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.
Good afternoon, everyone.
**Noon Briefing Guest
In a short while, I will be joined by Philippe Lazzarini, the Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon and UNDP Resident Representative, who will talk to you about Lebanon.
Before that I have some announcements and I will take some questions.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
First, I have a trip announcement. The Secretary-General will leave New York this afternoon for Havana, Cuba, where he will be a witness to the signing tomorrow of the bilateral ceasefire and laying down of arms agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC[-EP].
The President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, and the President of the Security Council, Ambassador François Delattre of France, will also participate in the ceremony.
While in Havana, the Secretary-General is also expected to have a number of bilateral meetings.
**Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, spoke recently at a ceremony at the UNICEF courtyard honouring the life of UK Member of Parliament Jo Cox. He said that her death has reminded us of standing up for values and principles that unite us — not divide us — in today’s deeply troubled world. And he made clear that we must never give in to fear or succumb to violent provocations. If we do, the extremists and perpetrators will declare victory.
**South Sudan
We issued a note yesterday afternoon, describing the work of a Special Investigation and a UN Headquarters Board of Inquiry that had been convened to review the circumstances of the violence that erupted in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Malakal from 17 to 18 February.
The Special Investigation, which was tasked to look into the external factors that led to the incident, has been completed. The Investigation determined that the immediate trigger for the attacks was an attempt by two Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers to smuggle ammunition into the site on 16 February. The Investigation team requested that the Transitional Government of National Unity hold the individuals responsible, accountable for the violence. The team also provided a number of recommendations aimed at preventing such attacks in the future.
A UN Headquarters-led Board of Inquiry, which was tasked to look into the Mission’s response to the incident, is being finalized. The preliminary report of the Board mentions that a number of issues contributed to the incident. On the UNMISS response, in particular, there was confusion with respect to command and control and Rules of Engagement and a lack of coordination among the various civilian and uniformed peacekeepers in Malakal at the time of the crisis. UN Headquarters is reviewing a number of recommendations made by the Board in order to minimize the recurrence of such incidents, including the reviewing of the concept of Protection of Civilians sites and the performance of troop- and police-contributing countries.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, and the Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, Atul Khare, will brief the Security Council in this regard this afternoon. And by the way, Mr. Ladsous is also expected to speak to reporters after the briefing.
**Sudan
Following armed clashes on 21 June around the village of Thur in Central Darfur, preliminary reports indicate that an estimated 17,000 people — including people who had already been displaced earlier this year due to conflict in the area — have fled the village and an IDP camp and sought refuge at a nearby Sudanese Armed Forces site. Initial information from community leaders indicates that several people have also been killed and injured, and property damaged or looted.
At the current site, there is no access to services or supplies, including shelter materials.
At the original site in Thur, no international humanitarian assessment has been possible since the start of the fighting this year, but there are believed to be significant water and sanitation needs. An inter-agency assessment to Thur is planned tomorrow to determine humanitarian needs, pending approval from the authorities.
**Central African Republic
Our humanitarian colleagues say today that renewed violence in the Central African Republic is displacing thousands of people internally and to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.
In the capital, Bangui, a recent flare-up of violence has forced thousands of people to seek safety in the Bimbo area, to IDPs sites at Carmel and M’Poko airport. Several humanitarian partners have limited or temporarily suspended their activities in the area around the PK5 enclaves.
The acting Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr. Michel Yao, called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and ensure that they can relocate safely.
Underfunding continues to undermine humanitarian operations with the 2016 Humanitarian appeal of $531 million only 14 per cent funded so far.
**Syria
An inter-agency convoy delivered much-needed life-saving assistance to the hard-to-reach town of Bloudan in rural Damascus yesterday. The convoy contained food, medicine, health and other emergency items for 25,000 people in need. This is the third inter-agency convoy to Bloudan this year.
Since the beginning of 2016, nearly 850,000 people have been reached, many more than once, with assistance through UN inter-agency operations in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, including more than 330,000 people in besieged locations.
Meanwhile, the number of people in Syria being assisted by UN cross-border convoys from Turkey and Jordan continues to grow. Since the launch of UN cross-border deliveries in 2014 through May, a total of 337 convoys have been sent by the United Nations and its implementing partners, reaching millions of people with food, health and other assistance in Aleppo, Dara’a, Hama, Idleb, Latakia and Quneitra governorates.
**Food Security
The Secretary-General chaired the UN High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on Global Food and Nutrition Security this morning.
UN principals agreed to align the High-Level Task Force work on food and nutrition security in support of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting also focused on responding to the impact of El Niño and climate change.
