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.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
Earlier this morning in Bern, the Secretary-General had a working breakfast with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Johann Schneider-Ammann. The Secretary-General thanked the President for Switzerland’s support for the work of the United Nations, including the country’s assistance in hosting a number of peace talks and especially for the Strategic Heritage Plan for the UN’s Geneva headquarters. They also exchanged views on the issues related to migration and refugees, Syria and Haiti, among other topics.
The Secretary-General then flew to Strasbourg to speak to the European Parliament as its members approved fast track legislation allowing EU (European Union) member States to deposit their ratification instruments individually to the United Nations in New York. Afterwards, the Secretary-General joined EU President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Parliament President Martin Schultz and the President of the 21st Conference of Parties and France’s Minister of the Environment, Ségolėne Royal, at a press briefing.
The Secretary-General told journalists that he was grateful to the European Union for the support and leadership it was displaying for the Paris Agreement. He said that European Parliamentarians have underscored their commitment to international cooperation, which is at the heart of the European Union’s identity.
While in Strasbourg, the Secretary-General met with the head of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland. And before flying to Brussels, where he arrived just now, the Secretary-General was hosted to lunch by the EU Parliament President, Martin Schultz.
**Sudan
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, briefed the Security Council this morning on the situation in Darfur. He noted that the security situation remains volatile and the humanitarian impact of the conflict is significant. Despite access and reporting restrictions, the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) remains focused on its objective of protecting civilians and continues to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, while engaging the parties to immediately cease hostilities.
Mr. Ladsous noted that an important step in the peace process had been reached with the signing by all Sudanese parties of the political road map proposed by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel. In order to consolidate those gains, he said, the parties should now implement the document and commit to resuming negotiations in order to quickly reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities and on modalities for humanitarian access to conflict zones.
**Mali
You will have seen the statement that we issued yesterday evening on Mali. The Secretary-General condemned the series of attacks against the UN Mission in the country (MINUSMA) and presented his condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the Government and people of Chad. He called for swift action to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice and recalled that attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute war crimes under international law. The full statement is online.
And unfortunately, the UN Mission informed us today that following the attacks on its camp in Aguelhok, a second peacekeeper died yesterday evening.
**Central African Republic
The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) condemned the violence that erupted in the PK5 neighbourhood of Bangui today. The UN Mission appeals for calm. It has sent reinforcements to PK5 and is closely monitoring the situation across town, as well as any movements in the regions. The UN Mission and national security forces are strengthening their coordination to ensure that the situation remains calm. MINUSCA is also in touch with the communities and the Government, to prevent an escalation of the situation.
**Palestine
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, welcomed today’s decision to postpone local Palestinian elections. He said that it is in the national interest of the Palestinian people that when such elections take place, they be organized both in the West Bank and Gaza.
Mr. Mladenov urged all Palestinian bodies to work together in good faith to overcome internal divisions and uphold democracy.
Local elections, conducted in line with established international standards, must contribute to advancing Palestinian reconciliation based on PLO principles as well as to ending the occupation and establishing a democratic, unified Palestinian State as part of a negotiated two-State solution.
**Syria
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said today that the human rights calamity unfolding in the Syrian city of Aleppo demands bold new initiatives, including proposals to limit the use of the veto by the permanent members of the Security Council.
He said that since 21 September, hundreds of civilians have been killed, including at least 100 children. He said that the attacks over the past ten days have been the most intense the inhabitants of eastern Aleppo have endured since the conflict began, and not a single neighbourhood is now considered safe. The use of weapons such as high-explosive blast bombs and incendiary weapons in heavily populated areas is having a devastating impact on the civilian population and structures.
High Commissioner Zeid proposed that the UN Security Council should, without any further delay, adopt criteria to restrain members from using the veto when there are serious concerns that war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide may have been committed.
He added that the use of weapons with indiscriminate effects — such as incendiary weapons — in heavily populated areas is of particularly grave concern. He reminded all State parties to Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons that they are strictly prohibited from using incendiary weapons in airstrikes on heavily populated areas, and that the use of such weapons by ground forces is severely restricted. His full statement is online.
