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 Eri Kaneko, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
**Guest
Today as the guest here at the briefing, we will have the Special Representative for the Secretary-General for West Africa and Sahel, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who will brief on the latest developments in Gambia.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
This afternoon, the Secretary-General will attend the handover ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 to Ecuador. Next Wednesday, on 18 January, the Secretary-General will visit Geneva, where he will meet with the heads of UN agencies based there, as well as hold a town hall meeting with UN staff. In the evening, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before taking part at a high-level event with the President.
The following morning, on Thursday, 19 January, the Secretary-General will travel to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, where he will participate in a special session in which he will lay out his vision for the UN on cooperation for peace and tackling the root causes of global crises. While in Davos, the Secretary-General is also expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings with world leaders. The Secretary-General will return to New York in the afternoon of Friday, 20 January.
**Human Rights
Ahead of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos next week, the High Commissioner for Human Rights today called on business leaders attending the event to use their considerable influence to stand up for human rights and prevent rights violations. Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein said that we begin the year full of anxiety about the state of the world, including the deeply disturbing increase in divisive behaviour and policies and the attacks against fundamental human rights, particularly of those already vulnerable. He noted that responsible business relies on stability: sound institutions, the smooth functioning of justice, sustainable development and public confidence in their personal safety. He added that human rights lie at the core of such long-term stability. The High Commissioner will attend the Davos meeting from 16 to 19 January.
**Food
I also want to flag today the results of new research from the World Food Programme (WFP) called Hot Dinner Data, which finds that a simple bowl of food in Malawi costs much more than in Switzerland when you measure the cost of the meal as a percentage of a person’s average daily income. As political and business leaders gather for the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, the World Food Programme says that as a proportion of income, people in the developing world can pay 100 times more than rich-country counterparts for a basic plate of food. When the most deprived, conflict-ravaged places are factored in, the cost can be up to 300 times higher. There is a news release from the World Food Programme with more details on this research and the disparities it unveils.
**Cyprus
As you are aware, the Secretary-General opened and chaired the Conference on Cyprus yesterday in Geneva. In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Conference commended Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci for their dedicated work. The participants recognized that this is the time to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion, and this is a historic opportunity that should not be missed. The Conference continues, and you may have seen that the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide, provided an update to reporters this morning in Geneva.
**Syria
On Syria, we welcome reports that an agreement has been reached regarding Wadi Barada. According to the latest information received, the Government and Syria Arab Red Crescent technical teams entered the area today to carry out a damage assessment of water sources and infrastructure at the Al-Fiji spring site, with a view to repairing the facility as soon as possible.
The UN team is following up with the water authority and the Red Crescent, and stands ready to enter the area and provide additional support to ensure the swift repair of the water infrastructure. The UN calls on all parties to ensure unrestricted and sustained access in order to restore the provision of water, which is essential for the survival and well-being of the civilian population. In the meantime, the water authorities continue to implement the emergency plan to meet around 30 per cent of the daily needs of Damascus city residents on a rotational basis until water infrastructure is restored to its previous capacity.
The UN continues to support the water authorities with water quality testing equipment and chemicals needed to undertake necessary water quality tests. In addition, pre-positioned medicines and kits are in place and trainers have been provided on cholera response and waterborne diseases. Also, the UN and partners continue to respond to the 15,000 people displaced as a result of fighting in and around Wadi Barada. The Red Crescent, the UN and NGOs are responding to the needs of the displaced with winterization kits, blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses, kitchen sets and other emergency assistance.
**Gaza
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that he is following with great concern the tense situation unfolding in Gaza after 2 million Palestinians have been left with just a couple of hours of electricity per day in the middle of winter. He calls for the full respect of the right to freedom of expression, peaceful protest and assembly in Gaza. All responsible authorities must cooperate to resolve the electricity crisis immediately.
** Côte d'Ivoire
Our colleagues at the UN peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) report that the situation in Bouaké is currently calm but volatile, with the local population expressing discontent over the planned payment of funds to the soldiers. The Mission reports that officials from the Ivorian Ministry of Defence are currently meeting with the soldiers in Bouaké in this regard. The UN mission, meanwhile, undertook air reconnaissance yesterday and reports no change in population movements around Bouaké, Korhogo and Ferkessédougou. Peacekeepers from the mission's Quick Reaction Force remain deployed to Bouaké in support of national authorities. The Mission continues to monitor the situation closely.
**Central African Republic
Our humanitarian colleagues inform us that the Government of the Central African Republic and the Humanitarian Country Team today launched the 2017-2019 Humanitarian Response Plan for the country. The Plan requires $400 million to meet the basic needs of 2.2 million people in the Central African Republic this year. The launch of the plan comes amid deterioration in the security situation in the country. This has generated new humanitarian emergencies and exacerbated the vulnerability of more than 70,000 newly displaced people.