Recounting his recent visits to Ethiopia and Madagascar, the Secretary-General voiced his deep concern about the effects that El Niño has had on the resilience, food security and nutrition of the most vulnerable people. The Secretary-General underscored the link between climate action and delivering on the development goals, and called for a well-coordinated UN system response.
The Task Force concluded that a systematic transformation of agricultural and food policies is required, so they are people-centred and climate-compatible, and deliver both on the development goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
**Global Compact
And the Secretary-General, this morning, met with the Global Compact Board, during which he stressed the importance of mobilizing businesses to help deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
At 3 p.m. today, the Secretary-General will address the 2016 UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in the General Assembly. We will share his remarks with you later today.
**Egypt
The World Food Programme (WFP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the launch of a three-month emergency operation to support Egyptian returnees from Libya with much-needed food assistance.
Through the emergency operation, WFP will provide an estimated 60,000 returnees from Libya with monthly food vouchers. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Libya hosts around 1.6 million Egyptians, mostly migrant workers. More information is available on WFP’s website.
**Press Conferences
And tomorrow, the noon guest will be Jean-Luc Lemahieu, the Director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He will brief on the launch of the 2016 World Drug Report.
**Drugs
And on that topic, you are all invited to the New York high-level launch of the 2016 World Drug Report. That will take place tomorrow from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. in Conference Room 3. The meeting will also commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is to be held this Sunday. The launch will feature opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary-General, followed by a presentation of the Report.
**Questions and Answers
As I said earlier, we will be joined by Philippe Lazzarini. Before he joins us, do you have any questions for me? Yes, Masood?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On this statement of the Secretary‑General’s Special Adviser on genocide, about the situation in Bahrain, does the Secretary‑General also agree with what he has said and how… and what he has warned the Bahraini Government from not doing the repressive acts that they are at this point in time?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. You’re right that Adama Dieng, the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, has issued a press release today, stating his concerns about the situation there. And, similarly, a day ago, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, also expressed his sentiments. Both of them are calling for there to be respect for freedom of speech and freedom of assembly as people gather in protest in Bahrain, and they want to make sure that protests are peaceful and that the security forces allow them to proceed, and this has been the case with, like I said, both the Special Adviser and with High Commissioner Zeid. In addition, of course, you’ll have seen the concerns that both of them expressed, which the Secretary‑General also expressed, about the treatment of the Wefaq party, the treatment of different human rights activists, and our concerns, which the Secretary‑General expressed in a statement last week, about the measures that are being taken, including stripping people of their nationality. And so those are the points that you’ve seen echoed throughout the UN system.
Question: It seems, just to follow up: It seems that the Bahraini authorities are going ahead with what the… despite the warning and caveats issued by the international community. They’re not heeding anything. Is there any way that the… as United Nations or international community can prevail upon Bahraini authorities to walk back these restrictive orders?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, as I’ve stated, a number of senior UN officials, including the Secretary‑General, have raised their concerns. We’re going to continue to raise this at all levels with the officials in Bahrain. Yes, Majeed, and then Carmen Maria.
Question: Farhan, I have a question, but before that, one follow‑up on that. For me it’s interesting that the Special Adviser of the Prevention of Genocide issued a statement about the situation in Bahrain. Is this because there’s a fear of any mass killing or mass violence in that country, or how… why… why he… my question is, why the Special Adviser?
Deputy Spokesman: He issues statements on a number of countries depending upon what his own particular concerns are. You’re aware of what his particular brief is. Of course, he takes on that brief without any implication that a… that simply by talking to countries that he’s implying that a genocide is under way. That’s not the inference that he is making. At the same time, he has a specific set of briefs to follow up on, and so he deals with a number of countries on that.
Question: Okay. And then I will get to my question. In less than 12 hours, the Brexit polls will be open, and millions of UK citizens will decide on the fate of UK/EU relations. What is the Secretary‑General’s message for the voters in the UK?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, of course, we are not expressing any course of action on the way ahead. That’s in the hands of the voters. And this is their decision, and we certainly respect their decision as they go to the polls. The Secretary‑General has made clear the partnership that the UN has with the European Union and its hopes for a strong European Union. What… how the voters in the United Kingdom choose to go about it is their business, and I hope and expect that we’ll have a reaction one way or another, once the votes have been concluded. Carmen Maria?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. You mentioned that the SG will be having bilateral meetings in Havana. And given that there were a number of detentions this last Sunday by the Cuban authorities against the Ladies in White who were going about their Sunday business, going to church, will the Secretary‑General bring up this matter if he meets with the Cuban authorities?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I don’t have a confirmation of any meeting with anyone in particular in the Cuban Government at this point. We will provide readouts once the meetings have happened, so hopefully, we’ll be able to share those details with you once that’s taken place. Abdelhamid, then Matthew.