**Yemen
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, concluded his three-day visit to Yemen today, calling for all parties to grant humanitarian access and uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians in a conflict that has displaced 3 million people, injured and killed thousands of innocent civilians, shattered the civilian infrastructure, and destroyed livelihoods in a country which was already suffering from endemic poverty.
In Hudaydah yesterday, he was able to go to Al Honood, where he saw the devastation and terrible losses suffered from the airstrike on 21 September.
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon in Taiz, Yemen, at least 10 civilians — including six children — were killed, and 17 others were wounded after an artillery shell struck a busy street next to a market in Bir Basha, in the Al Mudhaffar district.
The shell appeared to have been fired from an area in Al Ta’iziyah district, where the artilleries of popular committees affiliated with the Houthis and army units loyal to former President Saleh are positioned.
The overall casualty figures verified by UN human rights staff in Yemen from March 2015 up until last Friday, 30 September, stand at a total of 10,963 civilian casualties, including 4,014 people killed.
**India/Pakistan
The High Commissioner for Human Rights today expressed serious concern about the human rights situation in Kashmir, as well as the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
His Office urges India and Pakistan to engage in a dialogue and to deescalate the situation, adding that the inflammatory remarks on both sides only fuel the tensions.
It reiterated its call for unconditional access to all areas of Kashmir to independently and impartially monitor the human rights situation. You can read more about this on the human rights website.
**Extreme Poverty
Children are more than twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty, according to a new analysis from the World Bank Group and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).
Ending Extreme Poverty: A Focus on Children finds that in 2013, 19.5 per cent of children in developing countries were living in households that survived on an average of $1.90 a day or less per person, compared to just 9.2 per cent of adults.
Globally, almost 385 million children are living in extreme poverty.
UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake stressed that children are the worst off of the worst off — adding that this not only limits their futures, it drags down their societies. And the report is available online.
**Questions and Answers
That’s all I’ve got. Do you have any questions for me? Yes, Nizar?
Question: The Security Council, obviously over the French draft, is requesting that the Secretary‑General comes up with a mechanism for reporting on the situation in Syria. And yesterday, the President of the Security Council, Mr. [Vitaly] Churkin, criticized the existing mechanism in Geneva. It is not functional because there is no cooperation. Do you… is the Secretary‑General preparing any such ideas? And what does he say about the mechanism, the existing one?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding the existing mechanism, of course, we do want to be able to use that to the fullest and to have, as much as possible, the existing mechanisms expedite our ability to provide humanitarian assistance to people who are in need. Regarding how something will change in the future, that's, of course, in the hands of the Security Council, and they're the ones who are considering this draft text, and we'll await what their instructions are. But, from our standpoint, what we're trying to do is do as much as can be done so that there's calm on… as much calm as there can be on the ground in Syria and that we have humanitarian access. And, as you know, earlier in the year, we'd had some successes with that. In recent months, it's become much more of a problem.
Question: Do you have any… sorry.
Deputy Spokesman: Oh, and by the way, in five minutes, the Under‑Secretary‑General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, will come to the stakeout to speak on Darfur. Yes, first Abdelhamid.
Correspondent: No, no, the same… the same one.
Deputy Spokesman: Okay. One more, and then we'll go to Abdelhamid.
Question: All right. He accused other parties not reporting to the mechanism. Only Syria and Russia are reporting that. Why is the case? Why other parties are not reporting to the mechanism?
Deputy Spokesman: We try to get as much information as we can from the various sides. I don't have any comment on what his remarks were, but we have been trying to get as much information as we can get that is helpful in allowing us to provide humanitarian access… you know, provide humanitarian aid to those who need it. Yes, Abdelhamid?
