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.
**Jordan
Earlier today, the Secretary-General addressed the summit meeting of the Arab League at the Dead Sea in Jordan. He said that the United Nations attaches the highest importance to its partnership with the Arab League. The Secretary-General also appealed to the leadership of the Arab region to shape a new Arab world able to address and solve by itself differences through dialogue and cooperation. He saluted the Arab tradition of hospitality, manifesting itself in the millions of refugees who have been given shelter throughout the region. He said: “It breaks my heart to see developed countries closing their borders to refugees fleeing this region, and worse, sometimes invoking religion as a reason to keep them out.”
The Secretary-General also appealed to Arab unity in tackling the conflicts that are present in the region. Last night, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, during which they discussed the situations in Libya and Iraq, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian situation. The Secretary-General is scheduled to have a number of other bilateral meetings today.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
In a statement we issued yesterday evening, we confirmed that the remains discovered by peacekeepers from the United Nations [Organization Stabilization] Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on 27 March outside of the city of Kananga in the Congolese Kasaï-Central province are those of Michael Sharp (United States) and Zaida Catalan (Sweden). They were members of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo who had gone missing since 12 March. In the statement, the Secretary-General said that Michael and Zaida had lost their lives seeking to understand the causes of conflict and insecurity in the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] in order to help bring peace to the country and its people. We will honour their memory by continuing to support the invaluable work of the Group of Experts and the whole UN family in the DRC.
It is our hope that the cause of their deaths will be determined following a more thorough examination. We trust that the Congolese authorities will conduct a full investigation into this incident. The United Nations will also conduct an inquiry. In case of criminal acts, the United Nations will do everything possible to ensure that justice is done. The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo also expressed its profound condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan. The Head of MONUSCO, Maman Sidikou, said that the Mission and the UN family in the DRC will continue to honour their work and dedication to supporting a durable peace in the country, and particularly in the Kasais.
**World Food Programme
I have two announcements for you. First, the Secretary-General and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, announced today their appointment of David Beasley of the United States as Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), at the Under-Secretary-General level, in succession to Ertharin Cousin of the United States. The Executive Board of WFP has confirmed its concurrence with the appointment.
The Secretary-General and Director-General express their deep appreciation to Ms. Cousin for her leadership of WFP over the last five years. She has led the Programme during an unprecedented time of multiple humanitarian crises, leveraging partnerships and innovative tools to reach those furthest behind. Both wish her every success in her continuing endeavours. Mr. Beasley brings to the position extensive experience with key governmental and business leaders and stakeholders around the world, with very strong resource mobilization skills. We have a full biography of Mr. Beasley available in our office.
**Disarmament Affairs
The second appointment I have: the Secretary-General has also announced today the appointment of Izumi Nakamitsu of Japan as the next Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, in the Office for Disarmament Affairs. She will succeed Kim Won-soo of the Republic of Korea, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization. Currently Assistant Administrator for the Crisis Response Unit of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms. Nakamitsu has many years of service within and outside the United Nations system, most recently as Special Adviser Ad Interim on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. Her bio is in our office.
**Iraq
Displacement of civilians from west Mosul in Iraq continues to rise rapidly. Currently, 298,000 people are displaced as a result of the military operations in Mosul. An estimated 231,000 have been displaced from western Mosul since military operations on the western sections of the city began in late February, according to figures provided by the Iraqi authorities. Humanitarian partners continue to assist displaced families, families on the move and vulnerable people who remain in newly retaken areas, wherever access allows. In newly accessible parts of western Mosul, humanitarian workers have so far been able to reach almost 20,000 people with emergency packages of basic food, water and hygiene items.
**Syria
I've been asked about the Four Towns in Syria. The UN has received reports of an agreement between parties to the conflict to evacuate people from the besieged towns of Madaya and Zabadani in Rural Damascus, and Foah and Kefraya in Idleb, which are known as the Four Towns. The UN was not part of the negotiations or the agreement. We are monitoring the developments closely and remain concerned for the safety and protection of the estimated 60,000 people in need in the besieged four towns. Any evacuation of civilians must be safe, voluntary and to a place of their choosing.
It is imperative that all those who are displaced through such agreements are allowed to return voluntarily, in safety and in dignity, to their homes as soon as the situation allows. Parties must allow humanitarian organizations safe and unimpeded access, in line with international humanitarian and human rights law, to bring life-saving help to those displaced and those who wish to remain, and identify and respond to protection threats.
**Famine
Water shortages, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene practices and disease outbreaks are posing an additional threat to severely malnourished children in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] said today. Across the four famine-threatened countries, nearly 27 million people are reliant on unsafe water which, for malnourished children, can lead to fatal diarrhoeal diseases. UNICEF says it is working around the clock to save as many lives as possible. But, without an end to the conflicts plaguing these countries, without sustained and unimpeded access to the children in need of support and without more resources, even the best efforts will not be enough. More information is available online.
**Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched today a global initiative to reduce severe, avoidable medication-associated harm in all countries by 50 per cent over the next 5 years. The Global Patient Safety Challenge on Medication Safety aims to address the weaknesses in health systems that lead to medication errors. It lays out ways to improve how medicines are prescribed, distributed and consumed, and increase awareness among patients about the risks associated with the improper use of medication. Medication errors cause at least one death every day and injure approximately 1.3 million people annually in the United States alone. Globally, the cost associated with them has been estimated at $42 billion annually or almost 1 per cent of total global health expenditure.
**Palm Trees
I would also like to flag today the beginning of a three-day meeting at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome to define an international action plan to stop the spread of the Red Palm Weevil. The pest attacks date- and coconut-producing palms, as well as ornamental palms found in many European cities, and has rapidly expanded its global spread. More details on this are available on the FAO website.
**Honour Roll
Gracias to Nicaragua today for paying its UN dues in full, thus becoming the sixty-ninth Member State to join our Honour Roll.
**Press Briefings
Finally, for tomorrow, immediately after the noon briefing, Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gómez of Costa Rica will hold a press conference. As you know, she is President of the UN conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. Yes, Michelle?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Just a follow‑up question on the experts found in DRC. It's been a good sort of 24 hours or so, I guess, since they were found. Their bodies were found in a shallow grave. Why is the UN saying "in case of criminal acts" in the statement? And who do you think may have killed them?
Deputy Spokesman: We do not know at present who killed them. Obviously, given that they have been found dead, we believe that there's likely grounds that this was a form of criminal act, but we need to determine cause of death. There’s a… a number of things that will be determined during the course of an inquiry. We'll look into what their security conditions had been, what might have happened to them, as well as, of course, to the four Congolese nationals who… for whom we are continuing to search, as we also mentioned in the statement.
Question: And just a follow‑up. The US… the US Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said this morning that the DRC Government is corrupt and preys on its own people and that the UN is effective… the UN peacekeeping mission is effectively aiding them in that. Would you like to comment?
Deputy Spokesman: You're aware of the problems with the Government, many of which are detailed in the reports of the United Nations itself, not the least of which is the reports of our brave colleagues in the Group of Experts. So, I would just refer you to the work that Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan and their colleagues have done. Regarding our mandate, our mandate is, ultimately, to protect and safeguard the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It's a mandate established by the Security Council, and it… although, as with other peacekeeping missions, our peacekeeping mission has to work with the authorities on the ground, at the same time, it's very clear that the UN has its own separate mandate in terms of what it's entailed to do, particularly in places like Eastern Congo. It is not there simply as support for any Government or any force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Question: Can I just follow up on that, Farhan? So was that a yes or a no? I mean, the question was… essentially, is, do you or do you dis… do you agree or disagree with the US Ambassador's view that the UN is, in effect, aiding a corrupt Government in the DRC?
Deputy Spokesman: I've said what I've said. I mean, obviously, different officials… different ambassadors have their own views. You know what the views of the UN are. You know what our mandate is. It is not in support of any particular force. Obviously, all UN peacekeepers, everywhere they go, work with authorities on the ground. That does not mean that we support those figures or those parties.
Question: Does it exclude the fact that you might think that they're corrupt?
Deputy Spokesman: Regarding allegations of corruption, again, the sort of work that was being carried out by the Group of Experts has mentioned the diversion of resources by different parties, including parties linked to the Congolese authorities, and I would refer you back to the work that they've done. Yes, yes, please. Yes. No, it’s you.
Question: Yeah, thank you. We just… we just heard President of Security Council about the Special Envoy to Yemen, and I just was wondering… I know you answered this question last week to me why the Special Envoy did not join the SG [Secretary-General] in Amman summit where all Arab leaders who have actually influence on the Yemen issue, why he did not brief the Security Council via video, why he has to be here at this time? It's just… it was an opportunity… lost opportunity maybe, but why he did not… is there any reason besides Security Council briefing?
Deputy Spokesman: The Special Envoy, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, believed it was important to brief the Security Council as scheduled, and that is what he's done. Yes, Joe and then Oleg.
Question: I just want to go back to the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo with a little further follow‑up. The Human Rights First [sic] policy that the former Secretary‑General introduced, in that context, would you have any comment on observations that there have been human rights abuses in the Congolese military since… since support of the Government's forces supposedly is contingent on full… compliance with human rights obligations?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, you'll have seen, we have, in fact, a Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, which determines exactly when we can and cannot provide aid to… and support to different factions. As you know, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been different parts of the mil… of the armed forces for which we have not given support on different operations, precisely because of the concerns in our Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. And of course, many of the human rights problems that you're aware of are ones that the UN's own Joint Human Rights Office on the ground has itself reported. Oleg?
