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.
**Afghanistan
As you will have seen, the Secretary-General arrived in Kabul earlier today, where he met with displaced men and women from Kapisa Province who are now living in a settlement in the outskirts of the capital. They told him that security was the prerequisite for their return to their home province and that education, including for women and girls, from primary to vocational training, was critical for supporting themselves and their families. They also stressed their need for medical care.
The Secretary-General expressed his compassion and solidarity and assured them of his personal and the UN's full commitment to work with the Government and the people of Afghanistan to address their needs and build a sustainable and prosperous future for them. The Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer [Abdullah] Abdullah. He also met with the UN staff working in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
In a press conference held a short while ago, he stressed that his visit is essentially a visit of solidarity with the people of Afghanistan during the holy month of Ramadan — something he noted he did every year when he served as High Commissioner for Refugees. He recalled the recent terrorist attacks and offered condolences to the families of the victims. The full transcript of this press conference is being worked on and will be made available to you very soon. And for this visit to Afghanistan, the Secretary-General observed the Ramadan fast, in solidarity with Muslims all around the world, and called for peace and compassion. He is now on his way back to New York.
**Gulf
During his visit to Central Asia, the Secretary-General has been following the crisis in the Gulf very closely. Being convinced of the importance of a regional solution, the Secretary-General spoke today on the phone with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah, following a number of other contacts, to express his full support for Kuwait's efforts to de-escalate tensions and to promote an effective dialogue. And today, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, issued a statement in which he said he was alarmed about the possible impact on many people’s human rights of the situation in the Gulf.
**Darfur
On the tenth anniversary of the Security Council’s decision to deploy the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, El-Ghassim Wane, briefed the Council on the joint recommendations of the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the reconfiguration of the mission in Darfur. He said that, over the last three years, the conflict has markedly changed, following a successful military campaign by the Government. The number of intercommunal security incidents has decreased and progress has been made on the political front.
Yet, as illustrated by a population of internally displaced people of 2.7 million, a number of crucial grievances at the origin of the conflict and key issues related to its aftermath still need to be addressed. Mr. Wane said that the joint report therefore proposed a two-pronged approach combining peacebuilding and peacekeeping tasks. Most parts of Darfur require a more peacebuilding-oriented approach, while in Jebel Marra and its vicinity the Mission's efforts would focus on traditional peacekeeping tasks. This concept would enable the Mission to reduce its troop ceiling down by 44 per cent and the police ceiling by 30 per cent.
**Deputy Secretary-General
At 3 p.m., the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will brief an informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Secretary-General’s latest report on Haiti and cholera. That report has been out as a public document for a bit. This morning, she spoke at an event on the rule of law, and said that the essence of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 and its specific target 16.3 to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all is not only a self-evident objective, but it is catalytic to all the Goals. She said that it is clear that the rule of law provides a foundation for preventing conflict, fostering peace and advancing sustainable development. But, establishing the rule of law does not happen overnight. Her remarks are online.
**Haiti
The Security Council will send a mission to Haiti from 22 to 24 June. Council members are expected to meet with the President, the Prime Minister and other Government officials, the leadership of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the UN country team, the UN Police presence and a range of civil society actors. The mission intends to reaffirm the support of the Security Council to the Government and people of Haiti to strengthen their country and institutions, in order to contribute to the stability and development of the country. The Council members will also conduct a review of the implementation of resolution 2350 (2017), which, as you know, concerns the closure of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti and the smooth transition to the new mission, the UN Mission for Justice and Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH).
**Syria
Our friends at the World Food Programme (WFP) tell us they’ve delivered food to displaced people in seven hard-to-reach areas in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor in northern Syria, where regular deliveries of humanitarian assistance have been suspended for more than three years due to conflict and besiegement. This week, 16 trucks loaded with one-month supplies of WFP food delivered relief to 80,000 displaced people who have arrived in parts of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Al-Hassakeh. WFP also delivered a one-month supply of specialized nutrition supplements for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition to about 5,000 people.
Meanwhile, heavy clashes continued in Raqqa city yesterday, with Syrian Democratic Forces reportedly advancing from both the western and eastern sides of the city. As fighting and military operations continue, the UN continues to be deeply concerned for the safety and protection of tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside the city.
**Yemen
WFP also is scaling up its emergency operations to help those most urgently in need of help in Yemen, home to one of the world’s worst hunger crises. The country is on the brink of famine, with more than 17 million people — or two thirds of the population — not knowing where their next meal will come from. This month, WFP aims to reach 6.8 million people with food. The agency stresses that resources are urgently needed, especially given the outbreak of cholera.
