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. We’ll get started in case we get a briefing from the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for Haiti, Mourad Wahba. We’re trying to get him to call in from Haiti, if that’s possible.
**Niger
First, I have the following statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary‑General on Niger:
The Secretary‑General condemns the attack against a security post at a refugee hosting area in Tazalit, in the Tahoua region of Niger, on 6 October, in which at least 22 members of Niger’s security forces were killed and several others were injured.
The Secretary‑General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Niger. He wishes a swift recovery to the injured.
The Secretary‑General calls on the authorities of Niger to pursue and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. He also urges the Government of Niger to further reinforce security around refugee camps and other vulnerable targets.
**Colombia
In a statement issued this morning, the Secretary‑General said that the 2016 Nobel Prize for Peace has been awarded to President Juan Manuel Santos at a critical moment when this special acknowledgement provides needed hope and encouragement to the Colombian people.
He said that this is a timely message to all who have toiled so hard for peace, telling them to keep working until they have brought the peace process to a successful conclusion. This award says to them: You have come too far to turn back now. The peace process should inspire our world.
In remarks he made in Hamburg, Germany, before receiving the National German Sustainability Award, the Secretary‑General said that the Peace Prize is an inspiration to press ahead until peace is achieved.
He welcomed the continuing commitment of the parties to the ceasefire and encouraged the leaders to conduct a pragmatic dialogue focused on the Colombian people. And he added that the United Nations will always be with the Colombian people in every step of the peace process. The statement and those remarks are online.
Further on Colombia: The delegations of the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia‑People’s Army (FARC‑EP), after meeting in Havana with guarantor countries and the Chief of the UN Mission in Colombia, Jean Arnault, reiterated the commitment to maintain the ceasefire declared on 29 August. They also stressed the commitment to maintain the Monitoring and Verification Tripartite Mechanism — with the participation of both parties under the coordination of the UN Mission in Colombia — as well as the guarantees of safety and protection of communities in their territories.
The parties requested the Secretary‑General and the Security Council to authorize the UN Mission in Colombia to exercise the functions of monitoring, verification, resolution of differences, recommendations, reporting and coordination of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, particularly relating to the ceasefire. The parties also invited the countries contributing to the UN Mission to continue deploying their men and women, who will continue to count on all the necessary safety guarantees.
**Germany
The Secretary‑General was in Hamburg, Germany, today for the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. In his remarks at a commemorative ceremony, he said that the judgments of the Tribunal have been ground‑breaking and vital but often overlooked. The Secretary‑General underscored the importance of oceans and seas in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with Sustainable Development Goal 14 reflecting the global commitment to conserve and sustainably use the oceans and their resources by implementing international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. To guarantee the capacity of the oceans to continue to provide for humanity’s many and varied needs in a sustainable manner, we must do much more to ensure the uniform and consistent application of the Convention, he added.
In Hamburg, the Secretary‑General also received the replica of Germany’s ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change, a symbol of the country’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, as well as the National German Sustainability Award, which he received on behalf of the United Nations. He stressed that sustainable social, economic and environmental development is an imperative for people, the planet, peace and prosperity. His remarks have been shared with you and are online.
The Secretary‑General is now on his way to Iceland to participate in the Assembly of the Arctic Circle.
**Syria
The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, briefed the Security Council this morning in closed consultations on the latest developments there.
Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) called on all parties to the conflict in Syria to comply with international law and stop conducting hostilities in [civilian] residential areas, including Palestine refugee camps. The Agency further urges parties to refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas, whose indiscriminate effects expose civilians to imminent danger and suffering.
Three Palestine refugees lost their lives in Khan Eshieh camp on 2 and 3 October, while another 11 were injured as a result of the intensification of hostilities in the area.
UNRWA is deeply concerned about the well‑being of all residents in Khan Eshieh, including Palestine refugees. Too many lives have been lost while those injured are often not able to receive required emergency medical and other health services. There’s more in a press release online.
**South Sudan
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports intermittent clashes and exchanges of fire, including the usage of heavy calibre weapons, between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and Opposition in Nassir in Upper Nile over the last few days. The Mission also received reports on Wednesday of clashes between the two sides in Wau town in Western Bahr El Ghazal and is seeking to verify reports.
