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.
**Syria
Just a programming note from Geneva: we expect that Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, will be speaking to your colleagues in Geneva in about an hour from now to discuss the situation of the talks ongoing in Geneva — that should be available to you on the UN webcast page.
**Security Council
Back here, the Security Council is currently holding a debate this morning on the destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage by terrorist groups and in situations of armed conflict. Audrey Azoulay, the new Director‑General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), told Council members that the Council’s adoption this March of resolution 2347 represents a major breakthrough, which testifies to a new awareness on the importance of culture, not only to respond to conflicts but also to prevent radicalization and fight violent extremism. In a very short span of time, already 29 Member States have shared information on new actions taken to protect cultural heritage, strengthening tools and training of specialized personnel, reinforcing international cooperation and information sharing.
Vladimir Voronkov, the new head of the UN Office on Counter‑Terrorism, said to the Council that the looting and illicit trafficking of cultural objects leads to the financing of terrorism and criminal networks. And Yuri Fedotov, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), added that we must build up international cooperation in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating cases related to trafficking in cultural property. The art market and museums should pay special attention, he said, to the provenance of cultural items that they are considering for acquisition, or with which they have otherwise come into contact. The head of Interpol also addressed the Council. Ambassador [Sebastiano] Cardi, we are told, are will be accompanied by Ms. Azoulay and will speak to you at the stakeout at the end of the meeting.
**Iraq
Turning to Iraq, the Secretary‑General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, met yesterday with Grand Ayatollah Ali al‑Sistani. During the meeting, he congratulated the Government and the people of Iraq in their victory against Da’esh, but also noted that efforts to counter terrorism must continue. Mr. Kubiš underscored the UN’s support of the Constitution, also as regards Baghdad‑Erbil relations, including guarantees of the full constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and its people, for the timely holding of the general elections. The full remarks are online.
**Yemen
Turning to Yemen, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that, as of today, there is no change in the situation at Yemen’s Hodaidah port. There are still two vessels carrying approx. Thirty-five thousand metric tons of food commodities berthed at Hodaidah. We would like to see a World Food Programme (WFP)‑chartered vessel carrying United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) supplies, which are urgently needed to address the diphtheria outbreak in the country, to be cleared to enter the port.
**Mali
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) took note of the decision today by the Government to postpone the elections scheduled for next month until April 2018. This decision should give time to answer concerns expressed by many political leaders, including regarding the peace process.
**Somalia
Our colleagues in Somalia say that despite massively scaled up assistance this year, humanitarian needs across the country are on the rise and are increasingly severe. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that next year, 6.2 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection — that’s half of the country’s population. The agency said that urgent and more sustainable investment is required, as well as extending famine prevention efforts.
**Migration
Today, UNICEF released a report calling on world leaders to include specific commitments to protect uprooted children when drafting global migration policies. The call comes ahead of next month’s preparatory meeting on the Global Compact for Migration in Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico. The report highlights best practices for the care and protection of migrant children and includes practical examples of governments, civil society partners and host communities working to support and integrate uprooted children and their families. It is available online.
**Cactus
We often deal with thorny issues here so this is one: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today is saying that it is time to put cactus in our menus. Sorry, that was a pretty lame joke but thank you for laughing, Brenden. It is no laughing matter, though. Experts in FAO said that cactus should be an essential crop in places where climate change is increasing the risk of drought, due to its ability to thrive in arid and dry climates. Cactus has a long tradition in its native Mexico, but it is slowly catching on in other countries such as Brazil and Ethiopia, and during the recent drought in southern Madagascar, it proved to be a crucial supply of food, forage and water for local people and their animals. More information on the FAO website.
**Press Briefings
After me, you will hear from Brenden [Varma] and obviously the Security Council President, as I mentioned. Tomorrow is World AIDS Day. I will be joined by Simon Bland, Director of the joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) — he is head of the New York Office. At 3 p.m., in this room, there will be a briefing by Ambassador Koro Bessho, Permanent Representative of Japan, who is, you can guess it, will be presiding the Security Council for the month of? December. Oof. Maybe I should distribute coffee here. Yes, Masood‑ji. Yeah, yeah. Bueller? Yeah, exactly. Sorry. Yes, Masood?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, sir. Yeah. Stéphane, this is a question that I've been asking a long time. This is about the Palestinian children in Israeli jails, and I've been asking for the updates. So, do you have any update? Are they being released by the Israelis…?