**Migration
Some 25,800 unaccompanied or separated children arrived to Italy by sea in 2016 — that’s more than double the number of 2015. UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] says that these figures indicate an alarming trend of an increasing number of highly vulnerable children risking their lives to get to Europe. The majority of these unaccompanied or separated children originated from just four countries: Eritrea, Egypt, the Gambia and Nigeria. While most of the children were boys aged 15 to 17 years, younger children and girls have also been among the new arrivals. There are more details on this issue available online.
Still on the issue of refugees and migrants, our colleagues from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) say they have stepped up their assistance in several European countries which are experiencing harsh winter conditions. In Greece, hundreds of people have been transferred to better accommodation in Lesvos and Chios over the past few days. In Serbia, some 1,200 males still stay in inadequate informal sites in Belgrade city centre, including up to 300 unaccompanied or separated boys. UNHCR is extremely concerned by reports that several refugees and migrants have lost their lives trying to enter or move across Europe, including five since the beginning of the year, due to the freezing weather. More details are available in the notes from Geneva.
**Haiti
Lastly, on Haiti, you will have seen that we issued yesterday two notes to correspondents commemorating the seventh anniversary of the earthquake there. One was from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) paying homage to all the victims of this disaster, including our UN colleagues. The other was from Dr. David Nabarro, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, who said the UN continues to stand together with Haiti to ensure a better, safer, and healthier year for the people of Haiti, in 2017 and beyond. So, we have our guest coming up shortly, but we can take a few questions. Matthew?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you about Myanmar. The… the UN special… the human rights… Ms. [Yanghee] Lee has gone there, and the ruling party in Rakhine State has refused to meet with her. And I'm just wondering, what is the plan of the Secretariat now that Vijay Nambiar is no longer on the case? There's no more good offices. What's your reaction… do you believe that they should meet with her? And what… is the Secretariat going to play any role on the issue of the Rohingya and what's happening, going forward?
Associate Spokesperson: As you rightly mentioned, Mr. Nambiar's term has ended as of 31 December 2016. We're still in discussions to see what the follow‑up to that will be. Hopefully, we will have another senior official who will engage closely on the issue of Myanmar. On Ms. Lee's visit, we would hope… we would have hoped that she would be able to meet with all the people she would have wanted to meet with. We hope to hear more from her, especially when she speaks to the press in Yangon around 20 January, I believe. Michelle?
Associate Spokesperson: Thanks, Eri. As you're probably aware, some US Senators have introduced some legislation to try and cut UN funding in the wake of the Security Council resolution on Israel and the Palestinians. Does the UN have any response to this?
Associate Spokesperson: The legislation is still in the early stages, so we'll monitor closely the situation as the situation unfolds. But, as matter of principle, the Secretary‑General very much welcomes an opportunity to discuss any issues with US lawmakers. And we look forward under the new Administration to the continuing strong partnership between the US and the UN, especially in the three main pillars of human rights, peace and security and development.
Question: Follow‑up? Thanks, Eri. Does that mean that Mr. [António] Guterres plans to meet the US people from Congress or what…?
Associate Spokesperson: We have no specific meetings scheduled, but, as you know, the Secretary‑General, including the previous Secretaries‑General, have always travelled to Washington, D.C., and were always eager and available to meet with US lawmakers as needed. Yes?
Question: Sure. I guess this is a follow‑up. I wanted to… to… another issue that… that… that has already been enacted by the Congress is to cut UN funding for not protecting whistleblowers. So, I wanted to ask you, maybe you can do it now or later in the day, there's a… a piece today in the… on the Jerusalem Post by Peter Gallo, who was a OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] investigator who was fired. He's testified to Congress that OIOS is not a credible, self‑investigating mechanism. And he says a number of things about… including about the indictment [sic] of former Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon. And I'm just wondering, since… although some say this is not a UN issue, if… to the… I've asked Stéphane [Dujarric]. I'm going to, I guess, plead with you to try to… just a yes‑or‑no answer, if OIOS beginning in 2015 ever looked into the public charges, including in Viet Nam and in South Korea, that the nephew of the Secretary‑General was using the Secretary‑General's name to sell the building, if they ever inquired as a matter of UN propriety, and… and if they didn't, why they didn't.
Associate Spokesperson: I mean, you know, as you know, OIOS is an independent arm, and so we're not entirely privy to all of their investigations, but as… I have nothing further to add to what Stéphane has said, beyond that these investigations don't particularly have anything to do with the UN or the Secretary‑General himself.
Question: What about the Colliers? I guess I'm asking…
Associate Spokesperson: We'll come back to that.
Question: It's also follow‑up on the Congress question. I believe there is a delegation from the Congress coming to… in March to the United Nations, if you can tell us more about it, if they're going to meet the SG and then who are they? Are they from the Senate or the House of Representatives? Just if you have…
Associate Spokesperson: We've just heard that this trip will likely be happening, and as soon as we get more details, we'll be happy to share them with you. Please.