UNMISS remains very concerned by the violence and tensions between the SPLA and Opposition, which continues to impact the already dire humanitarian situation in the country. The Mission calls on both sides to adhere to the July ceasefire agreed to by the parties and reiterates the need for them to fully implement the peace agreement, which remains the only viable path for achieving peace and stability in the country.
**Mali
Under‑Secretary‑General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Security Council on Mali yesterday. He said that the UN Mission in the country (MINUSMA) would not be able to fully implement its mandate as long as the signatories to the peace agreement do not resolutely engage in its implementation.
Mr. Ladsous said that civilians continued to suffer from the consequences of the armed groups’ and Government’s military operations and that the ceasefire violations had further hampered access for humanitarian actors. He noted that the Mission’s capacity to protect civilians and counter asymmetric attacks was further hampered by the absence of the required capabilities.
Under‑Secretary‑General for Field Support Atul Khare added that for the UN Mission to implement its mandate, it had to be provided with the capacities and capabilities required to operate safely and effectively in the current environment. He stressed that a failure to enhance the Mission’s capability would have a significant impact on the UN’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
**Nigeria
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned today that most civilians living in areas of northern Nigeria recaptured from Boko Haram face serious protection problems and lack the most basic assistance, with women particularly at risk. UNHCR and partners report major food shortages as well as issues related to shelter for most of the displaced populations.
UNHCR reports that many families are headed by women because their husbands have been killed by Boko Haram, forced to join the insurgents or disappeared. The agency notes that many women and children remain traumatized by their time under Boko Haram rule and need counselling and livelihood support. More details on UNHCR’s website.
**Afghanistan
Our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are deeply concerned about large-scale displacements as a result of recent fighting in Kunduz city, Afghanistan, as well as the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation for those still trapped in the city.
Initial reports suggest that up to 10,000 people have fled Kunduz in recent days, arriving in Kabul, Taloqan and Mazar-i-Sharif. OCHA says that many of those families were unable to bring their possessions with them and are in a precarious situation. Some have been forced to sleep out in the open and many are without food.
Meanwhile, families trapped in Kunduz are facing water shortages and power cuts and are finding it increasingly difficult to find food, fuel or health services.
**Ethiopia
Further to what we said yesterday about the situation in Ethiopia, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today also expressed its concern over the increasing unrest in several towns in the Oromia region following a protest at a religious festival.
The Office calls on the protestors to exercise restraint and to renounce the use of violence, adding that security forces must conduct themselves in line with international human rights law and standards.
The Office also voiced concern over this week’s arrest of two bloggers — Seyoum Teshoume and Natnael Feleke — as well as of worrying reports of mass arrests in the Oromia and Amhara regions. It urges the Government to release those detained for exercising their rights to free expression and opinion, emphasizing that silencing criticism will only deepen tensions.
**Guatemala
On Guatemala, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today expressed hope that a draft bill in the area of justice will be swiftly approved, as it represents an historic opportunity to consolidate the remarkable progress the country has achieved in fighting impunity and corruption in recent years.
The Office said that the proposed constitutional reforms aim to improve access to justice, in particular for women and indigenous peoples, as well as to strengthen the independence and impartiality of judges, among other measures.
The Office said it was concerned at growing threats against Attorney General Thelma Aldana, stressing the need for judicial authorities to be able to carry out their work in a secure environment. You can read more about this on the Office’s website.
**Honour Roll
Thanks to the full payments to the regular budget from Malawi and Trinidad and Tobago, the Honour Roll now stands at 129.
**Press Briefings
And regarding press briefings, I am just now informed that the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for Haiti, Mourad Wahba, is overwhelmed by his tasks on the ground, as they have to deal with Hurricane Matthew. So, although there is a screen deceptively up behind me, he will not be able to join today’s briefing.
On Monday, at 11 a.m., Ambassador Caleb Otto of the Republic of Palau and Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the World Health Organization Office in New York, will brief you on World Mental Health Day.
And the guest at the Noon Briefing will be Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, the President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), who will brief on the Rural Development Report.
**Questions and Answers
That is it for me. Yes?
