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 Guests
I will be joined shortly by Karen AbuZayd, Special Adviser on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, and the President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft. They will brief you on the forthcoming UN Summit on refugees and migrants. And that will be after I go through this part of the briefing.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
On Tuesday morning, the Secretary-General met with Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta. He witnessed the signing of an agreement between the City of Buenos Aires and the Argentine federal Government on the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals at the municipal level. Buenos Aires is the first city in Argentina to sign such an agreement. Mayor Rodriguez Larreta also offered the keys to the city to the Secretary-General.
The Secretary-General then addressed a group of Argentinian youth and civil society leaders. He told them that youth and civil society groups helped push Governments to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals and now is the time for them to make leaders keep their promises. He urged the young people to stay engaged and raise their voices for a better world.
Later this afternoon, he will meet with senior officials from the Government, including the President of the Chamber of Representatives and the Vice President of Argentina and President of the Senate, as well as members of the Argentinian Supreme Court.
The Secretary-General will leave Argentina later this evening for Los Angeles.
**Security Council
The Security Council is hearing today from Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien about humanitarian access in Syria. We expect Mr. O’Brien will talk to the press at the Security Council stakeout once he is finished, and we will let you know when that happens.
**Syria
Our senior humanitarian officials dealing with Syria, Yacoub El Hillo and Kevin Kennedy, said that the United Nations urgently calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting in Aleppo to enable immediate access to repair the electricity and water networks, and provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. An estimated 250,000 to 275,000 people remain trapped in east Aleppo since early July following the closure of Castello road, the last remaining access route into this area.
The UN stands ready to assist the civilian population of Aleppo. At a minimum, the UN requires a full-fledged ceasefire or weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses to reach the millions of people in need throughout Aleppo and replenish the food and medicine stocks, which are running dangerously low.
Civilians, including the sick and wounded, must be reached through the most effective way both through cross-line and cross-border operations from Turkey. They must be assisted without discrimination and wherever they are located. All parties must guarantee the security, safety and dignity of all civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.
The UN reiterates its call for the immediate lifting of all sieges. When used to intentionally deprive people of food and other items essential to their survival, siege tactics constitute a war crime.
Also, UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl has completed a three-day visit to Syria, meeting with Palestine refugees, UNRWA staff and Government officials.
**Maldives
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights asked the Government of Maldives to refrain from carrying out planned executions and to uphold the de facto moratorium that has been in place in the country since 1954.
The High Commissioner, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said that the death penalty is not effective in deterring crime. He said that revenge must never be confused with justice, and the death penalty only serves to compound injustice.
Recent legal decisions in the Maldives have potentially allowed for executions, which have been effectively abandoned since the nineteen fifties. Some 17 persons are now on death row.
Mr. Zeid urged the leaders and the people of the Maldives to continue to uphold the moratorium on the death penalty and work towards prohibiting the practice altogether.
**Yemen
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today issued a statement deploring the killing of four children earlier this week in Yemen, and calling for both sides to keep children out of harm’s way. The agency said that the four were killed and three others injured Sunday in the Nihm District, east of Sana’a.
UNICEF said that since the escalation of the conflict in March of last year at least 1,121 children were killed and another 1,650 were injured.
The statement said that UNICEF urges all parties to the conflict in Yemen to adhere to international humanitarian law and keep children out of harm’s way.
**Nigeria
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today launched a campaign to help feed 385,000 people in north-east Nigeria.
The agency said that some $10 million is needed to supply seeds, fertilizers and irrigation equipment for displaced persons in the area and the people who are hosting them.
FAO said that for the past few years, normal agriculture and fishing activities have been hampered by conflict. But this year, significant territory previously controlled by Boko Haram has been rendered accessible to humanitarian assistance, the agency said.
FAO said there is now a critical opportunity to tackle the alarming levels of food insecurity in northeast Nigeria.
**World’s Indigenous People’s Day
Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and this year’s theme is indigenous peoples’ right to education. On this occasion, the Secretary-General said that indigenous peoples face a wide range of challenges including systematic discrimination, denial of their land and territorial rights and inadequate access to essential services. They regularly face stigmatization of their cultural identity and lack of respect for their heritage and values.
Indigenous youth are also graduating from high school at rates well below the national average. In some countries, less than 40 per cent of indigenous children attend school full-time.
The Secretary-General called on Governments to improve access to education for indigenous peoples and to reflect their experiences and culture in places of learning. “We will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals if we fail to address the educational needs of indigenous peoples,” he said.
**Ethiopia
I was asked yesterday about the situation in Ethiopia. I can say that the Secretary-General is concerned by media reports claiming that excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces resulted in dozens of deaths of protesters in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia last weekend.