Spokesman: As… when and if I ever get an update, I will share it with you.
Correspondent: So, you don't know.
Spokesman: I'll share it with you. I just have no update from what Farhan [Haq] told you a few weeks ago. Sylviane?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. There will be next week a meeting on the International Support Group for Lebanon. Who will be representing… who will be going… Mr. [António] Guterres?
Spokesman: No, it is… the participation of the UN is still being worked out. As soon as I'm able to confirm it to you, I will do so.
Question: There will be another one in February. Do you have something to tell about it? On the same support group.
Spokesman: I can barely see beyond next week; please don't ask me about February. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. One follow‑up on the African Union‑EU [European Union] summit and the something about the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC). The… I'd asked you yesterday just… if there are any details about this task force and what the UN's role… since then, President [Emmanuel] Macron has said he'll be asking for an authorisation of military force against traffickers. And I wanted to know, was this discussed with the Secretary‑General? And what are the details of the task force?
Spokesman: I don't have any details to share with you. As you know already, the UN which… with the IOM [International Organization for Migration], UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees], UNICEF and others, have been working very closely on the issue of migrants in Libya. But when I have something, I will share it with you.
Question: Okay. And the other one, I'd asked you yesterday… you said you were going to check but I'll… I've checked, so I wanted to ask you, the… the… for the grant that was given out after the indictment, the… the… “Powering the Future We Want”, I'm staring… I'm looking now at the current high‑level steering board of the group that made a decision on the grant, and Mr. Patrick CP… Ho, Pa… CP Patrick, Patrick Ho, who was indicted and is in jail, is on the board, along… along with Achim Steiner of UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] and Warren Sach, former UN official. Was… so… so I guess… again, I want to sort of figure out why it was that the photo op was cancelled, Amina Mohammed's presence was cancelled, the PGA [President of the General Assembly] that's separate was cancelled. How can it be that the money was given out… after the indictment, who made the decision to go forward with this? What's the status of that board? Is he still on the board although he's in jail? And… You keep saying to ask DESA [Department of Economic and Social Affairs].
Spokesman: What I can tell you is, as DESA has told me, they have put on hold their relationship with this NGO [non‑governmental organization] moving forward until the out… there is an outcome of the criminal proceedings that are going on in the US. The money that is… was given out through the DESA‑run project is… has gone through the stringent UN financial rules and regulations. But, as I said, I think the important thing is that, moving forward, we have put on hold our relationship with this organisation and partnership with it.
Question: No, I mean… thanks for saying that, but I guess it comes down to… it seems like somebody in the building made a… made a… made a judgment, and again, maybe it's hard to make a judgment in the heat of the moment, but if the person that chose the winner and if this group is… if the indictment triggered a review, why did the last $1 million go out the door?
Spokesman: Well, he didn't… Mr. Ho was not the one who chose the winners. The winners were ultimately chosen by the head of DESA. Oleg?
Question: On the Syrian talks in Geneva, taking into account the importance of the discussions at this stage, does the Secretary‑General plan to… at some point, to attend the meetings in Geneva… Geneva, probably to give more support of the negotiations and the process?
Spokesman: I'm not aware of any plans for him to travel to Geneva. I think Mr. de Mistura is clearly in the lead. The Secretary‑General remains in touch and… Secretary‑General and his team remain in touch with Mr. de Mistura and are updated on a regular basis on the talks. As a matter of rule, in any one of these challenging talks that we have on various countries and various issues, if and when the Secretary‑General's presence is needed, he would go. But, as I said, as of now, just to be clear, there are no plans for him to…
Correspondent: Yes, but taking in account the problems that Mistura has in gathering the delegations at least in one room, maybe there is a possibility of adding some weight, authority.
Spokesman: You know, Mr. de Mistura is an able and experienced mediator and negotiator. And, as I said, when he feels the Secretary‑General's presence is needed, I have no doubt that he will ask him. Yes, sir?