Question: Thank you. Yesterday, Israel decided to build a new settlement. This is new, not expand the existing settlement. It's 98 units east of the current settlement called Shilo on the land of a village called Jalud, J‑A‑L‑U‑D, near Nablus area. I mean, Mladenov rushed to welcome the cancellation of the elections, but he failed to see this important development of establishing a new settlement.
Deputy Spokesman: That's not quite the case. He… We're capable of having opinions on more than one topic at a time, and the Secretary‑General and his Special Coordinator, Nickolay Mladenov, are extremely concerned about any new settlement activity. That, of course, would be unhelpful to the peace process. And, as you're aware, we have repeatedly talked about how such settlement activity is against international laws. Yes?
Question: Two things. One, I wanted to ask about, do… whether… what the UN thinks about this proposal by the UK to exempt its soldiers in time of war from the European Convention on Human Rights. And you might, you know… I guess I'm saying, as a matter of accountability, as a matter of sort of principle, is the tide of accountability for soldiers during war going forward, or is this is a retreat on a principle the Secretary‑General has spoken about?
Deputy Spokesman: In terms of the general principle, of course, we're in favour of greater accountability by all groups, including all militaries in the world. Regarding the European Convention on Human Rights, that's really an issue for the European Union and its bodies to address. That's not for me to comment on.
Question: And on the death of the peacekeepers in Mali, I know, back in July, I'd asked you about this… what I'd heard from African PRs [Permanent Representatives] from troop-contributing countries that they're not allowed to… they don't have access to the same equipment and information as the NATO members that are in MINUSMA. Has that issue of… you said that the protocol was being reviewed. Has that issue been solved yet, or where does it stand in terms of a review so that the same intelligence and equipment that's available to the Dutch peacekeepers is available to the Chadian peacekeepers?
Deputy Spokesman: I mean, the thing I'd… what I'd told you a few months ago, that still applies, that there was a review to make sure that we could have a better way of handling the situation of contingent‑owned equipment. So I don't have any further details on that to share since then, but that has happened.
Correspondent: Okay. Because I'm just wondering as it relates to this attack…
Deputy Spokesman: Sure. Yeah. Olga?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. You've just mentioned the statement of Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein from Geneva who called to limit the use of veto in Security Council about the situation in Aleppo. Does it mean that UN thinks that only the Security Council can resolve the situation and improve it in Aleppo?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I believe the High Commissioner's words speak for themselves. Regarding the role of the Security Council, the Secretary‑General has also made it very clear that unified support by the Security Council is crucial to resolving the situation, which is why he's brought this matter to their attention time and again and has urged them to take united action. This particular proposal from High Commissioner Zeid comes at a time when he is concerned, in particular, of the prospect of major human rights violations occurring as the conflict in Aleppo intensifies. Yes, Emoke?
Question: Now with the EU having ratified the Paris agreement and they're expected to deposit their instrument of ratification on Friday, do you expect any type of a ceremony on Friday, like that during UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), since this is going to trigger the agreement to come into force?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we're in touch with our… our colleagues in the legal department, and we'll try to see what we can do to raise the attention of this. It clearly is a big moment. Of course, all of the ratifications have been major developments so far. So it's not simply a question of these last ones that will hopefully push us over the threshold that we need. We've been appreciative of all of them, as, indeed, we pointed out a few days ago when India deposited its ratification over the weekend. And, similarly, we will try to make sure that there's due credit given to the countries who help push us over the threshold, so that the Paris agreement can enter into force as soon as possible.
Now, following what Abdelhamid asked, I have a little bit further language just to tell you, which is simply this: The Secretary‑General condemns the decision by the Israeli authorities to promote plans for 98 housing units in a new settlement in the occupied West Bank, near the settlement of Shilo, as well as for the creation of a new industrial zone west of Ramallah. He's particularly concerned that the establishment of a new settlement near Shilo will make the prospect of a viable, contiguous Palestinian State more remote. Settlements are illegal under international law, and such decisions run counter to Quartet recommendations. The Secretary‑General urges Israel to halt and reverse such counterproductive decisions in the interest of peace and a just final status agreement. Yes, Nizar and then Matthew.