Question: Farhan, thank you. On DRC, as well, will this incident lead to any sort of review of the way the UN experts operate in the zones of conflict? Will they have armed guards, guards by their side all of the time? Any things like these, are they considered?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, as I mentioned, part of our inquiry will also be looking into what the security arrangements are, and we'll see what we can learn from this particular experience on that. Edie?
Question: Also a follow‑up, and forgive me if you've answered this before, as I have been away. You mentioned that there's a belief it was a form of crim… criminal act. As I understand these, they were riding some motorcycles or motor…?
Deputy Spokesman: They were… basically, the two experts and their interpreter each were riding with a motor taxi driver, so there were three motor taxis travelling.
Question: Right. Was… is… was any sign of the motor taxis found? And when their bodies were found, was there any identification? Was all their money, you know, their personal belongings, was all of that gone?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe there are certain personal details that were found, but a lot of this is still being investigated. I don't know what happened to the motor taxis. I believe that there were other remains found in the site that still need to be analysed. Yes, Evelyn?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. The evacuation of the Four Towns in Syria, I assume Damascus is evacuating, or who's evacuating?
Deputy Spokesman: These are populations… as you know, there have been four towns that had been besieged for several years. And those are Foah and Kefraya in rural Damascus, as well as Zabadani and Madaya and those… oh, sorry Madaya and Zabadani are in rural Damascus, and Foah and Kefraya are in Idleb. And there have been times when we've tried to provide humanitarian access and humanitarian aid to those areas. A lot of times, in order to get access to two of those towns, the other two towns would also need to be included in a complex arrangement. Now there's an agreement to which, like I said, we are not a party that would entail the evacuation of those towns, and I've already stated what our concerns are about those.
Question: Who's a party to the agreement?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe that this was reached by some of the regional Governments with some of the parties on the ground that are in control of those particular towns. Yes, Benny?
Question: Two questions on two different subjects, one on the Arab summit. I noticed the Secretary‑General hasn't addressed in his speech the presence of a man wanted by the ICC [International Criminal Court]. Has he addressed it in his meetings, the… the… the question of having [Omar] al‑Bashir there?
Deputy Spokesman: It's not something that was mentioned in his speech, but you're absolutely right that our position on Mr. Bashir remains unchanged. And of course, we continue to call on all countries, including those who are parties to the Rome Statute, to abide by their obligations under the Rome Statute and under the resolutions of the Security Council.
Question: The host country is a member, and has he addressed it in his meeting with the king?
Deputy Spokesman: I think I provided a readout of his meeting with the king. I don't have anything further to add on that.
Question: And on another question… on another topic, today, there… there are reports that the… that… of… of a possible plea deal in the case of Ng [Lap Seng]. Does the UN have anything to say about that? Is that totally divorced from the UN now that it's in the US courts?
Deputy Spokesman: No, I mean, I would leave all comment on that to the officials of the US court system. Yes, Melissa?
Question: Thanks, Farhan. The Secretary‑General has made clear his support for a civil society, and I think, as you know, there are concerns about a continuing crackdown on civil society organizations in Hungary. I'm wondering if the Secretary‑General is aware of discussions in Hungary, an EU [European Union] member, surrounding the Central European University and a proposed new law the university says would shut it down because of foreign funding.
Deputy Spokesman: I am, in fact, aware of that situation. Of course, you are aware of our concerns that all institutions, including academic institutions, have their basic freedoms respected. Beyond that, I don't have any specific comment at this point, but I'll check whether there's anything further to say on that. Mr. Sato?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. You just announced the appointment of Ms. Nakamitsu as a successor of Mr. Kim Won‑soo. And could you give us a warmer comment, especially on the expectation of her? Because now is a very severe disarmament situation. And, as you know, Japan made a decision not to attend the nuclear treaty’s negotiation.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, I know Ms. Nakamitsu. I mean, she's a very dedicated and professional member of the United Nations, and she's been with the United Nations for quite some time and has expertise in a lot of the work we do, whether it's development, whether it's migration, disarmament or other affairs. So, she's very well qualified to deal with this issue. Regarding the talks, I… as I also mentioned today, tomorrow, the official presiding over this round of discussions, Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gómez of Costa Rica, will speak at 12:30 p.m., and she can talk a little bit more in depth about how this process is going. Masood?
Question: Yes. Thank you, Farhan. Farhan, can you please tell… because I… I got the latest figures. There are about 319 children in Israel in military detention. Do you have any figure now, as to what is it now? This figure was given in January of this year.
Deputy Spokesman: No, we're… we'll provide regular updates. As you know, we have our periodic updates that are provided to the members of the Security Council, and we'll give them further updates. But, that was the latest number we have as of January.
