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.
**Austria
Earlier today, the Secretary-General visited the Habibi and Hawara restaurant in Vienna, which serves Austrian and Arab cuisine. Opened this year, it is run by a team of refugees and Austrians, aiming to help refugees become independent entrepreneurs. In remarks delivered there, the Secretary-General highlighted the UN’s global campaign to change negative perceptions and attitudes towards refugees and migrants, and to strengthen the social contract between host countries and communities, and refugees and migrants. The Secretary-General thanked the Austrian people and government for the warm hearts they showed as they welcome refugees and migrants. Refugees, the Secretary-General said, do not come with problems — they come with opportunities. His remarks are online.
**Syria
The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, will brief the Security Council in closed consultations at 3 p.m. this afternoon. We expect him to speak to reporters at the stakeout afterward. Earlier today, Mr. de Mistura’s Special Adviser, Jan Egeland, spoke to reporters in Geneva following what he described as a difficult humanitarian taskforce meeting. He said the meeting was difficult because the Member States that are supposed to help the United Nations and humanitarian workers get access to civilians in the crossfire are poles apart in how they regard what is happening in Syria. Consequently, there has been diminishing access on the ground, even though Mr. Egeland added that the December plan for access across the front lines has been approved by the Government of Syria.
The Special Adviser noted the many efforts since July to get access to eastern Aleppo, saying that there had been three major plans and initiatives, all of which have failed. He said that, in addition to renewing the call for a pause, we need a pause for the sake of the civilian population of eastern Aleppo so that they can come out without being attacked. Second, he said, we need to have a better protection system for those who come out. The transcript of his remarks is online. Regarding Aleppo, the UN is extremely concerned about the safety and security of civilians in Aleppo as fighting continues to endanger them in the entire city.
Most streets in besieged neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo and in some neighbourhoods in western Aleppo are so dangerous that it severely impacts any movement of civilians. The UN urgently calls for a pause in fighting to allow people to freely and safely leave besieged eastern Aleppo and safely move anywhere in Aleppo city. The overall number of displaced people remains extremely difficult to gauge at this time as the UN does not have verifiable information about new displacements and people continue to arrive and leave existing shelters and lodge with family members.
On the basis of the information provided by local partners, the UN estimates that more than 40,000 people have left besieged parts of Aleppo, including to the Kurdish-held Sheik Maqsoud area. The situation is extremely fluid as frontlines continue to shift on a daily basis. Despite the dangers, the UN has also received reports of hundreds of civilians who continue to flee east Aleppo recently and is in the process of verifying numbers with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other partners. The UN responds to the needs of the displaced wherever it has access or through partners, principally the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. The response for the displaced in Aleppo includes medical care, hot meals, essential nutrition services for children and lactating women and winter clothing.
**Israel
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, expressed deep concern today over proposed legislation in Israel that, if adopted, would allow the retroactive “legalization” of so-called Israeli outposts constructed on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The Bill was approved by the Knesset at the first of three readings on Wednesday. The High Commissioner said that, in enabling the use of land privately-owned by Palestinians for Israeli settlements without the owners’ consent, this legislation would violate international law. He strongly urged lawmakers to reconsider their support for this bill, which if enacted, would have far-reaching consequences and would seriously damage the reputation of Israel around the world.
**Ukraine
The latest UN human rights report on Ukraine has found that the failure to implement the Minsk Agreements in the country’s east has continued to result in a host of human rights violations for civilians. This is particularly true for civilians living close to the so-called ‘contact line’ between territories controlled by the Government and armed groups in Donetsk and Luhansk.
The latest report covers the period between 16 August and 15 November, with the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission having recorded 32 conflict-related deaths and 132 injuries. The total death toll from mid-April 2014 to 1 December of this year is nearly 10,000, but the Mission notes that this is a conservative estimate based on available data. The report says it is deeply concerning that Government forces and armed groups operating in civilian areas do not take all feasible precautions against the effects of fighting, resulting in damage to schools, kindergartens, and medical facilities. The full report is available online.
**Security Council
The President of the Mechanism for the International Criminal Tribunals [MICT], Judge Theodor Meron, today presented the latest progress report on the work of the Mechanism to the United Nations Security Council. As part of his remarks, Judge Meron drew the attention of the Security Council to the ongoing detention of Judge Aydin Sefa Akay and its impact upon the Mechanism’s work. He recalled that, in accordance with a longstanding and consistent practice, the MICT Statute, adopted by the Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, affords international judges diplomatic immunity whilst engaged on the business of the Mechanism. Nevertheless, Judge Akay remains in detention and is unable to carry out his duties as a Judge of the Mechanism. Judge Meron calls upon the Members of the Security Council to assist in finding a resolution to the situation.
