Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon.
**Ethiopia-Eritrea
I will start off with a statement on the events on the border between with Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of fighting on 12 and 13 June on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Secretary-General discussed the issue in his meeting in Brussels today with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, while the Deputy Secretary-General called the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Eritrea. They both urged both Governments to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any act or statement that could exacerbate the situation. Both the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General also called on both Governments to resolve their differences through peaceful means, including by ensuring full implementation of the peace agreement they signed in 2000. The United Nations remains available to assist the two countries in this endeavour.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
And in Brussels today, the Secretary-General addressed the opening ceremony of the European Development Days. He told participants that every effort should be made to meet official development assistance (ODA) targets and that we need better links between development and humanitarian relief. In that regard, he said we must take the commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul forward, through intergovernmental and inter-agency processes, with regular progress reviews.
The Secretary-General also met with the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, and discussed the decision by the Government to close refugee camps, encouraging the [President] to work with the Government of Somalia and UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] in the context of the tripartite agreement as a basis for the voluntary return of Somali refugees in safety and dignity. He also met with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, as I just mentioned.
And the Secretary-General later received the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold from King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. He also attended an Asia Society Dialogue meeting, during which he recalled that the region had come a long way from the time, just one generation ago, when more than half its population lived in extreme poverty. And he participated also in an Advisory Board meeting of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, stressing that energy is the golden thread connecting economic growth, increased social equity and a healthy environment.
Just about now, the Secretary-General is at Brussels airport participating in a commemoration for the victims of the 22 March attacks that took place there. He noted that the attack at the airport was an attack against humanity and that we must continue to be unified in the face of such atrocities. He will soon depart then for St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, where he will participate tomorrow in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum tomorrow.
**Central Africa
And the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, briefed the Security Council this morning, highlighting the challenges in the region. Turning to the Central African Republic, he said the country continues to face immense challenges, including serious problems [protection] and humanitarian needs, crushing poverty and urgent requirements in the areas of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation as well as other security [sector] reform.
On the Lake Chad region, he added that the collective efforts in the countries in the region have helped to reduce the capacity of Boko Haram to carry out frequent attacks, as it had in the past. Despite the gains, Boko Haram continues to pose a serious threat to regional stability. And the Special Representative’s full remarks are available online.
**Central African Republic
Turning to the Central African Republic, the Board of Inquiry reviewing the circumstances surrounding the [United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic] (MINUSCA) Joint Task Force operation conducted on 2 and 3 August [2015] in Bangui has concluded its work and presented its findings. As you will recall, during the course of the MINUSCA operation to arrest a suspect on the basis of a request of the Central African authorities, one Cameroonian peacekeeper was killed and a number of other peacekeepers were injured. Two civilians were killed during the violent demonstrations that erupted in the days following the arrest operation.
The Board of Inquiry was unable to establish the origin of the shots which killed the two Central African Republic civilians. The Board concluded that there were flaws in the planning and execution of the arrest operation. The Board also made a series of recommendations, including changes in the operational structure and reporting lines of the UN Peacekeeping Mission Joint Task Force, as well as improvements in the procedures for the review and execution of arrest warrants [issued] on behalf of the CAR [Central African Republic] authorities.
The Board was convened by DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] and DFS [Department of Field Support] and it conducted its work from October of last year to April of this year. MINUSCA and the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support deplore the loss of life in this tragic incident. And they reiterate their commitments to the people of Central African Republic and their unwavering support to the peace process in the country. I am expecting to be able to give you an update on the sexual exploitation and abuse cases in CAR towards the end of this week, so we have not forgotten.
**Yemen
And turning to the conflict in Yemen, the Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, met with the heads of the delegations yesterday discussing continued on security and military issues, including the details of the military and security committees. The members of the committee on prisoners of war and detainees resumed their discussions and renewed their commitment to achieving progress as soon as possible.
They also emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of detainees, particularly their physical well-being, and allowing access by specialized humanitarian organizations to places of detention to verify and improve conditions. The Special Envoy welcomed Ansar Allah’s release of 57 detainees in Amran and urged all the parties to continue the release of detainees, particularly vulnerable groups and political prisoners, which is expected to have a positive impact on public opinion and the peace process itself.
**Myanmar
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are working closely with authorities in Myanmar to assess the urgent needs of communities affected by recent heavy monsoon rains in the country. The rains since the beginning of June have caused flooding in certain parts of the country. The Government estimates that at least 26,000 people have been impacted. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar added that the areas affected by the floods are the same as those that were severely impacted by floods and landslides between July and August of last year.