Question: Thank you. Is there any role the UN had played in this peace agreement between Colombian Government and FARC, if any?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you will have seen the support that we have provided for this process. The UN is prepared to do whatever it can to strengthen the peace process that’s under way. There may be some tasks that are required of us, as you’re aware. And you’ll have seen the process by which we have been talking about a potential UN presence on the ground, as well as specific tasks involving disarmament and so forth. And so we are there for that, but as you know, there have been a number of participants who have helped with this, including the Government of Cuba and, of course, Pope Francis as well. And we’ve encouraged all those efforts, and the Secretary‑General will do what he can. And, of course, we’ll try to share any remarks he makes while he’s in Havana tomorrow. Yes, you and then Evelyn. Yeah?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you about the… Malakal, but, first… and I’m sorry if I’ve missed it; I’ve been reading the report. Do you have anything on the missile tests of DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)?
Deputy Spokesman: About the DPRK test, yeah. Yes, I think I do. One second. Some people prefer the alphabetical system, but for me, this just messes me up. Wait a sec. Yeah. Yet another launch of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in defiance of the unanimous will of the international community, is a brazen and irresponsible act. This is a deliberate and grave violation of its international obligations. The continued pursuit by the DPRK of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles will only undermine its security and fail to improve the lives of its citizens. The humanitarian consequences that this would entail cannot be stressed enough. The DPRK must change its course for denuclearized Korean Peninsula.
Question: And just following up on that, you’d said a couple days ago that this letter from the DPRK that’s described as an invitation to visit was received.
Deputy Spokesman: No, no.
Question: Didn’t you say you thought…
Deputy Spokesman: I said a letter was received. Not an invitation… [inaudible]
Question: All right. Are you going to circulate the letter, or what does the letter say?
Deputy Spokesman: The letter’s going… I believe the DPRK has requested that the letter will be circulated as a document, so I think it’s going to be a document. And I believe it details concerns that they have about some US air activities.
Question: Okay. Can I… I want to ask, on Malakal, I saw the note to correspondents last night, and I’m sure you’ve seen the… the… the MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) statement. I wanted to… the one thing that didn’t seem to line up is they talk a lot about the time period before the… before the events. They say weeks before, weapons were being smuggled in. They say a fence… a fence was cut and humanitarian partners told the UN, and nothing was done. So they paint… I didn’t see in the notes to correspondents in what you’ve described a sort of… there’s a description of… of confusion during… during the two days of… of burning and killing. But what… what’s the UN’s response to the idea that, in the weeks running up to it, they didn’t do anything to stop weapons that were ultimately used to kill people being smuggled into the camp?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we certainly have been in touch with Médecins Sans Frontières, and we’ve tried to take some of their concerns on board. We were in communication with them as these reports are being prepared. Some of the details are in confusion. And some of these things, such as the question of whether the gate was cut, I don’t believe we have the full confirmation of that… and so we’re continuing to study matters. Like I said, the Board of Inquiry is… the report is being finalized now. I believe there will be some further details as well shared with the Security Council when Under‑Secretaries‑General Ladsous and Khare meet with them this afternoon. And like I said, I believe Mr. Ladsous will speak to the press after that. Yes? Evelyn, yeah?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Is the UN watching or have an opinion on a growing discussion in the United States from, not only the diplomats and… that sent that letter to John Kerry, but the Council on… the President of the Council on Foreign Relations and others that the United States should bomb some runways in Damascus to stop cluster bombs, plus give some anti‑aircraft equipment to the rebels and so forth?
Deputy Spokesman: You’re describing a debate within the US Government. I wouldn’t have any comment on that. We have, as you know, our own process headed by Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, and he’s continuing with that process and, indeed, briefed to the Member States on it just yesterday. Oleg? Oh, first you and then you. Sorry. You hadn’t had a chance.