**Refugees
The High Commissioner for Refugees has called for urgent action to ensure that displaced children are protected and allowed to pursue peaceful and productive lives. Filippo Grandi made the remarks in Geneva today, as he opened UNHCR’s 9th annual Dialogue on Protection Challenges, which this year is focused on Children on the Move. The High Commissioner said that some 28 million displaced children globally are paying the price for a lack of political will to prevent, mitigate and resolve conflict. “If we do not act together to find solutions for today’s refugees and other displaced populations, we will have failed this generation of children, and those to come,” said Filippo Grandi.
**Agriculture
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued today its Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, which highlights 39 countries that are in need of external assistance for food. While the outlook for global cereal supplies is improving due to generally favourable growing conditions for crops, civil conflict and weather-related shocks have severely stressed food security in 2016, increasing the number of countries in need. The report is available on the FAO website.
**Appointments
Today, the Secretary-General is announcing the appointment of Ahmed al Meraikhi of Qatar as his Humanitarian Envoy. He will succeed Abdullah al Matouq of Kuwait, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service to the organization. The Secretary-General looks forward to Mr. Al Meraikhi working closely with the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs to build stronger partnerships in Qatar, the Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond. There is a biographical note in our office.
And in a second announcement, the Secretary-General is appointing Major General Wang Xiaojun of the People’s Republic of China as the Force Commander of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Major General Wang will succeed Major General Muhammad Tayyab Azam of Pakistan, whose tour of duty ended on 7 November. The Secretary-General is grateful to Major General Azam for his exemplary service and contribution to the work of MINURSO. Major General Wang brings to this position 40 years of national and international military experience, and we have more information on this in our office.
**Press Briefings
For press briefings: tomorrow at 11 a.m. there will be a press briefing hosted by the Syrian Mission on "Latest Update on the Situation in Syria" with a number of guests. And the guest at the noon briefing will be John Ging, the Director of Operations for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Yasmin Haque, Deputy Director of UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes. They will brief media on the recent Emergency Directors Group mission to Nigeria and Central African Republic. That’s it for me. Are there any questions? Yes, Emoke?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On the issue of Judge Akay, has the Secretary-General brought this up with the Turkish Government on the highest levels, since it's been going on since the end of September and it seems to have really hindered the work of the court?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, I believe we've mentioned this in the past that we have been in touch with the Turkish authorities and stressed Judge Akay's immunities. And this has involved communications through the office of the Legal Counsel. Yeah, Carole?
Question: Farhan, I wondered if the Secretary-General had any thoughts about Donald Trump's choice of a climate denialist to head the EPA [United States Environmental Protection Agency].
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you'll have heard what the Secretary-General has had to say about his hope that Donald Trump, the President-elect, as he takes up his office, will come to appreciate the need to deal with the threats posed by climate change. As the Secretary-General has pointed out, Mr. Trump has excelled in business, and there is quite a lot of people in the business world who have come around to appreciate the need to build a green economy, one that both will work economically and will be sustainable for this planet. And so I would refer you to what the Secretary-General has been saying. And let's see how the relationship with the US on climate change issues proceeds, but certainly, we have had excellent cooperation in the past years. As you know, the Secretary-General has dealt both with President [George W.] Bush and with President [Barack] Obama, and they have both helped move us forward on the path of dealing with climate change, and we hope that sort of cooperation can continue. Yeah?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you about this letter the Secretary-General wrote nominating, at least, David Shearer to head UNMISS [United Nations Mission] in South Sudan. One, I wanted to know whether, just from the public record, this issue where he did not, as a New Zealand politician, disclose a bank account he had at the UN with more than $50,000 in it was part of the… of the vetting process. And, two, given the firing that many complained of, of the Kenyan commander, were there… was there a short list? And, just to be direct about it, were there any African candidates on the short list, given that both the location of the mission and given recent issues both with Babacar Gaye and with the Kenyan general?
Deputy Spokesman: We're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. We don't have an announcement at this point to make about the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan. I hope we'll be able to have that at some point, but until then, I don't have a confirmation for the basis of your question.
