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.
I will start off with a statement on the Quartet report.
**Quartet
The Secretary‑General is pleased that, in collaboration with his counterparts from the Russian Federation, the United States and the European Union, the Quartet has today released its report highlighting the major threats to the two‑State solution and providing recommendations on how to preserve and advance this goal.
He underscores the report’s finding that there is a strong need for affirmative steps to reverse negative trends on the ground. These trends risk entrenching a one‑State reality of perpetual occupation and conflict which is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples.
The Secretary‑General reiterates the Quartet’s pledge to actively support an end to the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). He also reiterates that a negotiated two‑State outcome that meets Israeli security needs and creates a sovereign Palestinian State, ends the occupation that began in 1967 and resolves all permanent status issues is the only way to achieve an enduring peace.
He strongly encourages the parties to engage with the Quartet on implementing the report recommendations so as to rebuild hope among Palestinians and Israelis in a political solution and to create the conditions to return to meaningful negotiations.
The Secretary‑General is also concerned by what appears to be a spike in violence over the past two days. He condemns all acts of terror and violence.
**Trip Announcement
I do want to announce a forthcoming trip of the Secretary‑General to the People’s Republic of China. On Wednesday, the Secretary‑General will be arriving in Beijing from New York. The following day, he will meet with President Xi Jinping as well as other senior officials, including the Premier and the Foreign Minister.
The Secretary‑General is expected to visit the China Helicopter Centre for Peacekeeping Operations and the Beijing Red Cross Emergency Rescue Centre. He will attend the 10th Anniversary Commemorative Meeting of the Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He is scheduled to meet with Chinese philanthropists in support of the global development agenda.
On 9 July, he will travel to Hangzhou, where he will attend the Inaugural Xin Philanthropy Conference, highlighting the role of the private sector in promoting sustainable development. He is also planning to visit the city’s International Centre on Small Hydro Power, which was established by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Chinese Government to develop renewable energy sources and promote South‑South cooperation on climate change.
On 10 July, he is expected to travel to Suzhou, where he will visit the city’s Industrial Park, before heading back to New York. He is expected back on 10 July.
**Central African Republic
We want to provide you some new information and an update on the ongoing investigations being conducted jointly with the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) on the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Kemo prefecture in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Mission has received information on two new allegations in the area involving two minors. We will notify the concerned Member State and request for national investigators in order to look into these allegations. Furthermore, the Mission has also received additional information of possible further historic allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. This information is receiving preliminary review and assessment by OIOS to determine its credibility. All subsequent actions are to be taken as required in an expeditious manner.
As for an update on the other allegations already reported, OIOS has said that all complainants have been interviewed by the joint teams. Approximately 50 witnesses have been identified, and are also being interviewed in order to corroborate testimonies. An additional OIOS senior investigative manager has been deployed to help in completing the investigation. Those investigations are being conducted jointly with Burundi and Gabon. As you know, most of those allegations date back to 2014 and 2015, which makes the investigations that much more complex.
On a separate issue, the Under‑Secretary‑General for Field Support, Atul Khare, has arrived in the Central African Republic today. During his visit, he will also look into issues of conduct and discipline. We will continue to update you as we receive more information.
**Syria
On Syria, the UN and its partners continue to call for the immediate provision of life‑saving assistance, including water, food and basic health care, to more than 85,000 Syrians estimated to be stranded along the Syrian/Jordanian border area in makeshift tented settlements.
As of Friday, the northern border with Syria remains sealed following the 21 June terrorist attack on a border command post in north‑east Jordan that killed seven soldiers and injured a dozen. The provision of water through a UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) partner is the only assistance that has been provided since the attack, but due to disruptions within the community and insecurity, water has not been delivered consistently enough to keep pace with needs. In the extreme heat, delivery of life‑saving water, food and basic medical care is obviously absolutely critical.
Meanwhile, the UN and its partners are calling for immediate facilitation to provide life‑saving assistance to 62,000 people besieged in the Syrian towns of Zabadani, Foah, Madaya and Kefraya, most of whom are women and children. While the Government of Syria has approved the delivery, differences between the parties to the so‑called "four towns agreement" continue to bar our teams from delivering assistance.
**Iraq
A total of 662 Iraqis were killed and another 1,457 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in the country in June, according to latest figures released by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Those numbers include 382 civilian deaths and 1,145 wounded civilians.
The Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, said that although there had been hope for a period of calm during Ramadan, unfortunately the violence continued to take its toll on civilians. He said that the terrorists did not spare an occasion to strike at markets, mosques and areas where people gathered in order to exact maximum casualties among civilians, in total disregard of the values of Islam.
In a statement yesterday, Mr. Kubiš strongly condemned the attacks — terrorist suicide bombing at a popular market in a south-west neighbourhood of Baghdad in which a number of civilians were killed or wounded. UNAMI is also concerned about other violence which left a number of people killed or wounded in two separate gun attacks Wednesday night in Baghdad.