**Occupied Palestinian Territory
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Robert Piper, warned today about the disastrous consequences of a further reduction in the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip on the living conditions of 2 million Palestinians who live in the Strip. He called upon the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Israel to put the welfare of Gaza’s residents first and to take the necessary measures to avoid further suffering. The UN has already appealed to the international community to support its limited humanitarian assistance efforts to prevent the collapse of life-saving, health, water, sanitation and municipal services in Gaza.
**Migrants
The amount of money that migrants send to their families in developing countries has risen by 51 per cent over the past decade according to a new report released by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The report is being released today. This is far greater than the 28‑per‑cent increase in migration from these countries. “Sending Money Home: Contributing to the SDGs, One Family at a Time” is the first-ever study of a 10-year trend in migration and remittance flows over the period of 2007-2016.
While the report shows that there have been increases in sending patterns to almost all regions of the world, the sharp rise in the past decade is in large part due to Asia, which has witnessed an 87‑per‑cent increase in remittances. More than 200 million migrant workers are now supporting an estimated 800 million family members globally. It is projected that in 2017, 1 in 7 people in the world will be involved in either sending or receiving more than $450 billion in remittances.
**Noon Briefing Guests
The head of IFAD, Gilbert Houngbo, will be our guest at the briefing tomorrow. In a short while, I will be joined by Aïchatou Mindaoudou, the Special Representative and Head of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI). She will brief you on the situation in that country.
**Basic Facts
My colleagues in the Department of Public Information have asked me to flag that the new copy of Basic Facts about the UN, the forty-second edition, is now out and available in the UN Bookshop and available online. And it has for the first time a section on the 2030 [Agenda] and the 17 [Sustainable Development] Goals.
**Honour Roll
And lastly, we thank Greece and Uganda for paying their regular budget dues in full, which brings us up to? Close enough. At least you tried. One-hundred and seven. If you have a question, you may ask it, or you may yield. Then please do.
**Questions and Answers
Question: In fact, I was prepared to ask about this situation in Gaza, but now, since you read this statement from Mr. Piper, my question is about these visits of the Security Council to conflict area; they’re going to Haiti. Every President of the Security Council, I ask him, why you don't take a mission to Gaza? And no answer. You know the answer. But, my question, why the SG [Secretary-General] himself does not take that step and go see the situation in Gaza for himself? He's been six months almost in the… in the office and it's about time.
Spokesman: I'm not… you know, the Secretary‑General, as you said, has been in office for a little under six months. He's had a heavy travel schedule. He's been in… world leaders have been eager to meet with him. He's had a number of conferences he's had to attend to. He's done as many field visits as possible. And clearly, a visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories is on the books for some point. And it is an issue that he is well aware of and very much interested in. Matthew?
Correspondent: Sure. Thanks a lot. I have a number of questions that I tried to ask you over the last two days, but something new is… I'm going to ask them today, but I wanted to ask you about these strategic reviews. I'd asked you before about Mr. [Jean-Marie] Guéhenno on Libya, and you'd confirmed it. I now want to ask you whether Michael von der Schulenburg, former SRSG [Special Representative of the Secretary-General] to Sierra Leone, who left with some controversy, is conducting a review of the UN's operations in Iraq.
Spokesman: Not aware, but doesn't mean it's not happening. I'm just not aware.
Question: Are you aware that… that Ján Kubiš is conducting a review in Afghanistan? Because the mission, UNAMA, has announced that that's what he's doing. And I've been told that, in fact, every mission is now subject to a strategic review in part because of budget concerns so…
Spokesman: Well, I think the… we've always… the Secretary‑General has said and we've talked about his interest in seeing how we can bring costs down, whether it's on use of flights or his request to managers, to see how they can cut costs and relieve some of the budgetary pressure. [The Spokesman had announced Mr. Kubiš’ assignment on Monday, 12 June.]
Question: But, I guess… I guess my question is, like, on the Guéhenno one, I'd asked you. You said you didn't know. Then somebody brought in a piece of paper. Is there some… what's the system for him disclosing… especially for… people that are not currently UN staff that they've been hired as consultants…?
Spokesman: If I find out more, I will let you know. Yeah, in the back.
Question: Stéphane, given the frequent visits that the SG has had to Kabul, I wonder if he reflected on the imminent American increase in troops there and whether that will have either a positive or a negative influence on the refugee problem.
Spokesman: I think what will have a positive influence on the issue of refugees in returning home is finding a political solution to the current crisis in… the current conflict that we see in Afghanistan. Linda?
Question: Thank you, Steph. I'm sorry if I missed it, but does… did the SG issue a statement or do you have one perhaps regarding the attack in Washington, D.C., on the Congressional reps…?