Question: But it seems like a stran… okay. I mean, the letter exists, so my question is, the thing is that you set up a process in which questions about vetting or issues that arise cannot… won't be answered until the person's already confirmed. Am I correct? See… that's why I'm asking the question now.
Deputy Spokesman: Like I said, you are basing a question on an announcement that I'm not able to make at this point.
Question: Is there such a letter?
Deputy Spokesman: I'm sure that, as with other cases, there are communications that go to the Security Council about potential choices. We do not have a confirmation to provide at this point. That's the nature of the process. That… as you know, we wait for the process to play itself out, and then we can make our announcement. Yeah?
Question: Thank you. Farhan, you read the story… the statement on the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, but what is the political side? What are Secretary-General and United Nations doing to rescue these people in… Syrian people inside Aleppo? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you'll have heard what I just pointed out, that we have been trying to get some way of evacuating people from the parts of Aleppo that are in danger. I just read that out at the start. And then beyond that, as you know, Staffan de Mistura will brief the Security Council to give further details and will talk to the press in the afternoon. Masood?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On Yemen, there is a statement that was made by the United Nations envoy, I think one… one of the officials who felt that Yemen is being marginalized by the international community and that there's not enough attention being paid to it. What is your position? Do you agree with that particular statement?
Deputy Spokesman: It's been very clear that, given the severity of the crisis in Yemen and how long it's lasted, that it could easily stand to have more attention paid to it internationally. We do want more cooperation among the countries of the region and the countries with influence on all the main parties that they can finally bring this to an end. Certainly, from our standpoint, our envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has worked on a plan that he believes should be acceptable to the parties. We are trying to gather support for that, and we hope that if there is sufficient attention paid to this, we can bring this crisis to a halt.
Question: It… it… just sort of… In this case, I mean, Secretary-General said that Saudi Arabia and its so-called Coalition partners are not at all, I mean, heeding the call by United Nations to come to some sort of understanding on the issue. Do you have anything to say about that?
Deputy Spokesman: The Special Envoy has been working with different parties, including the governments in the region. He has obtained cooperation from quite a few of them, and let's see where we can go from that. The support for the peace process, we believe, is building, and let's see whether we can move ahead on that. Yes?
Question: Farhan, do you have an update on the inquiry of the bombing of the aid convoy in Syria?
Deputy Spokesman: Not beyond what Stéphane [Dujarric] said a few days ago. As you know, they were able to make some visits into Syria. We're trying to get further coverage. If we get a further update, I'll let you know at that point. Yes?
Question: When do you expect it to be completed? Sorry, I wasn't here a few days ago. I might have missed it.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, at this stage, part of the problem had simply been for them to get access to Syria itself. So that's delayed the work a little bit. But now it's proceeding, and we hope that they'll be able to finish it up fairly quickly. Yes?
Question: Sure. Like to ask you about Haiti. There's an interview by… by some of the people that were… were… had been pursuing the UN for accountability about cholera for some time, and they've now used the word "famine" in connection with the condition… with the conditions there in the wake of the hurricane. And I wanted to know… I've tried to look into what… I know there's a dispute about Burundian famine in terms of the definition. It seems to be five or more… or more people dying per day, out of 100,000. And so I wanted to know, does the UN system itself agree that… that the way… the way the trend is going, it's leaning toward famine in Haiti and, if so, what steps is the UN taking?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you'll have seen the appeal that we have made for Haiti in the wake of the hurricane, and so we want there to be a heightened support for Haiti in this time of need. The situation on the ground has not been characterized as one of famine, but it, nonetheless, remains a very serious one. And there is a worry, particularly in the hardest-hit areas in the southern zones, that there is a substantial risk of hunger. Yes. Yes, Masood?
Question: Farhan, on this report issued in India yesterday, said there has been a spike in honour killing in India, this thing that Pakistan has been condemned for. So now that… basically I think it's the same situation that exists culturally between India… so now since there's a spike, what has the Secretary-General got to say to the Indians?
Deputy Spokesman: We have a long-standing position against the practice of honour killings, wherever that takes place. You'll have seen what our various human rights rapporteurs and the High Commissioner for Human Rights have said, and we want to make sure that the rights of all, including the rights of women, are fully respected, and this is a practice that goes against that.