Question: Yeah, on Yemen again, have you established this vessel, this United Arab Emirates vessel, Swift, is it… was it on a humanitarian mission, or was it on military mission when it was sunk?
Deputy Spokesman: I do not… from the information I've received, it doesn't sound as if it was on a humanitarian mission, but we're trying to get some further information. Yes?
Question: Sure, great. Thanks a lot. Two things I wanted to ask quickly. One is there was a proposal today, or a… actually, a… a law, you know, proposed and announced by the Saenuri Party in South Korea, which would provide, quote, privileges or benefits to the Secretary‑General when he leaves here, which would include a bodyguard, office, security, secretary. And so some have raised… is there any provision for this? Is this consistent with UN ethics rules in terms of a country offering these things to a sitting UN official?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding that, you'd have to ask the officials in South Korea what their arrangements are. This is… obviously, the Secretary‑General doesn't accept these favours in his time as Secretary‑General. I wouldn't have any comment on his post‑Secretary‑General career.
Question: And the other one is… it's just a follow‑up to yesterday. I understand that you'd said the Secretary‑General has had no contact with his nephew Bahn Joo‑hyun, but given that the article says that the acts that he engaged in were while he was an employee of Colliers International, which, if you remember this, there was back‑and‑forth. Their plaque is still up on the FF Building on 45th Street. I wanted to know, given… so the… this is a UN question as opposed to a Secretary‑General, if he doesn't speak to him. Is… is this individual, a nephew of the Secretary‑General, still employed by Colliers? If so, is… does this finding by a court trigger any review of… of the UN's contracts with Colliers?
Deputy Spokesman: You would have to check with Colliers whether he's an employee. I wouldn't comment on someone who is not UN personnel. Yes?
Question: Yeah. A grave incident like this one in Bab al‑Mandab, the entrance of the Red Sea, is a very serious matter of the maritime movement. Why haven't we heard anything from [Ismail] Ould Cheikh Ahmed about it? Does he denounce it? Does he support it? How… how adventures… military adventures in that area can jeopardize the well‑being of the merchant shipping, for example?
Deputy Spokesman: I've asked the Special Envoy's office for any comment, and if they do have anything, I'll share it with you.
Question: Well, how about the Secretary‑General? Is he concerned about the introduction of such sophisticated weapons that one rocket can… or one missile can sink a sea… a big ship like this?
Deputy Spokesman: We have already made clear our concerns about the use of advanced weaponry in Yemen. Yes?
Question: Sure. I know you've been asked before about the comments by… by the Philippines President, [Rodrigo] Duterte, but now this issue or… or use… talking about Nazis in connection with drug addicts seems to have spread to the UN. There's… there… the new Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN, Teddyboy Locsin is his name; I don't know if he's yet presented his credentials, but he's described as the Philippines' Permanent Representative to the UN, has a Twitter account, which has said… talked about a final solution, said the Nazis aren't all bad. And so I'm wondering… it's getting a little closer here. Is there some… are there some standards for… for the range of debate of Permanent Representatives to the UN, or does the Secretary‑General have any view of what I'm describing to you and which has been described in the Inquirer, a major Filipino newspaper?
Deputy Spokesman: As you know, Stéphane [Dujarric], just a few days ago, commented that the use… the rhetorical use of the Holocaust in this manner is completely inappropriate. And it was that way when we commented on the remarks made or attributed to President Duterte, and it would be in this case as well.
Question: So is there any date scheduled for the presentation of credentials by Teddyboy Locsin?
Deputy Spokesman: You would have to ask the Philippines Mission. Have a good afternoon, everyone.
Correspondent: One last question.
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah.
Question: Nubel and al-Zahra is coming under very heavy shelling of the opposition, moderate or non‑moderate ones. Did you… do you have any reports about that? Is [Staffan] de Mistura trying to do anything about it?
Deputy Spokesman: He's continuing with his efforts trying to obtain, again, a reinvigorated cessation of hostilities across the entire country. Thanks very much.