Spokesman: We obviously condemn the attack that took place in Alexandria, [Virginia], on a number of members of the US Congress. I think we wish the Republican Whip, Mr. [Steven] Scalise, a quick recovery, as well as all the other people who were injured. Abdelhamid?
Question: Yes. There was a vacancy announcement on… on the website of UNOPS [United Nations Office for Project Services] for a project manager in “Jerusalem, Palestine”. And this job announcement was criticized by Israelis. Can you update us…?
Spokesman: My understanding is that it was a technical glitch. As you know, the issue of the status of Jerusalem is one of the final-status issues that needs to be negotiated between the parties. Yes, ma'am?
Correspondent: Yeah, but when Israel had an art exhibit and they put Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel…
Spokesman: I think there is… Member States are free to speak their mind, and we are the Secretariat and abide by certain rules that we abide by. Yes, ma'am?
Question: Thank you. There were some media reports saying that Turkey agreed to reduce the number of its troops on Cyprus by 80 per cent. Does the UN or Mr. {Espen Barth] Eide's office have anything to say on that, any comments? Thank you.
Spokesman: No. As you know, the Geneva conference is coming up. Mr. Eide will prepare a paper that will be ready before… he aims to have ready before the conference, it should be ready before the conference, and all these issues will be discussed at that point. Rosiland?
Question: I think I'd know how to operate this by now. Is there an update on a replacement for Martin Kobler as the Special Representative to Libya?
Spokesman: No, ma'am. Discussions continue at this moment. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. This is one of the questions that I'd… I'd asked you in writing about the situation in… in the Rif region of Morocco. Now there's more than 100 allegedly detained and now allegations of torture of some of those detained. So, I'm wondering, there's been… Rifians have asked the Human Rights Council or Prince Zeid to send observers. And I'm just wondering, since a week ago, you said you hoped to have something from DPA [Department of Political Affairs]. Is DPA aware of this? Are they watching this? And what do they say about it…?
Spokesman: I think we're… as I said, if I have any comment to make on this particular situation or any other situation, I shall make them. Obviously, if people appeal to the Human Rights High Commissioner, you should follow up with them.
Question: Sure. And I wanted to… some… earlier this year, you'd said that DPA is watching the situation in Zambia where the… the opposition leader, Mr. [Hakainde] Hichilema, had been put in jail. He's now been moved to a maximum‑security jail, and 48 members of Parliament have been suspended and can't enter the Parliament building. So, it seems to be getting worse than it was before. Has DPA continued to follow this? Do they have any…?
Spokesman: Yes, our… we're obviously aware of the… this particular situation, and our comments made at the time stand. Abdelhamid?
Question: Yes. This morning, a young Palestinian called Nassar Jaradat was arrested. In fact, 23… he's 23 years old, by the Palestinian Authority’s security people for criticizing one of the [Palestinian Authority] leaders. So the freedom of expression is becoming narrower and narrower under the [Palestinian Authority]. So, if these things pass without at least pinpointing to these violations, I mean, the [Palestinian Authority] will even go further. So, is there any position…?
Spokesman: I'm not aware of the particular case, but it's clear that people in any place on earth… people should be able to express themselves freely without… and peacefully without fear of prosecution. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you, in Turkmenistan, when the Secretary‑General met with the President of Turkmenistan, I did see his speech, and it did refer to human rights, but many… there's been a lot of talk about these 18 people that were sentenced to 25 years in jail after a two‑year… two‑hour‑long secret trial. And I wanted know, can you say whether this issue was raised by the Secretary‑General?
Spokesman: The Secretary‑General, I think, raised the issue of human rights in Central Asia both in the speech he gave to the Shanghai Cooperation [Organization] and I think in the speech that he gave yesterday, which was very… on counter‑terrorism, which was very explicit in his call for smart policies in countering terrorism, which means promoting human rights. The issues that the Secretary‑General raises in bilateral conversations remain issues that he raises in bilateral conversation, and I'm not going to go into details.
Question: And can I ask you, on Cameroon, I'd emailed you this in advance of the thing yesterday. I wanted to know whether… whether Mr. [Francois] Louncény Fall… because, in reading the written report, it referred to things as if the turning on of the Internet ended the issues, and in fact, things continue, that there's a bishop, Jean‑Marie Benoît Bala, who's now… the church… the formal church there says he was murdered. So, I'm wondering, did this come up in the closed‑door briefing by Mr. Fall? Can Mr. Fall have a press conference or a stakeout as Parfait [Onanga-Anyanga] did? Is there some way to know…?
Spokesman: We'll see what we can get. All right. I'll go get our guest. Thank you.