**Libya
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) today issued casualty figures for June — there have been an estimated 49 civilian casualties, including 18 deaths and 31 injuries, because of hostilities across Libya. The majority of civilian deaths were caused by vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, followed by air strikes.
**Lebanon
Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, met today with Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam, in advance of her visit to Washington and New York. She reiterated her condolences to the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks.
She said that she and the Prime Minister had discussed the importance of national unity, vigilance to secure and stabilize Lebanon in this very volatile and challenging period. And she praised the work of the Lebanese Armed Forces, saying that very few countries could continue to provide this level of security against the threats that Lebanon has been facing.
**Haiti
And just to update you on the visit by Under‑Secretary‑General Hervé Ladsous: He arrived in Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti, yesterday for a three‑day visit at the request of the Security Council.
Mr. Ladsous is carrying the Secretary‑General’s and the Security Council's message to the National Assembly to urgently take a decision and determine a viable arrangement for provisional governance that can ensure the completion of the electoral process and a return to full [constitutional] order without further delays.
Mr. Ladsous will meet with representatives of the national institutions, political actors, the private sector, civil society and human right organizations.
**Greece
From Geneva, our colleagues at UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) said today that over 15,500 asylum seekers were pre‑registered on mainland Greece in a large‑scale effort launched by the Greek Asylum Service with UNHCR’s assistance.
The exercise helps to identify those eligible for family reunification or relocation to another EU country and will also identify persons with specific needs.
The asylum seekers residing in open temporary accommodation structures have received cards, valid for a year, allowing them to reside legally in Greece and have the right to access services, pending the full lodging of their asylum application. More information from UNHCR.
**LGBT
I’ve been asked about our response to the Human Rights Council vote yesterday appointing a new Independent Expert.
I can tell you that the Secretary‑General believes that the Human Rights Council marked another important step forward when it decided to appoint a UN Independent Expert to monitor and report on levels of violence and discrimination against LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender) people globally. It is clear that there’s still so much that needs to be done to protect people from violence, tackle discrimination at work, end bullying in schools and ensure access to health care, housing and essential services.
**Press Conferences
5 p.m., Friday: Ambassador Koro Bessho of Japan, President of the Security Council for July, will brief on the Council’s programme of work for the month of July.
Monday, to remind you, is an official holiday in the United States of America, our host country, and the UN will be closed. And Wednesday is also an official holiday at the UN, marking Eid al‑Fitr. With a working day sandwiched in between these two holidays, my office will be staffed but we will take a break from each other and we will not be having any noon briefing. But everything will be updated on the website and we will be available for any walk‑in questions.
**Staff
Lastly, in what some would describe as an exodus, I want to note that yet another staff member of the Spokesman’s Office will be moving on. That being said, I am not taking it personally.
Devi Palanivelu has been with the office for more than two years. During that time, she’s been a great colleague, doing many trips with the Secretary‑General, managing our Twitter account and focusing on a number of issues including Libya, Afghanistan and Climate Change.
We will all miss her as a valuable, dedicated, always smiling colleague and we all wish her well as she moves to a different floor in this building, so you can still track her down.
**Honour Roll
And lastly, we thank Bhutan for paying its dues in full on this Friday, bring us to…? Oh, you’re all pathetic. [So far 93 Member States have paid their UN contributions in full].
**Questions and Answers
Spokesman: Go ahead.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The Secretary‑General met UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group India-Pakistan) personnel, the chiefs, today. Do you have a readout of the meeting, as to what was discussed?
Spokesman: No, it's a readout… if I'm not mistaken, this is a… the first meeting with the new head of the mission. Obviously the Secretary‑General wishes him very well on his important new assignment. Ms. Landry?
Question: Stéphane, did you see the initial response to the Quartet report from the Palestinians, who said they were disappointed, that it equates responsibilities on both sides, which they contend is unfair? And also the Israeli ambassador said that he… Israel will not apologize for building in East Jerusalem. So it doesn't augur well.
Spokesman: Well, I think no one was expecting the report to be welcomed by parades and streamers. The situation on the ground is very critical. I think this is an important report as it is. It represents the consensus views of the UN, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and the United States. I think it lays bare, in our views, the challenges to a two‑State solution and the steps the parties need to take. I think the important thing and the important message to the parties… one of the many important messages to the parties… is that they need to engage with the Quartet in trying to assist them in addressing the challenges and the roadblocks, in a sense, that we have on the peace process, in order to get to a point where we can have meaningful face‑to‑face negotiations between the parties. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. Um, the UN bribery case of Ng Lap Seng has now had a superseding indictment that accuses Mr. Ng of buying benefits from UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and expands the time limit of the case up to September 2015. So, one, I'm wondering if you have any comment on this, as it seems to be an expanding case. And, two, I want to reiterate the request now for several months that UNDP hold a press conference, at least on the audit that it released, and… and state where… why the money that was given…
Spokesman: I think on your… on your second part, you can address that request to UNDP.
Question: I have.
Spokesman: I have not seen the new indictment, so I cannot comment on it.
Question: You had said from here that they would do it. I've spoken to the head of the office, and he hasn't done it. I'm wondering, has the Secretary, Ban Ki‑moon, head of the system…
Spokesman: I know where we are.
