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.

**Solar Impulse

The Secretary-General had a video call with Captain Bertrand Piccard, who is on the final leg of the Solar Impulse journey around the world — nine hours from landing in Abu Dhabi.  The call was made available via Facebook Live, with more information via our social media platforms.

The Secretary-General told Captain Piccard that “you have flown 40,000 kilometres without fuel.  But you have much energy.”  And he told him that Solar Impulse may be ending its journey, but the journey to a sustainable world is just beginning.

**Afghanistan

A UN report on Afghanistan published today shows a record number of civilian casualties since counting began in 2009, with 5,166 civilians recorded killed or maimed in just the first six months of this year, of whom almost one third were children.

This represents an increase of 4 per cent in the total number of casualties compared to the first six months of 2015 — and is the highest half-year total since 2009.

While anti-Government elements remain responsible for the majority — 60 per cent — of civilian casualties, there was an increase in the number of civilians killed and injured by pro-Government forces between January and June this year.

And you will have seen that over the weekend, we issued a statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, in which the Secretary-General condemned a terrorist attack in Kabul on Saturday.  This despicable crime targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights, he said.

And that full statement is available online, along with the statement by the Security Council.

**Syria

The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has been invited to participate in a trilateral meeting called by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) Co-Chairs to discuss the situation on the ground and how to move forward on the political process.  The meeting will take place tomorrow.

This morning, Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien briefed the Security Council on Syria and said that the undeniable fact is that, today, in many places, civilians in Syria are as much at risk as they have ever been, due to the parties’ continuing blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.

He said he was deeply alarmed by the disturbing developments in and around Aleppo city.  Hundreds of mortars, missiles and projectiles were launched on both eastern and western Aleppo in past weeks, resulting in scores of deaths and hundreds of injuries.  Mr. O’Brien said that the population in eastern Aleppo city is at serious risk of besiegement as the fighting closes in and their access to basic necessities runs out.  He added that the highest priority is to ensure access through both cross-line or cross-border operations under the Security Council’s existing resolutions so that we can replenish stocks and ensure people’s access to the basic necessities of life.

Mr. O’Brien said he was equally alarmed by reports of deteriorating humanitarian conditions and urgent medical evacuation needs in Madaya, Foah, Zabadani and Kefraya, where over 62,000 people are and continue to be besieged.  His remarks are available in our office.

**Middle East

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, strongly condemned the recent decision by Israeli authorities to advance plans to build some 770 housing units in the settlement of Gilo, built on the lands of occupied Palestinian towns and villages between Bethlehem and East Jerusalem.  He is also concerned about repeated efforts by a number of families to rebuild the Israeli outpost of Mitzpeh Avichai near Hebron in the occupied West Bank.  Such moves raise legitimate questions about Israel’s long-term intentions.

This decision to expand Gilo comes only three weeks after the Middle East Quartet jointly called on Israel to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion.

Mr. Mladenov reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law and urges the Government of Israel to cease and reverse such decisions.  He said that continuing on the current trajectory entrenches a one-State reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples.

**Food Assistance

I also want to flag today a statement by the leaders of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) applauding new legislation in the United States aimed at strengthening global food assistance programmes in the years ahead.

The Global Food Security Act (GFSA) supports initiatives that focus on developing agriculture, assisting small-scale food producers and improving nutrition, especially for women and children worldwide.

It also aims to improve coordination among various US agencies providing overseas aid, to ensure the wisest possible spending practices.

It was passed by the US congress with bipartisan support earlier in July and signed just a few days ago by President Barack Obama.

**Questions and Answers

And that is it for me.  Are there any questions?  Yes?

Question:  Sure.  I wanted to ask you, you have probably have seen among the other developments in Turkey there has been arrest warrants issued for 42 journalists in order of preventing publication of a satirical magazine, so I wanted to know since Friday, what does the UN think  of this?  Has the Secretary‑General been able to reach President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and what is your view of this type of censorship?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well regarding concerns, you're well aware of our concerns about freedom of press worldwide; but particular in Turkey, you will have noticed that last week we did issue a statement, which, among other things, and let me read out the relevant part:  The Secretary‑General urges the Turkish authorities, consistent with assurances given, to do their upmost to ensure that the constitutional order and international human rights law are fully respected, in line with Turkey's international obligations.  These include the freedoms of expression, movement and peaceful assembly; independence of the judiciary and of the legal profession; and adherence to due process.  So we made clear our concerns and we may have something more to say on this in the days ahead as we examine this further.

Question:  Have there been any attempts, I think it wasn’t it said it was difficult to set up a call?  Has there been further efforts to set up a call?  Has the call been rebuffed?

Deputy Spokesman:  The Secretary‑General has not spoken to President Erdoğan but we have conveyed messages at various levels and including through this statement and I believe, like I said, if we have something further to say in the days ahead, we will let you know.  Yes, Carmen Maria?