Question: Farhan, I think most of us were at the stakeout. You could have waited for another few minutes to start. But in any case, after the stakeout, following the stakeout, what we have learned, that Russia is going to veto the French resolution and that there are many differences amongst the powers that be on this resolution. Will the Secretary‑General, at any point in time, come here and talk with the members of the Security Council to come to some sort of a resolution on the resolution, so called?.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, as you know, the Security Council has been considering this resolution, and while they've been doing that, it's been very clear that the Secretary‑General has been pushing to make sure that they come to some form of a unified response. As you know, his Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, briefed them just this morning. What's important for us is that there be some form of unified stance at this particular point, so that the people of Aleppo can be spared from further devastation and destruction. There's been a huge amount of bloodshed just in the last few days. There are many people who are cut off from regular access to food, to water. There is almost no medical help for the 275,000 or so people who remain trapped in eastern Aleppo. There's a large range of problems, and the Secretary‑General has been pleading not to allow this sort of devastation to continue. And so we do want some form of unified Security Council support for a way to get out of this particular problem. How they deal with that is, of course, in the hands of the members of the Security Council. But we can't just sit by and do nothing.
Question: Yeah. That's what… that's what it is. When the Russian Ambassador said that Russia will veto the French resolution, and he suggested that there's no, what do you call, unity among the members of the Security Council. Isn’t it the Secretary‑General's duty in the waning years that he has… the waning time that he has to come here and talk with the members of the Security Council to at least make them come to some sort of a decision on the resolution, one way or another. Whether it's the French resolution or another draft, they're not… they're not… the members of the Security Council are totally divided. So it's the duty of the Secretary‑General, being that he's the moral upholder of this world body, to come in and talk to these guys.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, the Secretary‑General is very cautious of his duties as the voice of the international community on this, and he's taken that responsibility very seriously. He will be back here in New York over the weekend, and he is continuing to lobby all of the various Member States on this. As you know, he has been in touch, even over his travels, with different officials. I had mentioned just a couple of days ago that he had been also talking to the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, about the need for cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation on the question of Syria. And he's continuing to push for that, just as he will continue to urge Security Council unity in the face of the tremendous problem we're facing on the ground.
Question: Farhan, can you at least tell us as to what… has he had a conversation with John Kerry or [Sergey] Lavrov, and what are the contents of those conversations that he has had?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, Masood. I just mentioned that he spoke to John Kerry; I believe it was the day before yesterday. It was about the question of US-Russian cooperation. Yes?
Question: Sure, I wanted to follow up on what you said about the meeting on Mali yesterday. This question of equipment, including communications and night‑vision equipment, did come up. I tried to ask Mr. Ladsous afterwards whether this means that the Chadians, who have suffered a disproportionate number of deaths in the mission, will have access to this equipment, and he didn't answer. So I wanted to ask you specifically, are… this… this reference to getting night vision and other communication equipment for the Chadians, has it been slow… have other parts of the MINUSMA mission that had this equipment during this period of time, have they not shared it because they may have been members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) that can't share it, and when will it be actually provided to the entire Chadian and other African contingents within MINUSMA?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I don't speak for individual troop contingents. What I've been saying is that we have engaged in a review to make sure that there is better distribution of equipment throughout the Mission. That is happening, and we certainly hope that the Chadians and other contingents will get the equipment that they need.
Question: Has DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations) ever considered speaking with NATO to get them to waive what's viewed as a prohibition on the sharing of such… such equipment in the cases of UN Peacekeeping in order to preserve lives?
Deputy Spokesman: The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is in touch with various contingents just to make sure that, as the review indicates, that contingent‑owned equipment can be used more equitably. Regarding NATO's rules, you'll have to talk to NATO. Yes? Yes? Masood again. Yes. You and Matthew are basically the only people with their hands up right now.
Question: The other thing that I wanted to ask you about, which I know the United Nations is very reluctant to talk about. The Pakistani Parliament has condemned the Indian attacks along the LoC (Line of Control) and the Pakistani Parliament and everybody else is accusing India of atrocities. Now, that is one side. The Indian side is saying another thing. Do you have anything, anything to say about this ongoing crisis at all?
Deputy Spokesman: You've seen the statement that we issued recently on this question. And I would refer you back to that.
Question: That's it?
Deputy Spokesman: That is where we stand.
Question: Why is it that you are reluctant to talk about it more than that?