The Secretary-General underscores that security forces must at all times operate in line with international human rights norms and standards and urges the Ethiopian authorities to ensure full accountability in case of any human rights violations. He stresses the importance of ensuring the protection of the right to peaceful assembly, the right to freedom of expression and opinion and the right to life and integrity of the person, taking the necessary lawful measures when dealing with demonstrations.
**Ethics
And I was asked yesterday about ethics guidelines for UN staff, and I have the following further information:
Staff members’ obligations as impartial and independent international civil servants require them to exercise their functions with the best interests of the Organization only in view. Modern life, with its multifaceted working experiences and personal and professional networks, can bring situations where United Nations staff are faced with conflicting or competing interests that may have an impact on discharging their UN obligations impartially.
Appropriately managing conflicts of interests and reputational risks are a priority for the Organization. The UN approaches conflicts of interests through (a) identification/disclosure of a conflict; (b) review of the conflict; and (c) provision of advice and recommendation of remedial measures, best suited to resolve the conflict. As situations posing a risk may vary greatly, each situation may require a different remedial measure. Staff members may be advised to recuse themselves from carrying out certain responsibilities or participating in a decision-making process, refrain from engaging in certain activities, divest their personal interests in an external entity, or to place their personal investment in a blind trust.
And that is it for me. Are there any questions before we go on to our guests?
**Questions and Answers
Yes, please?
Question: I don't know if… I don't know if this was said at the beginning, but Israel arrested a UN employee, a Palestinian UN employee, in Gaza accused of diverting UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) funds to build a jetty for Hamas. Does the UN have any comment on this?
Deputy Spokesman: UNDP has put out some comment to it. I'll read a little bit of what the UNDP spokespeople are saying, but beyond that, the further questions will go… would need to go to them. But, basically, they say in their statement that UNDP has zero tolerance for wrongdoing in all of its programmes and projects. UNDP is greatly concerned by the allegation from the Israeli authorities with respect to the UNDP contractor, who has been providing professional services within the rubble removal project. It goes on further to say that UNDP would like to reassure its partners, donors and stakeholders that it has robust measures in place to ensure that the rubble, which is removed and crushed, goes to its intended purpose and has been transferred to specific locations with the request and approval of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. And beyond that, in the case of the individual, Waheed al‑Bursh, they do say that Mr. al‑Bursh should be accorded all due legal process and has the right to a fair trial. And there's further comment from them if you're interested. Yes?
Question: Sure. Some other things, but I just… what you read out from the Ethics Office, I guess I wanted to… seems like… and thanks for the… it's very general, but it gives some principles, but as to… as to Mr. Han Seung‑soo, here's what I wanted to ask. He's on the board of directors of Doosan Infracore, which is a major conglomerate, which not only sells… is listed in the procurement database, but sells nuclear reactors; part of the company does desalinisation equipment, and it sells it to companies and… and… to countries. And in these countries, he's giving speeches as a UN Special Adviser on water and… and risk reduction. So my question is, the generic statement that you make, does it cover this? How can a person give a speech identified as UN expert when a company it's on the board of is selling billion‑dollar equipment to the country? Isn't that a conflict?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, on that, I've answered the question about Han Seung‑soo yesterday. He did disclose this information last year, and they've been in touch with him on remedial measures. I've given as much detail as I've gotten on that. Yes?
Question: Well, again, as a follow‑up, can you tell us which of those guideline principles were applied specifically in this case? You listed a number of options. But I think… I think, you know, in the interest of transparency, it would be helpful if you could provide a little bit more detail on this case, how the UN is actually administering these ethical guidelines in a concrete example.
Deputy Spokesman: Obviously, there's… at some point, there's a limit to the amount of detail that I'll be able to provide about each individual case. I've tried to give as much detail as I had, through repeated requests to the office. If I have anything more, I'll share it with you, but like I said, they have been informed of this, and the system is in place, and they're working with Mr. Han Seung‑soo. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask, there's a report in the Ugandan press that the… that Ugandan police have put out an alert saying that some 58 UN vehicles were… were… UN marked and UN plates vehicles were stolen in South Sudan on 10 July among… amid the violence, and they're concerned that some of these vehicles might be used either for criminal or, I guess, terrorist purposes. Is it true that vehicles were stolen from the UN during the violence in South Sudan? And if so, what steps have been taken to recover them?
Deputy Spokesman: I don't have anything about the loss of vehicles, but I can check with the mission. Yes, Evelyn?
Question: I may have missed it coming in late. Did you do any updates on Aleppo?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, I did, and we'll put those up on the website.
Question: You don't have to repeat it.
