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.
All right. Good afternoon.
**Guest
I will be joined in a few minutes by Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, the President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), who will be here to brief you on the Rural Development Report.
**Secretary-General
The Secretary-General just spoke to you within the past hour about the need for international solidarity and generosity to help the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew and the importance of accountability in Yemen following this weekend’s bombing of a group gathered for a funeral. Those remarks and the transcript have been emailed out to you.
**Iceland
The Secretary-General was in Iceland over the weekend for the Assembly of the Arctic Circle. He noted that this Assembly happened at a momentous time, with the Paris Agreement on climate change now ready to enter into force and the agreement by the members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on a new global market-based measure to curb CO2 emissions from international aviation. He stressed that the Arctic is ground zero for climate change and that we must now turn words into deeds, including through the financial resources necessary to help developing countries in reducing their emissions and adapting to inevitable climate impacts.
The Secretary-General also addressed a seminar at the University of Iceland on the thirtieth anniversary of the Reagan-Gorbachev Reykjavik Summit, a turning point in global strategic relations. He said that more than 15,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world and that our common aspirations for peace, human rights and sustainable development require us to find a new paradigm for sustainable security without reliance on weapons of mass destruction. He called on the world to muster the Reykjavik spirit to look over the horizon and create a world free of nuclear weapons. That statement was emailed out to you.
**Central African Republic
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Hervé Ladsous, briefed the Security Council this morning on the Central African Republic. He noted that recent events demonstrate that the situation in the country remains fragile, and that spoilers are still active. Despite the important progress made so far, he said the country’s institutions must endeavour to advance national reconciliation, undertake key reforms in the security sector and extend State authority.
Mr. Ladsous also noted the need for Central African institutions to increase their efforts to stop attacks against humanitarian actors and help create the conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced people. He stressed the importance of continued international support to assist the Central African people in stabilizing their country. In this regard, he called on the Security Council to rally Member States in support of the Central African Republic ahead of the donors’ conference that will take place in Brussels in November.
**South Sudan
And our colleagues from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) are extremely concerned, they say, by the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Yei, Central Equatoria, where they continue to be denied access. The UN Mission has received deeply disturbing reports of horrific violence perpetrated against innocent and vulnerable civilians, including women and infants. The Mission is also concerned at the unfolding humanitarian crisis, with a population unable to move freely, tend to their farms, or feed themselves, due to various restrictions on movements. Meanwhile, humanitarian partners are unable to freely access the area and provide assistance.
The UN Mission also called on all parties to cease hostilities, refrain from further violence, and ensure that commanders control their forces and protect civilians and property. The Mission also calls on the authorities for immediate and unfettered access to the UN in both peacekeeping and humanitarian staff.
**Colombia
And I just want to share with you a readout of the Secretary-General’s phone calls today with Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia, and Mr. Timoleón Jiménez, Commander of the FARC-EP [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army].
In phone calls to the leaders of the Colombian peace process today, the Secretary-General congratulated President Juan Manuel Santos for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and commended Commander Timoleón Jiménez on his flexibility and his reiterated commitments to peace.
The Secretary-General encouraged the two leaders to maintain the course of the peace process in spite of the recent outcome of the referendum. Most importantly, the Secretary-General noted that the Nobel Peace Prize sends a timely message to the victims of the conflict who were put at the centre of the Havana peace talks.
The Secretary-General welcomed the parties’ continued commitment to maintain the ceasefire, the commitment to the adoption of a protocol to prevent any incidents, and the role given to the tripartite Monitoring Mechanism in ensuring its implementation. The Secretary-General recognized that these measures will certainly help create a favourable environment for the political discussions that we hope will lead to a successful conclusion of the peace process. And that readout will be shared with you momentarily.
**Afghanistan
From Afghanistan, fighting between armed groups and Government forces in Kunduz city has continued for an eighth straight day, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Initial reports indicate that over 32,000 people have fled the city and are arriving in Taloqan, Kabul, and other places. This figure is likely to increase. People are in need of shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene, and medical support. Meanwhile, inside Kunduz, the humanitarian situation continues to be of concern — water and electricity have been cut off for over a week and food supplies are scarce.
**Middle East
And just to flag that over the weekend, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, condemned the terror attack on Sunday by a Palestinian perpetrator in occupied East Jerusalem, which killed two Israelis and injured six others. His thoughts are with the families and friends of all victims and he hopes for a full and speedy recovery of the wounded. Mr. Mladenov said that it is deplorable and unacceptable that Hamas and others choose to glorify such acts which undermine the possibility of a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis.
**Myanmar
And Stephen O’Brien, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, is in Bangkok, where tomorrow he will attend a meeting on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific. From Thailand, he will to travel to Myanmar, his first visit to the country since he assumed his position as Emergency Relief Coordinator. The three-day mission will include meetings in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, as well as field visits to camps for displaced people in Kachin and Rakhine States. Mr. O’Brien will also meet with people affected by the humanitarian crisis, senior Government officials and humanitarian partners.