Question: Are you saying that you don't have any figures?
Deputy Spokesman: No, our colleagues on the ground in the Office of the Special Coordinator do have updated figures. I believe they'll provide the next round when the next briefing comes.
Question: So, you can't confirm or deny that there are 319 children in Israeli detentions?
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah, approximately 300 or so there are, but, like I said, we do provide updates of those numbers with every periodic update. Yes?
Correspondent: Just to follow up on Benny's question, I didn't hear whether you said yes or no that the SG was going to mention the presence of Mr. Bashir.
Deputy Spokesman: He did not mention it in his speech, but our views on this are unchanged. People…
Question: Yes, but is he going to say anything there, privately or what?
Deputy Spokesman: I imagine that this will come up in different bilateral meetings. He has a number of them. We've shared a couple of readouts. Others will come as we get them. Yes?
Question: Yeah. I have a question about logistic and cost. There is a conference at the GA [General Assembly]. It was requested by a Member State. In this case, there… like, when you have a huge number of people, who billed the cost? You know, they have to check through security. Who billed the cost of that… of… of the event?
Deputy Spokesman: Of events that are held in the General Assembly? I think you need to check with the sponsors for the cost of any particular event. Obviously, Member States' use of the rooms, there's no cost associated with that. The Member States are entitled to use the rooms, but for other costs, you'd need to check with the sponsors. Yes?
Question: The Israeli delegation has held a conference on… against the BDS [boycott-divestment-sanctions] movement today. What does the Secretary‑General think of this group, given that many are calling it an anti‑Semitic group?
Deputy Spokesman: There's… we don't have a comment on events that are hosted by the Member States per se. These are different groups that are entitled to express their views.
Question: Right. But, I'm asking about BDS, not the actual conference, so where does he stand on such a group?
Deputy Spokesman: This is a question on which different Member States have different views. We're allowing them to do that.
Question: I… I… I need to follow up on that, because some have characterized BDS movement as, in essence, discrimination on the basis of national origin, Israel and also religion. And the Secretary‑General and the UN also institutionally have spoken out repeatedly against discrimination on both counts. So, why is there reluctance to at least comment on BDS and its underlying discrimination premise?
Deputy Spokesman: No, I'm sure that, even in this room, you'll find different views on this particular topic. And, certainly, among the Member States as a whole, there's different views about the effectiveness of boycotts, of divestment, of sanctions as… in particular, as it applies to Israel and to the question of the Palestinians. The Secretary‑General's own standpoint is to pursue progress through negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and that is what he is focused on.
Question: I understand there's diversity of views in this room. We've heard a lot of that diversity, but you're saying, as far as the Secretary‑General is concerned, he has no comment; he's neutral on whether BDS targeted against one Member State in the UN, the only democracy in the Middle East, has validity or not?
Deputy Spokesman: Your views, even on that, are your own. But…
Correspondent: No, that's a fact.
Deputy Spokesman: No, there are things that are facts and there are things that are opinions.
Correspondent: Check the freedom index and look at whatever criteria for democracies there are. That's a fact.
Deputy Spokesman: Regard… leaving that aside, the question, like I said, is one that is on which different Member States are expressing their views, and they're free to do so. Have a… yes, one more. Yes?
Question: Sorry. I have a question on the appointment of Ms. Nakamitsu. When will see her succeed Kim Won‑soo exactly?
Deputy Spokesman: She was just named now. We will try to get her on board as quickly as possible. Yes?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Ambassador Haley spoke this morning, and she indicated that she had been negotiating with the SG regarding the reduction in various peacekeeping operations, including ending that in Haiti, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. I was wondering if you have a sense of how often the two of them are getting together to… you know, to look at how to reform various missions and other kinds of projects.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, they're in regular contact on and off. Sometimes they meet. Sometimes, as over in the past couple of days, they communicate by phone. But, it's been a strong and positive relationship.
Question: Just to put the fine point on the BDS question, do you know of any other country for… that is targeted for boycott, any other member of the United Nations?
Deputy Spokesman: There have been different requests by some countries against other countries. I wouldn't…
Question: Can you name one?
Deputy Spokesman: I wouldn't get into the history of this. You would be able to research it just as easily as anyone. Yes?
Question: I have a question about… I believe your colleague, Stéphane {Dujarric], told us, I think a few months ago, that there would be a delegation from the US Congress coming to the UN during the month of March. Has it happened yet or [did] they postpone?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe there was… there were some Congress people who were going to come last week, but, because of a crucial vote in Congress, they were unable to come at that particular time. But, we expect that people may visit later, and they're certainly welcome to do so. Have…
Question: You’ll let us know?
Deputy Spokesman: We'll let you know. Have a good one.