Question: Thank you. We are now just few days before the conference on the Middle East peace process takes place in Paris, and we have been asking this question. Who is going to represent the UN at the conference?
Associate Spokesperson: We've heard your questions, and we still have not… we still do not have a confirmation of who will be attending from the UN, but somebody from the UN will definitely be there.
Question: Why… how do you explain this hesitancy in not choosing someone just two, three days before the meeting?
Associate Spokesperson: I think the modalities are still being arranged, and as soon as we have clarity, we will definitely assign somebody, and we will let you know.
Question: Yeah, I know this question's been asked a couple times before, but I want to follow up. Given the fact we're midway through January, is there any plan under… under consideration for Secretary‑General Guterres to come here for a full‑length press conference this month? Thank you.
Associate Spokesperson: We're doing our best. And as his schedule permits, we will try to schedule something as soon as possible. Oleg?
Question: Any updates on the Astana meeting?
Associate Spokesperson: Still have not received an invitation. Yeah?
Question: Sure. I wanted to… I mean, you heard me on Colliers. I won't say that again, but that is a UN landlord that the nephew worked for so… but I wanted to ask, yesterday, Stéphane had answered… I'd asked about what I heard are proposed changes to DPA [Department of Political Affairs], and he'd said this idea of co‑location, which I've definitely heard of. But, I wanted to ask, maybe… again, you can maybe get back to this. I've heard that in, for example, co‑locating DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations], DFS [Department of Field Support] and DPA on Mali, there's more than 40 people and, in fact, that the co‑location seems to highlight either overlap or waste or whatever it might be called. So, what's the… can you… can we get a little… it seems important. It seems like if it's one of his reform proposals… where's the co‑location taking place? And what's it going to be doing if, in fact, the work that the people were doing in the three different departments is essentially the same work? Is this… I guess, when are conclusions going to be drawn from this co‑location…?
Associate Spokesperson: Well, it's precisely for some of the reasons you laid out that the Secretary‑General wants to try to change sort of how we do our daily business to better serve the people we serve. And so, as Stéphane said, we don't have further granularity, as he calls it, on this. So as soon as we find out more, we'll let you know. Yes?
Question: Sorry. Come back to Astana and Paris conference, because Mr. [Staffan] de Mistura said yesterday that the United Nations did not have actually received official invitation yet, and that's why you don't know who's going to attend. But, on Paris conference, have the United Nations received an invitation? And then, again, as Mr. Abbadi said, why it's a secret to say who's going to attend? Because it's three days.
Associate Spokesperson: It's… You know, it's not unusual for participants to be decided at the last minute. It can happen. And, like I said, we're still figuring out the arrangements. And as soon as we have further clarity, we'll find someone… you know, we'll let you know who from the UN will be assigned to go.
Question: I have another question. About the Deputy SG, Ms. Amina Mohammed, when she's going to take the office? Did she take the office? And if not, when she's coming to take the office and if she's the one who actually going to Paris or not.
Associate Spokesperson: She will not be going to Paris because she has not yet taken office, and our understanding is she will do so later in February. Sure.
Question: Yes. I did see the two statements on Haiti, and I guess I just wanted to ask, obviously, right be… there's been this announcement that the UN is going to try to raise money for the victims of the cholera. And so, it was good to get one update, South Korea $1 million, France some hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, is the UN anticipating actually putting up a website to show compliance or, you know, progress against the pledge that was made? Because right now that's… you know, that's a very low percentage. And so I'm just wondering, do we have to ask here, or is there some way to avoid wasting questions here and have a website that lists contributions gained?
Associate Spokesperson: Let's say, for now, you ask here, and as soon as we have a website, we'll let you know.
Question: And then the… I'm sorry to say this, but I'm kind of frustrated. Yesterday, I was told to call Mr. Lee Do‑woon in Seoul, and I was told it was a mobile number. I've called it five times. It's nothing but a telephone tree that's entirely in Korean. I sent it a text message, which wasn't received. So, I'm going to ask you again, if the idea is all of the questions raised by the indictment should be given to the new Associate Spokesperson, can I have an e-mail address or some way that actually I can reach somebody?
Associate Spokesperson: We'll check. I mean, that's the only number we have, as well, so, you know, you know as much as we do.
Question: Did you get a telephone tree?
Associate Spokesperson: We haven't tried calling it. Any other questions? Okay. Then… oh, Erol, one more.
Question: Just [inaudible]. Oh, sorry. Did you guys announce this press conference with the US Ambassador, Samantha Power, through your channels? Because I believe that I didn't receive it. It was not on the… that you are having that press conference today or I'm wrong?
Associate Spokesperson: I'm not aware. Colleagues, did you all hear… you all heard about the press conference?
Correspondent: It was on MALU [Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit].
Associate Spokesperson: It was on the… okay.
Question: It was on MALU or…?
Correspondent: I saw it on MALU.
Correspondent: Okay. That's fine. That's fine.
Associate Spokesperson: Okay. Great. I will go get our guest.