guest.
Question: In Libya, last week we saw that the Security Council sanctions committee designated a ship for delivering oil in violation of UN Security Council rules and today we had the reverse situation where a ship with a legal contract working for the internationally recognized Libyan Government was not able to load oil onto a tanker. So what does the Secretary‑General think about the fact that despite the signing of… reaching of some kind of agreement there, there is still disagreement within Libya on the main source of income for the country, there isn't the kind of unity that everyone has been hoping for?
Spokesman: I think what we think is that there should be that kind of unity, and that is the message that Mr. [Martin] Kobler has passed on, for all those who have power in Libya to support the Presidency Council, and the issue of natural resources is a critical one for Libya, as it will be a source of income for the country for a time to come as it tries to rebuild.
Question: Just a quick follow‑up, is there attempt to sort of mediate between the two? I mean we have a rival national…
Spokesman: It's a question we can ask Mr. Kobler in terms of his activities. All right, we will go to our guest.