Deputy Spokesman: As with anything that we're asked about, when we have a statement, that stands as the views of the Secretary-General. That's what is the case here. Yes?
Question: Sure. Even though the guest from Haiti didn't come, I just wanted to ask one question about that, which is I've seen… I guess Dr. [David] Nabarro is down… he's tweeted that he's down in Washington. He's meeting with the US and others about the possibility of the spread of Cholera in the wake of this hurricane. So I wanted to know, is what he had described to AFP of $181 million and an equally‑sized or larger fund for reparations for victims of the Cholera that was apparently brought by the UN, is what he's discussing down in Washington separate from that or part of that?
Deputy Spokesman: He's discussing the situation in Haiti including, as the circumstances now have dictated, the current situation, which is the hurricane and its impact. But of course, there are concerns, including the issue of Cholera, and I do believe that in the coming weeks, the Secretary-General will also have more to present to the Member States on this.
Question: And I wanted to ask you something about South Sudan. In the wake of that report that came out, it seems that UNMISS or UN Peacekeeping has acknowledged that they intentionally used tear gas to, quote, protect the safety of UN personnel in July in Juba. They had previously said… Elizabeth Chester, spokeswoman, had said, and I had asked your office in writing about, she called it an accidental tear gas explosion. So I would like… maybe you don't know from the podium, can you square those two? Was there an accidental tear gas explosion and then intentional use, or was it one in the same incident?
Deputy Spokesman: I think we'll need to wait for Patrick Cammaert's board to complete its work, and then we can proceed once we have the information from them. And we'll put out whatever they give us on that.
Question: And just two quick things. One has to do with…
Deputy Spokesman: Hold on. The two questioners will ping pong back and forth. Yes?
Question: Okay. I just wanted to ask you, do you have… the Secretary-General has any position on Pakistan just changed the law on laws of honour killing? I mean, more punishment for anybody who does an honour killing, does the Secretary have anything to say about that? If possible.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you're aware that our various human rights mechanisms have expressed concern in recent years over the phenomenon of honour killings. And anything that helps bring an end to this particular practice is to be welcomed. Yeah?
Question: I wanted to… and this is now the fourth time. I guess it will be the last time. I wanted to know, there was a letter that the Frente Polisario says, and has told all of the 193 members of the Fourth Committee, that it sent to the Secretary‑General on 26 September about an election that's now being held today, 7 October, in Morocco, and it's also being held in Western Sahara, including this disputed territory in their parliamentary election… or legislative election. I wanted to know just… did… did… was it ever checked? It was said three times that you'd check if the letter was received. Was it received?
Deputy Spokesman: I've asked. I don't have any information on this at this point.
Question: So they're mis…
Deputy Spokesman: No. I don't have any information. I asked a question. I need an answer.
Question: Then I guess my question would be: Given that the UN's historic and mandated role on the question of Western Sahara, does it believe it legitimate for Morocco to conduct a poll for its own legislature in an area that's on the agenda of the Fourth Committee and is viewed as its status as being unresolved?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, as I've mentioned, I'm asking, and I'm waiting for a response. I'll have to see what I get.
Question: The election is almost done.
Deputy Spokesman: I can't speak out before I get an answer.
Question: Who are you asking? Are you asking DPA (Department of Political Affairs), the office of [Christopher) Ross; who should I ask?
Deputy Spokesman: I've asked a number of offices. I've gotten nothing so far.
Question: Okay. And what the other question is… I wanted to ask… there's been… you're always going to call it speculation, but in this case, there's been a number of media outlets in South Korea that have quoted former Prime Minister Kim Jong‑pil, who has met with Ban Ki‑moon and is viewed as a supporter and ally. He has been quoted on the record saying Ban Ki‑moon has made up his mind and is running for president. So I wanted to know, when's the last time the Secretary‑General spoke with Mr. Kim Jong‑pil? Because it becomes important to know to assess the credibility of his statement of Mr. Ban's intentions.
Deputy Spokesman: On this, as we have made very clear, the Secretary‑General has spoken, he is going to work as Secretary‑General and continue to concentrate his energies on being Secretary‑General of the United Nations until the end of his mandate. He'll make his decision after that.
Question: Right. So he's wrong. So his ally is not…
Deputy Spokesman: That is what the Secretary‑General has said. Have a good weekend, everyone.