Question:  Perhaps you already dealt upon this, but there has been a new targeting of a child by ISIS, who was burnt alive with his family in Iraq during the weekend.  How does the Secretary‑General view that ISIS is committing crimes against children, as well?

Deputy Spokesman:   This is yet another to the lengthy and growing list of outrages perpetrated by Da'esh or, as you call them, ISIS.  The fact is that they have been sparing no civilians.  They have been targeting different religious and ethnic minorities and time and time again they have harmed others, including children, including women, including basically anyone who falls in their area of control.  That is why we have been calling time and again for international unity against Da'esh, and we are grateful that that unity seems to have been resulting in a loss of control by them of some of their territories.  Yes?

Question:  I wanted to ask you in South Sudan, one, I wanted to just know it's been announced that the SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) in Opposition has held a vote that some people view as legitimate, some don't, to replace Riek Machar with Taban Deng.  So I wanted to know, given that I know last time Ellen Lôj was on the screen here, she said she was trying to speak… had spoken with Riek Machar and didn't know where he was.  Does the UN view this switch of leadership as legitimate?  Who is the leader of the SPLA‑IO right now?

Deputy Spokesman:   At this stage, the leaders we have been dealing with on the two sides have been Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.  If that changes, I'll let you know.

Question:  I also wanted to ask about a staff member.  I've seen a memo from DSS (Department of Safety and Security) and UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) and I'm wondering why we have not heard more about it.  In Yambio, an UNMISS female national staff member was arrested and detained by the National Security Service, reason unclear, thought to be political, still detained.  So this is as of Friday, and I haven't heard anything since from the UN.  Is this staff member still detained by National Security in South Sudan?

Deputy Spokesman:  I will check with UNMISS where we stand with that.  Many times, what we're trying to do is just deal with the local authorities to make sure that any misunderstandings are cleared up; but, certainly, whenever that happens, we want to make sure our staff will be released.

Question:  Just one more on this in the same memo. 

Deputy Spokesman:  Hold on.  Yes?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  Does the Secretary‑General have any reaction to the bomb attack last night in Ansbach, Germany?

Deputy Spokesman:  Basically, as you're aware, we have been opposed to any acts that kill or harm civilians and this fits in with that.  We are aware that there is… that the legal and police authorities are dealing with this and we trust that they will resolve this matter; but, certainly, all of these sorts of attacks are to be avoided.  Yes?

Question:  Sure.

Deputy Spokesman:  Wait, first, Iftikhar and then you.  You have not had one.

Question:  Thank, you Farhan.  Tensions between India and Pakistan are at an all-time high following the recent uprising in Indian occupied Kashmir.  Any Secretary‑General's comment on this?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, you have seen a comment that we issued in a note to correspondents a few weeks ago.  I don't have anything to add to that at this stage, but that sums up his attitude.  Yes?

Question:  Sure.  I just wanted to… and on this same UNMISS document where it talks about the staff member being detained, there is another section where it talks about UNMISS capturing somebody trying to commit a crime and they just turned them over to authorities.  I guess what I'm wondering is:  If it's the UN's position that the authorities are committing abuses, what safeguards are in place when UNMISS simply turns people over to them?  Is there any follow‑up on that? 

Deputy Spokesman:  We do always follow up.  In whatever country we are in, we do follow up when we turn people over to respective authorities to make sure that they are treated fairly.

Question:  Okay, and in the run-up to yet there had been some, I don't know, maybe I was the only one confused, at whether 25 MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) staff members went back or whether there were still some travel delays.  Are the full 25 back in the run-up to tomorrow's Council meeting?

Deputy Spokesman:  Yes, yes.  And that is the first tranche of staff; but, yes, 25 people did return over the course of several days, basically in threes and fours.  Sure.

Question:   This is something to knowledge up on something I asked you before about the ASG (Assistant Secretary-General) of Human Rights position for Andrew Gilmour, and I asked about whether there had been… the type of recruitment that is usually done, and I think you said, yes.  But since now having heard from a number of people, including in Geneva, that would have wanted to run for the post and from some countries, in the case of the ASG post of Kyung-wha Kang, they post on Delegate a notice to Member States and there is an ASG post open and people can apply for it.  I wanted to know, just "Yes" or "No", was that done for the ASG of Human Rights Post and if not, why not?

Deputy Spokesman:  Different announcements are posted in different ways; but the policy, yes, this was filled through the regular policy for staffing posts.

Question:  Right but why would the ASG for OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) be posted and the ASG of Human Rights not be posted, unless you come back and say that it was posted?

Deputy Spokesman:   here are different times when different things are posted.  Sometimes ads are placed in Economist and sometimes not.  That is different; but, yes, the procedure was followed.

Question:  But the rights of nations seem different, Economist, and maybe it's up to you where to advertise, but the countries themselves say they never saw a notice and it was filled kind of quickly.  I guess was Prince Zeid conferred with on this appointment?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't comment on how the procedure was followed; but, yes, the proper procedure was followed.  Have a good afternoon, everyone.