Deputy Spokesman: Beyond that, Stephen O'Brien is updating the Security Council on the situation, and he does intend to speak to reporters at the stakeout once he's finished in the Council, and we'll let you know when he's ready to come to the stakeout. Yeah?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you, on Burundi, now that the Government of Pierre Nkurunziza has said that they reject the resolution in terms of the… the… sending police there, it seems like the President of the Council for this month has said it's up to DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations) to… to… or for the Secretariat to engage with the Government to get the people… consent to be deployed. What steps are being taken by the Secretariat to engage with the Government about the deployment of UN police?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, in all of our engagements, the UN respects the sovereignty of Member States. Our engagement with Burundi is based on cooperation, primarily through the Secretary‑General's Special Adviser to help the country address the challenges it faces. We reiterate that the crisis will only be resolved through genuine and inclusive dialogue. This must remain the absolute priority. And in this regard, the Secretary‑General urges all stakeholders to commit to the dialogue led by the East African Community. But we will continue our dialogue with the Burundian authorities. Yes?
Question: Is there anything new on the Burundi lawyers that are facing retribution of various sorts for speaking to the UN Committee against Torture?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. The Committee against Torture raised its concerns about the treatment of the lawyers. I believe I read that out yesterday, so I'd refer you back to what I said at yesterday's briefing. We don't have any further update to that. Yes? Wait, hold on. You haven't asked yet.
Question: Follow‑up on Syria. Today you had a call for a humanitarian ceasefire. So I wonder if… I wonder what the UN can do if the warring parties fail to comply. Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: Obviously, it would be a matter of concern if we can't get aid to so many people who are need. We are imploring the parties, and you heard what we had to say on this, but we will continue also working with others, including the Security Council. As I just mentioned, Stephen O'Brien was talking to the Council. And, in fact, I've just been informed that Stephen O'Brien will be the guest at the noon briefing tomorrow, although that will be on South Sudan. And, like I said, he's expected also at the stakeout whenever he's done in the Security Council — in the coming minutes or hour or whatever. Yes?
Question: Back to the arrest in Gaza, how common or uncommon is it for a UN employee or contractor to get arrested and accused of diverting funds to terrorist groups or Hamas? Has this happened before? Do you know?
Deputy Spokesman: There have been different accusations at different times having to do with employees of different UN bodies. How unique this is? First of all, we'll have to get the facts. At this stage, like I said, UNDP is dealing with this, and they'll respond on this, but we are waiting to get further information from the authorities on this particular case. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you, on Yemen, now with the talks, I guess… I think you called them suspended; yesterday, the Saudi‑led Coalition began airstrikes again in and around Sana'a. So I wanted to know if the… one, if the envoy has any comment and, two, if the UN is aware of any… the safeguards that were, I guess, discussed between the Saudi‑led coalition and the Secretary‑General? Have any of these been implemented on these new round of airstrikes that the Saudi‑led coalition has acknowledged re-beginning again?
Deputy Spokesman: What I can say on this is the Secretary‑General is deeply concerned about reports of increased fighting between various parties in Hajjah, Sa'ada, and Sana’a provinces, including over the past few days. We are unable at this time to independently verify reports of civilian casualties. What's clear, however, is that the reported escalation in fighting exacerbates the already dire humanitarian and human rights situation and the suffering of the Yemeni people. Yes?
Question: Follow‑up on the arrest in Gaza, that employee or contractor… I'm not sure of his exact affiliation… where he will stand trial, since Gaza is not a State? Will he be tried by the Palestinian Authority? Will he be tried by the Israelis? Will…
Deputy Spokesman: I think you'll need to ask the relevant authorities on the ground. I believe…
Question: Which authorities?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe it's the Israeli authorities who have made the charges known today, so you'd need to ask them how they're choosing to proceed.
Question: The ethical guidelines you stated that… during your briefing, does this person adhere to this standard, or he's not considered UN…?
Deputy Spokesman: The person is a contractor of the United Nations Development Programme and specifically its Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People. Further questions on this really need to go to UNDP, who are dealing with this at this point. Yes?
Question: Yeah. This morning, there was a briefing by a so‑called peace and fact‑finding delegation sent to Syria, and the briefing was sponsored by the Syrian Ambassador. And one of the points made by a representative of that delegation was a claim that UN humanitarian aid is actually ending up with what he said were mercenaries. I'd like to know whether you can comment on this charge and… because what we've heard primarily is interference by the [Bashar al-]Assad regime and either blocking or removing humanitarian aid. He's claiming that some of this aid is actually going to the… what he called mercenaries.
Deputy Spokesman: Regardless of what the competing sides have been saying, we have systems in place that are designed to monitor where aid goes, and we followed our procedures rigorously. Our priority is to make sure that aid goes to people most in need, and we continue to go about that and to monitor aid so that it goes fairly. There are always different accounts of diversion, and we follow up whenever we receive solid information about that. And with that, let me go over to our guests. Hold on. Thanks.