**Death Penalty
And marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Secretary-General, in a message he issued, reiterated today that it is a cruel and inhumane practice with no place in the twenty-first century. This year’s Day focuses on terrorism-related offenses, for which 65 countries retain the death penalty. He stressed that to be legitimate and effective, counter-terror measures, like all security operations, must be anchored in the respect for human rights and the rule of law.
He also emphasized that taking part in peaceful protests and criticism of a government — whether in private, on the Internet or in the media — are neither crimes nor terrorist acts. The Secretary-General added that the threat or use of the death penalty in such cases is egregious violation of human rights.
**Press Briefings
And in addition to the guest later today, tomorrow at 11:30 a.m., Ambassador Caleb Otto of the Republic of Palau and Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the World Health Organization Office (WHO) in New York, will brief you on World Mental Health Day. That briefing had been scheduled for today, but will now happen tomorrow.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Yes. Thank you, Stéphane. It's on Yemen again. The Secretary‑General called for many things during his statement today, but he did not call for lifting of… of blockade over Yemen. Many people… many areas in Yemen are really witnessing starvation. We've seen emaciated bodies of children, of elderly, of women all over the… all over the media. Also, there… there were no convoys or flights allowed into Sana'a to help the injured. Does the Secretary‑General respond positively to the letter of Iran to send Red Crescent plane to deliver aid to the Yemenis?
Spokesman: On your multilayered question, we're aware of the letter sent by the Foreign Minister of Iran. Obviously, we'll take a look at it. The Secretary‑General, of course, would welcome any offer of aid to our humanitarian work. As you know, the humanitarian appeal for Yemen is severely underfunded, and we welcome any aid that is funnelled through the United Nations system. Obviously, we would like to see a situation in Yemen where humanitarian aid is able to flow in freely, where those who are wounded, who are in need of medical evacuation are able to leave the country. Very unfortunately, that is not the case.
Question: But this blockade, is it legal under international law?
Spokesman: As… I'm not going to pronounce myself on this from this podium. As I… again, we would like to see a situation where humanitarian aid is able to move freely and quickly into Yemen, where it's needed. Yeah?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Actually, Nizar asked the first part of my question, with regard to…
Spokesman: What's your second part, then?
Question: Is that… it's becoming a kind of boring question, but, within the time left from Secretary‑General's term, is there any hope for any tangible actions or steps towards the issue of Yemen and the atrocities committed in this country?
Spokesman: You know, it's not about a time frame that is linked to the end of the Secretary‑General's mandate. It's about finding a solution as quickly as possible to the suffering of the people in Yemen. I mean, we saw today… we saw over the weekend the atrocious and reprehensible attack on this community centre, with more than 100 dead, more than 500 wounded, many women and children also inside the hall. I think the suffering of the Yemeni people has been clear for all to see. Again, the Secretary‑General would reiterate the need for all those directly involved, all those who have an influence, to ensure that there is a return to a political process and to find a political solution. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask, on Yemen, on… couple things on time frames. One, in the statement that he was making at the stakeout, it seemed like it was going to lead up to him saying, now we're going to put the Saudi back on the Children and Armed Conflict list, given that… I mean… so I just wanted to understand, what is the process for that? He referred to some July… late July filing. What does it take to put them back on the list if, in fact, they just killed children with a double‑tap airstrike in Sana’a?
Spokesman: Look, I think the Secretary‑General has made it continuously clear that any violations aren't acceptable, and that's one of the reasons he is pushing hard and backed fully the call by the High Commissioner for Human Rights for an independent inquiry and for… and also for specific inquiry into what's happened, to look into all the violations of international law and human rights law. Those responsible must be held to account. And our reaction will depend in part on the information gathered throughout these… through these investigations.
Question: Right, but I guess… I mean, this is something that's uniquely in his control. The Human Rights Council, whether they vote for…
Spokesman: It's about getting information.
Question: Right. And the other thing I wanted to ask, it was said this morning by Ambassador [Vitaly] Churkin that Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has asked to delay his… his report to the Council from the 20th to the 31st of October. And, given what you said about urgency, do you have any… can you say why that is? Is it… are you aware of it?
Spokesman: I have no reason… I'm not aware of it. No reason to question it. Obviously, it's important… the Special Envoy is the one best place to make the call as to when to brief the Council. I think there is no one within the UN who understands more the urgency of finding a peaceful political solution.
Question: And just one last on Yemen, on the envoy. Maybe you’ll have an answer or can get one from him. The int… describe… interior minister Jalal al‑Roweishan, after this attack, issued a statement in which he said that the envoy was informed from the Houthi side of a cessation of hostilities specifically tied to the attendance at this funeral. So he said, if they were told and the strike still happened, don't trust the envoy; don't trust the UN. And I just wonder, is there some response?
Spokesman: From my… If I understand your question, seriously… If I understand your question, you would imply that the envoy has some control over the military assets in the region.