**Elder Abuse
Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Secretary-General has issued a message calling upon Member States and civil society to strengthen their resolve and redouble their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence and abuse against older people. He noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 10 per cent of older people may be affected in some countries. He particularly highlighted the plight of older women, who he said, suffer from age and gender discrimination and are more vulnerable than men.
**Health
And the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a report today saying drinking hot coffee could be dangerous to your health, but apparently it’s not the coffee, it’s the “hot” part. The report, issued by as a part of an international group of 23 scientists convened by the WHO, found no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect of drinking coffee, or maté. Bu,t the experts did find that drinking very hot beverages can cause cancer of the oesophagus.
It is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible, according to the report. It said a high rate of oesophageal cancers occur in parts of Asia, South America, and East Africa, where regularly drinking very hot beverages is common. And before you ask how hot is hot — 70°C or 158°F is considered very hot; point taken.
**UN-Women
On a different note, UN-Women today announced that actress Anne Hathaway will be their new Goodwill Ambassador . The agency says that she has been a long-standing supporter of women’s and girls’ rights . Ms. Hathaway will put the spotlight on the unequal burden of care [work] in the home as one of the key barriers to gender equality. The head of UN-Women added that, this year, UN-Women is driving hard to foster more positive mindsets and practical arrangements around workplaces that build and support equality for women.
**Press Briefings
After the briefing today, there will be a briefing on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties is taking place today. And in conjunction with the ongoing meeting of the States Parties, UNFPA [United Nations Population Fund] today is launching a new initiative to promote sexual and reproductive rights for young people with disabilities. UNFPA says, worldwide, there are some 180 million young people with disabilities. The agency says the young are particularly at risk of experiencing discrimination. The official launch will be this evening at 6 p.m. in the South Dining Room. And you are all invited.
Tomorrow, at 11:30 a.m., there will be a briefing here sponsored by the Permanent Missions of the Netherlands and Zambia on sustainable development and peace with [three] football players — Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, and Frank Rijkaard and Aron Winter of the Netherlands. That will be at 11:30 a.m.
**United Nations Tours
We want to say a note of congratulations to our hard-working colleagues — UN tour guides. City Guide, a New York publication for visitors, has ranked UN Guided Tours as one of the top-10 tours in New York. They recommend the one-hour tours that we offer on weekdays — and for those of you who are interested, you can sign up on the website. And we’re going to change the flow of this room. We’re going to add glass in the back and the tours will come in the briefing room, so they can watch us in play every day at noon.
Correspondent: Shark Tank.
Spokesman: You said it; I thought it. I don’t know who is the shark and who is the animal tamer here. Alright, let’s go. Yes?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. About the… the Syria campaign report regarding the United Nations, I wanted to ask you a couple questions. In general, in the past five years of the war in Syria, has the United Nations asked permission for every single humanitarian aid delivery from the Syrian Government, or that wasn't the case?
Spokesman: I think the report, which tries to portray the UN's work as lacking neutrality or impartiality in how it works in Syria, I think, discredits the work that so many of our humanitarian colleagues, mostly Syrians, are doing on the ground to try to bring help to the 13.5 million Syrians who are in need of humanitarian aid. The UN operates in a certain context in Syria. We have to… we are an intergovernmental organization. We have Security Council and General Assembly resolutions that we abide by. Security Council resolutions recently gave us the right to conduct cross‑border convoys into areas not controlled by the Government. We do that. We inform the Government. But, we have been given the authority to do those cross‑borders. Within Government‑controlled areas, we do have to work with the Government. They are the authority, and we have to work with them. The… you know, UN humanitarian convoys cannot shoot their ways through checkpoints. They're not tanks. They're humanitarian trucks. I think, if you look back at the regular reporting that our humanitarian colleagues have done to the Security Council, we have never shied away from exposing the barriers, administrative and otherwise, that have been imposed on the UN — that doesn't allow us to do what we want to do, which is to have free and unimpeded access to all the areas that are needed. When supplies are taken out, when surgical supplies are taken out, we speak out. We've not been shy of speaking out. I think, you know, we're always happy to engage with NGOs [non-governmental organizations] on a dialogue on how we can better do our work. But, the bottom line is that the solution is a political solution and is to re… all the parties involved, whether within or outside of Syria, need to re‑engage and support the political process. That's the ultimate solution.
Question: One follow‑up on this? I guess a yes‑or‑no question: Is… is… the Syrian Government has a veto power on the humanitarian delivery…?