Question: Thank you. My name is Diego. I’m with W Radio for Colombia and Latin America. Back to the Secretary‑General’s trip to Havana today, one particular issue on the negotiations that’s been taking place between the FARC and Colombia is the quantity of zones where there will be a hand‑over of weapons. And there’s a certain quantity that the United Nations can achieve. There’s a certain quantity that the Government of Colombia wants. There’s a certain quantity that the FARC want. I want to know, how much has the Secretary‑General been briefed on those details that are about to be signed tomorrow? Because it’s a very delicate issue, and it’s one of the issues that are pending facing the rest of the negotiations towards a final peace agreement.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. The Secretary‑General has been briefed on this issue. We’re aware of the discrepancies in terms of amount of weapons, as well as of sites. I believe that there is a compromise number that is being worked out, and hopefully, there will be agreement on these and other issues. We certainly believe that the ground is ready for the initial ceremony tomorrow. And we hope that that will lead in the coming weeks to a final signing of an agreement and an end to this long‑running war.
Question: There is a… there… I’m sorry. There is a particular number of zones that the UN, I understand, is capable of doing, which is 25. Do you have that same number?
Deputy Spokesman: The number I heard is actually slightly different than yours, but in any case, I’m not going to confirm to a number just yet. These remain under discussion, and hopefully, we’ll come to an agreement on it with all the parties. Oleg?
Question: Yes, just a follow‑up. At which stage… at which stage are the preparation for the possible mission in Colombia, monitoring and verification? What is needed for it to start?
Deputy Spokesman: Ultimately, any deployment of a mission would wait upon the final agreement signed by the parties. And so we’re getting to that stage. Tomorrow, we hope, will be a very major step forward but not the final step. And we’re anticipating what will happen in the coming weeks in the event of an agreement. This is something that the people of Colombia have been waiting for, for roughly six decades, and we’re very hopeful that we can finally put this conflict to an end. Yes, Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you. The Institute for Understanding in the Middle East issued a report about the status of children in Palestine. It said three out of four, they have been… they had been subject to physical violence, 70 per cent of them had been stripped… strip‑searched. And about an average of 700 children are detained every year. Is there an opinion… does this report reach the… the Special Envoy, and does he reflect these facts in his report? In the past, he didn’t. Would he reflect these facts in his coming report?
Deputy Spokesman: He is, indeed, fully informed of these reports, and it’s a major source of concern. As you’re aware, different other bodies, including UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), have also expressed their concerns about the treatment of children in the Occupied Palestinian territory. And so this is something that the Secretary‑General and his envoy, the Special Coordinator, Mr. [Nickolay] Mladenov, take very seriously. And we do press at all levels for an improvement of conditions for all Palestinians, including, of course, Palestinian children. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you about… something about Burundi and, I guess, how the UN responds to statements by diplomats. There’s a growing controversy that the ambassador of Burundi to the UN, Albert Shingiro, yesterday, tweeted a photograph of himself at the International Day of Yoga but through an account that’s closely aligned with basically hate speech that says things about the number of Tutsis in the Government should be reduced; the number of Tutsis should be reduced. So it’s clear from the way it’s phrased that he is the other account. And so people… what I’m wondering is, you have Albert… you have Mr. Dieng issuing statements about, you know, threats of genocide in different places. Is the UN aware that the ambassador of Burundi is responsible for an account, which has tweeted what can be described as nothing but hate speech?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I wouldn’t be able to make the inference about different tweets that you’re making. Ultimately, it would be up to the Permanent Mission of Burundi to see how its communications are being handled. Certainly, we expect all Member States to abide by the basic norms in their communications, including an avoidance of any sort of rhetoric of hate. Majeed?
Question: Yes. Thank you. A spokeswoman for the Human Rights High Commissioner has said that there are further reports right now of alleged human rights abuses of the people fleeing the city of Fallujah. I’m sure you might have seen that report. And there are more and more reports of that coming out of what is going on in Fallujah. Is there any step that the Secretary‑General thinks should be taken, any more discussion with the Iraqi Government, especially who has influence over these forces that are surrounding Fallujah right now?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. We have made clear that all those who are trying to flee from Fallujah need to be allowed to flee and need to be treated with respect and with dignity, that, ultimately, their human rights need to be respected. And you’ll have seen the concerns that we’ve expressed from the Secretary‑General, from the High Commissioner for Human Rights and others, that those people who are fleeing Fallujah are not actually being allowed to move to a place of safety. And that is a cause of concern. We’ve been taking it up at all levels, including at the level of the mission.
Question: What… just follow on that. What was the response from the Iraqi Government? I guess my question was that. For your… for the UNAMI’s (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq) concern, for Secretary‑General’s concern for the people.
Deputy Spokesman: Certainly, they’ve made clear their intention to cooperate and to provide this… the necessary assurances and the necessary protections to people who are fleeing. What we want to see is how that’s translated on the ground in terms of also the various different fighting forces that are being present there. And now let me turn to Philippe Lazzarini, our guest. Hold on just one second, and I’ll be right back.