Question: Cover up.
Spokesman: You're always free and have always been free to express your opinions. Carole?
Question: I just want to get back to Kemo, the allegations. So there's two new allegations. How many cases are we up to now? And then there's a third one. I'm confused.
Spokesman: Okay. So what we're… we have with Kemo is that we've gone… there are two new allegations involving minors which we've received, which we believe may have taken place in May. Okay. Then the mission has also received further additional information on what we would call the historic allegations that date back to 2014 and 2015. So it's two new sets of allegations. And as you recall, 106 people have been now interviewed by the mission.
Question: In the two latest cases, can you say troops from which countries?
Spokesman: No — because the concerned Member States will be notified shortly, hopefully later today. Once they've been notified, we should be able to share with you that information.
Question: And, again, can you provide a bit more details? Is this sexual abuse? Sexual exploitation?
Spokesman: The only thing… two new allegations of sexual abuse, obviously potential sexual abuse, involving two minors. I don't have any further details at this point. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask if there's any comment that the UN, I guess, accepted or created Government in Libya has fired four ministers. What… what does the Secretary‑General think of it?
Spokesman: You know, this is a Government of the Libyan people. There's a political process under way. We continue to call on all parties in the country to support the Presidency Council.
Question: Okay. And there's a meeting down in Conference Room 8 of the Secretary‑General's partners group on Myanmar. And my understanding is that the representative of Myanmar said his Government is not going to use the term "Rohingya", finds it divisive, and made no commitment to the opening up of an Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in the country. Does the Secretary‑General think that… that… that the self‑identified term of "Rohingya" can and should be used, and does he have a view on whether an Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights should be…
Spokesman: You know, we will release the Secretary‑General's remarks. Our position on the Rohingyas has not changed.
Question: And on whistle-blowers.
Spokesman: Go ahead. Yeah?
Question: There's… I'm sure you… you may or may not have seen the Government Accountability Project's statement on this, but there was a decision by the appeals tribunal yesterday denying… basically excluding from coverage of Mr. Postica and somebody else about the Dudley… the long‑standing Dudley case. And they've critiqued it… the decision as one that basically shows that there is no protection for whistle-blowers in the system, that if the Ethics Office doesn't itself take action, they have no access to this mechanism. What's the response to it?
Spokesman: The Administrative Tribunal has rendered a judgment. The Government Accountability Office is free to express its opinion.
Question: Thank you. I wanted to see what happens after the Quartet report. What's next? Do you plan to… do members plan to meet with the Israeli‑Palestinians, or is it just reaction… waiting for reactions?
Spokesman: Our Special Coordinator on the ground will now take up in contacts with the various parties, and we'll be… that work will be shared by the other Quartet envoys. I think the report shows a singularity of purpose on all parts of the Quartet. And I think what is important, that the parties will hear the same messages from all part as of the Quartet and this need to engage with them, with the Quartet, in order to find… to remove some of the obstacles that are outlined in the report. Sir?
Question: Thanks, Stéphane. Does the Secretary‑General think that there should some implementation mechanism for this report? There are some concrete recommendations which probably should be followed up.
Spokesman: You know, it's not a question about building yet another mechanism. The mechanism that's in place is the Quartet. We would call on the parties to engage with the Quartet, and we will obviously, as continuing to engage with them, to try to help them and convince them to remove some of the issues that are linked to either side on removing these roadblocks to what we think is a two‑state negotiated solution.
Question: And on a separate topic, I'm sure you saw there's some sort of thaw of relations between Turkey and Russia, some coming back to normality. There's been a letter by the President, sent to the President of Russia. Now there's a meeting between [Sergey] Lavrov and the Turkish Foreign Minister. Is this something you would welcome? And also in terms of Syria, do you think there could be some progress given all this?
Spokesman: I think, you know, I think… we would welcome any thaw between two countries and especially between Turkey and the Russian Federation, which, as you said, are involved… both very important players, for lack of a better word, in finding a solution to the Syrian conflict. I think when these two important countries work together along with the other members of the International Support Group, it's something that can only be welcomed. Carole?
Question: To clarify on the Quartet, what happens if the findings are rejected?
Spokesman: Okay. As we said, I think we… the expectation was that both sides would find fault and issues rather than fault — issues, rather than fault — with what we've written in the Quartet statement. The situation on the ground is not a good one, to say the least. We hope that the report is a way for the parties to reengage and engage with the Quartet in order to find a way to get back to meaningful face‑to‑face negotiations. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. A press freedom question. Um, you may have seen that in South Africa, the South African Broadcasting Corporation is being protested by journalists, three of whom were suspended, and the CEO quit because they're… they're essentially censoring coverage of protests of the Government. And I wanted to know… you've had other comments on it. Do you think… what do you make of this um, um, um, I guess journalist resigning in the face of censorship and…
Spokesman: I haven't seen… I haven't seen the particular reports. Obviously the Secretary‑General is a firm believer in freedom of the press. Thank you.