Spokesman: We have to work with the Syrian Government. We have no choice. We've not been shy about saying when we've been denied permission. But, again, if permission is not granted and roadblocks are put in place, we… you know, humanitarian workers, whether it's the UN, whether it's Syrian Arab Red [Crescent], we do not shoot our way through checkpoints. I mean, this is why it can take six hours to do what would ordinary… to drive what normally would be a 40‑minute drive to get aid in. We've said over and over again that all these roadblocks, whether actual or metaphorical roadblocks, are unacceptable, and we will continue to say that. Mr. Charbonneau?
Question: Thanks, Steph. Two questions: On what you read about the Eritrea‑Ethiopia clashes, was this call that the Deputy Secretary‑General made to Eritrea the first high‑level contact between the 38th Floor and Eritrea at this point, or have there been ongoing discussions between the United Nations…?
Spokesman: It's the first contact at that senior level since the start of this current crisis this week.
Question: Okay. That's what I was trying to figure out. And then on the letter that the… that the Saudis sent to the Secretary‑General on behalf of the Yemen Coalition, in it there were a few things that I think might be difficult for the UN. First of all, they said that they want the UN to tell it… they want the UN to divulge the sources for information that led to the Children and Armed Conflict report and the… the blacklisting that was later withdrawn temporarily. They also said, as we discussed yesterday, that they want the UN to go to Riyadh to discuss with the Coalition the basis for the report. Has there been an official response to this request…?
Spokesman: There has not yet been an official response. What I can tell you, obviously, is protecting the sources of information that are used in this report and any other report is paramount, especially in a conflict area. There is… the way the reporting works is… the way the Office of the Special Representative of Children and Armed Conflict is to follow the relevant GA and Security Council resolutions. The monitoring mechanisms that have been put in place, these are pretty clear and transparent mechanisms. As we've said in the past, the parties named in this report have been regularly updated, but we… you know, we obviously welcome any information that the Saudi‑led Coalition may want to share with us, but I can't state enough the importance of protecting the sources.
Correspondnet: So, just to make it, again, a simple yes‑or‑no question…
Spokesman: It's very difficult for me.
Question: …so you don't intend to divulge the sources of those that you feel need protecting…?
Spokesman: No, you can take that as a no. Yep?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. I would like to ask you about China. On this day, a Chinese warship entered… entered Japan… Japan's territorial waters, and Chinese Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry said that was in line with UN Convention of the north border. What is the UN Secretary‑General's stance on it?
Spokesman: You know, as a matter of principle, I think the Secretary‑General has been speaking on maritime issues in Asia and in East Asia, and calls on all the parties to resolve their differences through mutual cooperation. Masood?
Question: Yes. Stéphane, can you tell us… follow up on this question, does the Secretary‑General of the United Nations have one opinion about this… the conflict between China, United States, Viet Nam and Thailand going on over there? Is there a… some sort of an opinion that the United Nations has about this conflict, which is going on and which is spreading?
Spokesman: Yeah, I would refer you to the number of speeches the Secretary‑General has given in Asia on this [topic]. And as I just said, he's always encouraged the parties to resolve their differences in a peaceful [way] and in a matter of mutual cooperation. Yeah?
Question: Follow‑up on the Saudi question. The Saudi Crown Prince is supposed to come to Washington, D.C., and then New York. Any plans for him to meet anybody at the UN?
Spokesman: There've been no contacts that I'm aware or official requests for meetings between the Deputy Crown Prince and the Secretary‑General at this point. We do understand that he will be in New York, but, again, in terms of the Secretary‑General's schedule, as of two hours ago, there were no… two, three hours ago, there were no official requests placed and, if that changes, I will let you know. Ms. Landry?
Question: Just to understand, so the… following the Saudi letter, so are there talks going on, on trying to agree on a date and a venue for…?
Spokesman: Well, I think we've received a letter. We will respond to it, and I think I just kind of laid out some of the basic principles, but, obviously, there will be a… I'm sure there will be some sort of response to the letter. Yep?
Question: On DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea], North Korean Foreign Minister has said they have sent a letter to UN Secretariat this week in which they criticized the UN, because UN is always on the side of US and they treated DPRK unfairly. How does Secretary‑General react?
Spokesman: I think the… I haven't seen the letter. I think the Secretary‑General's position on the DPRK has been clear in his call for them to abide by Security Council resolutions, but also often underscoring the humanitarian needs of the people of North Korea, and those should not be forgotten. Edie?
Question: Steph, going back to Ethiopia‑Eritrea, the UN doesn't have any monitors on the border, I know, but how… is it getting any kind of information from its own people, either in Asmara or Addis?
Spokesman: I think the… you know, the information we get from our offices there are… is more focused on political analysis. We have no way, as you said, to do any sort of monitoring as to what is actually going on along the border. All right. Thank you for your active participation. I wanted to wish you a happy Friday, but it's only Wednesday.