Question: But what… I mean, is… is… the situation, as it seems, the report has been issued by the… by some of the human rights, what do you call, defenders or other organization in India itself, not anywhere else. So is… is the United Nations going to look into those reports or just going to…
Deputy Spokesman: Wherever the practice exists, we want it to end, and that is the case across the board. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to… to… to ask you about… again about this photograph taken in the UN peacekeeping MINUSMA [United Nations Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in Mali] base in Mali of the black-faced Christmas, I guess, character, as you could call them. You'd said to ask the Dutch, and that's fine. That's a separate question, whether the Dutch should have brought it. But given that it was inside a UN base, are there rules… I guess I'm asking you just the UN side of it, totally outside of the other side of it. To the degree that the UN DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] sees such a picture, doesn't it have some role in deciding what's appropriate to have in its own base?
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding that, I believe on our side, we've helped bring this matter to the attention of our colleagues in the Netherlands, and I believe that they are following up on this.
Question: But, again, I guess I'm asking you to say what have you brought… have you said it's inappropriate? In other cases, when… when peacekeepers do something wrong, you don't say from this podium, go and ask the TCC [troop contributing country]. So I'm asking you, is it appropriate?
Deputy Spokesman: There are many times when we tell you to ask the Troop Contributing Countries. And this is a case where we have brought the matter to the attention of the Netherlands. I believe that they are following up on that, and so it's now in their hands.
Question: But you've… they tweeted it, so they knew about it. It's not a question of bring it to their attention. Have you told them that it's inappropriate, or have you just said to them, here's your own tweet?
Deputy Spokesman: We have mentioned our concerns, yes. Yes?
Question: Farhan, on the IDPs [internally displaced people] in and around Mosul, I know you gave us an… an update yesterday, but can you also update us on how many IDPs the UN camps are currently ready to receive and what's kind of the timeline for…
Deputy Spokesman: In which?
Question: In… around Mosul.
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah.
Question: And what's the timeline for constructing new ones?
Deputy Spokesman: Okay. So right now, we have the cumulative number of people displaced since the beginning of the Mosul operations is now more than 91,000 people. Of that amount, however, more than 8,000 of them have been verified as having returned to their areas of origin. We have a new emergency site that was opened up at the Qayyarah airstrip. That's received 105 families on 6 December, which is the day that it opened, two days ago, and so we're getting a number of different places which are filling up. I don't know the total capacity we have, but we're bringing in people as we get them. Yeah?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you just something that I'd asked you on 25 November and again earlier this week in connection… or in an email about also the Mali picture. It has to do with the… the reported killing of an IDP civilian in Bambari in CAR [Central African Republic] by a peacekeeper from Mauritania. There are also some other like five questions that were asked on the 25th, none of which have been answered. But on this… so I want… one, I want to ask, on the P… I was told that there was some investigation. I'm just wondering, how long does it take to determine whether the peacekeeper fired the bullet and whether it was responsible and what was done on it? And, two, on the other questions, is there some… when are those questions going to be answered? Some of them are just very simple questions about use of UN money. Is there some problem with answering them?
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding that, some emailed questions sometimes take their own pace. Some of them… I know one of them was, I believe, an attack on one of your reporter colleagues. I don't believe that that is going to be answered. We don't try to honour when one reporter tries to attack another reporter.
Correspondent: The question was: What is the waiting list for office space? And what was the list at the time that Cristina Gallach decided to evict Inner City Press and put in a person who doesn't come. So you can call it an attack, but you should have a rule, and you should have a list.
Deputy Spokesman: First of all, the reporter you're talking about does, in fact, come. I'm sure your reporters… your fellow reporters in this room appreciate the fact…
Question: So what about the use of UN funds to travel… I mean, that's fine. You could have just answered the question in writing, and then it wouldn't be discussed here.
Deputy Spokesman: And Stéphane… please stop talking over me… has answered the question about the travel.
Correspondent: He said everything was inappropriate. So I said let's give a list of the trips in the last year. It's very simple. It's not your money. It's public money.
Deputy Spokesman: No, no. No, Matthew. Stéphane has answered that question. That trip has been dealt with and has been handled in the appropriate manner. Regarding reporters, it's… you are not the hall monitor of reporters and you don't get to judge…
Question: Does DPI [Department of Public Information] have a list…
Deputy Spokesman: …And you do not get to judge whether your colleagues attend these briefings enough or not.
Question: Does DPI have a list of people waiting so that it's not given out to reward those who ask no questions? It's very simple.
Deputy Spokesman: If you have any issues about accreditation, take this up with my colleagues in media accreditation. Have a good afternoon.