Question: I assume that he's the go‑between and [inaudible]…
Spokesman: That's… I think you're making a link…
Question: I'm just asking about a statement made by…
Spokesman: What I'm telling you is that, obviously, whether it's the UN in general or the envoy, we have absolutely no control or input into the military actions of the Saudi‑led coalition, who… and it is the coalition and only the coalition and all the combatants who are to be held responsible for any violations of international law.
Question: But just factually, did he receive this communication from the interior administrator and did he pass it on to the Saudis? That seems important…
Spokesman: I'm not aware that he received this. Mr. Klein and then Iftikhar.
Question: Yes. Well, the Secretary‑General also, in response to a question today, declared his displeasure, frustration with the lack of any action by the Security Council on Syria on Saturday, said the time now is for action. There may be… and I want to ask you about this… certain things that the Secretary‑General has it within his own power to do with respect to Syria. The Guardian had an article a couple of months ago in which it listed several contracts worth tens of millions of dollars that the UN has awarded to people it said were closely associated with [Bashar al] Assad, including members of his family, and… and that there are allegations that those contracts and the proceeds were being abused by the Assad regime and even used in support of the Assad regime's infliction of killing on civilians. So I guess my question is, in addition to the Secretary‑General's earnest efforts to try to mobilize the Security Council to take decisive action and move the peace process forward, isn't it within his power and shouldn't he exercise the powers that he has to suspend or cancel those contracts that the UN itself has that are benefiting the Assad regime?
Spokesman: You know, I think we… we had long discussions on this issue when… when the article came out. The UN in Syria operates in a very particular environment in Damascus. We… all the contractors that the UN uses are posted and for all to see. You operate in an area… in a place where, if you are in need of certain types of supplies, whether it's fuel, whether it's mobile telephony or anything else, the numbers of suppliers are… is extremely limited. I think, in terms of the… of what needs to be done, I think, first and foremost, what we need to see is we need to see those who have either their fingers on the trigger or who control those who have their fingers on the trigger to ensure a cessation of hostilities. And that is… just as in Yemen, that is not something that the Secretary‑General controls.
Question: Some of these suppliers, as you know, at least the article claims, are on various sanctions lists, not the UN sanctions list, I understand, but various sanctions list, the EU, the US, and so forth. And not all of them are directly related to the aid programmes per se, and they are benefiting, allegedly, family members in the Assad regime.
Spokesman: You know, I think, again… We've been and we were very transparent on these issues when they…
Question: But that was months ago and now we have Aleppo.
Spokesman: I completely understand but…
Question: We have Aleppo.
Spokesman: The bottom line, Mr. Klein, is that anywhere in the world where the UN operates a large operation, there are some basic things that we need to operate. And we supply, in most cases, locally. In some countries, we have a wide range of suppliers who are able to bid, and in other places, you have fewer suppliers.
Question: Let me ask you one final question on this. In light of the recent events in Aleppo, the horrors that are unfolding there, is there any initiative to now review all of the contractual relationships with suppliers in Syria, the relationships with the Assad regime, to see which are absolutely necessary to continue and which could be suspended or cancelled?
Spokesman: I think everything… we work with a barebones operation in Syria. Everything that is done is done because it is absolutely necessary. Mr. Ali, Iftikhar.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. I understand that, while fighting is going on in the Afghan city of Kunduz, nothing much can be done, but what about those people who have fled? Is the UN actually supplying them with aid? And, number two, what is the UN information? Who's controlling the city now?
Spokesman: You know, we're getting information through our humanitarian partners on the ground. The fighting… the continued fighting would indicate to me that there is still an issue as to who controls the city and that there's a fluid situation on the ground. We are obviously trying to reach as many of the civilians that we can through our own operations in Afghanistan, but I will ask our colleagues at OCHA to give you a bit more granular information about what we're doing on the ground. Mr. Lee, and then we'll go to our guest.
Question: I'll try to do this… I'll do two really fast. I wanted to ask you, in Burundi, the Government has declared persona non grata the three UN experts that wrote the Human Rights Report, including [Christof] Heyns, and I wanted to know, what does the Secretary‑General think of this country on which he has a… at least part‑time envoy declaring UN personnel on human rights non grata?
Spokesman: I think it's critical that Burundi and every other country cooperate fully with the UN's human rights mechanism, and that is including working with those who represent it.
Question: And I wanted to ask, in… in… in reading Mr. Ladsous's testimony to the Council on CAR, I didn't find any reference in it to an update on either convictions or at least prosecutions for sexual abuse. So is that… can you give us such an update, or can you arrange a stakeout by Mr. Ladsous on that topic?
Spokesman: We gave you an update not too long ago, where we've been, I think, extremely transparent in giving you periodic updates on the situation. The last one is, I think, two or three weeks ago. We did it here in the briefing. And if there's more, I'll share with you.
Question: Just a simple question. Have there been any convictions at all? Because, as of the last report, there were none…
Spokesman: I'm not aware of any convictions as the invest… for the case in Kemo prefecture, as the investigations are still ongoing in rather difficult circumstances.
Question: And the Sangaris cases?
Spokesman: That's something to ask the French. I'll be back with our guest.