Question: Thanks. The United States has called for the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] to lose its UN rights and privileges and possibly its voting rights. Two questions. The first, for the benefit of the listening public for whom the UN Charter is not committed to memory, is that possible? And who would make that decision, or how could that be done?
Spokesman: Those are issues that are dealt with by the General Assembly itself and through the Charter. It's not one that involves the Secretary‑General. So, that's an issue for the General Assembly to decide on.
Question: And, second, sort of more broadly, does the SG believe further diplomatic isolation of that sort is a wise idea, or is greater engagement what is needed here?
Spokesman: The issue of bilateral relationship between States is a matter for the States concerned. Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, I think the Secretary‑General has been clear is that the only solution is a political solution. He's committed to working with all parties to reduce tensions and appeals for a de‑escalation and full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. You'll recall that in the latest Council resolution, there is a call for further work to reduce tensions so as to advance the prospect of a comprehensive settlement. Linda?
Question: Thank you, Steph. Apropos of yesterday's discussions on North Korea and the Security Council, US Ambassador Nikki Haley, in her statement, called for the UN members to sever all ties with North Korea. Is that something that you think the SG might support?
Spokesman: Linda, with just due respect, I think I just answered the question. But I mean, as I said, the issue of bilateral relations is one for States themselves to decide. For the Secretary‑General, he feels that the… and strongly believes that the only solution is a political one, and he will continue to work with all the parties looking to… how to de‑escalate the current tensions.
Correspondent: No, but I meant multi‑lateral, something that all States should institute.
Spokesman: I'm sorry. Say again… I mean…
Question: I guess what I'm saying is, would he favour, even theoretically, that the UN Security Council impose a total ban on all ties with North Korea?
Spokesman: You know, we try not to talk about theory here but about practise. It is important that avenues remain in order to find a political solution. Yes, sir?
Question: On the meeting on 28 between the SG and the mediation team, 15, was North Korea one of the issues was discussed? And did the SG give, like, each one a job to do?
Spokesman: No, I… it was an initial meeting. I think they discussed a whole number of crises around the world. They remain at the disposal of the Secretary‑General. He will call upon different members of the team for different efforts when he feels the time is right. And as he told them, he also is open to suggestions from them and an open dialogue from them.
Question: Don't you think the time is right for North Korea now to appoint one to mediate [inaudible] because you believe… you said that the SG believe that the only solution is political solution. If, like, he had opportunity to meet the 15 of them, that was not the right time to ask them to start working on a political solution…?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General said that the UN, him or directly his office, remain available for all the parties, but those are things in any mediation there has to be a call from both sides to accept a mediator. In the meantime, contacts are continuing between the US and all the parties at various levels. Masood?
Question: Thank you. Stéphane, on this Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed, it is being… certain quarters are suggesting that this is being done because she's an African‑American [sic] and she's a Deputy Secretary‑General. Can you comment on this, whether it is, in fact, true?
Spokesman: I'm… I hear your words. I'm not sure I understand the question. What…?
Question: The campaign of vilification against Amina Mohammed is being done because she's an African? She's from Nigeria.
Spokesman: I don't know how to answer your question. I don't… I try not to analyse people's motives. I think we have been very clear and forthcoming here in saying that the Secretary… Deputy Secretary‑General did everything according to the law and that any further questions should be stand… given over to the Nigerian authorities. Mr. Lee?
Correspondent: Same topic. Same topic.
Spokesman: What a surprise. Yes, please.
Question: I have something else but, I didn't know she was an African‑American. But I did want to ask this. The… the… the… you said you've been very clear, so I want to ask you again. The question isn't whether she believes or states that she did things right. The question was, did… was… what was her belief of where the wood was when she signed the 4,000 rosewood certificates? Did she believe that the wood was in Nigeria, as the CITES [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora] rules would require, or were these done after the fact, so that wood would be released that had already been stopped in Chinese ports, which violates CITES violations? Where was the wood?
Spokesman: She did everything according to the law. There have been discussions with CITES, I think, very recently in Geneva. The Nigerian Government, from what I understand, has been engaging with CITES. And I think there were no issues raised on the parts of CITES during this latest meeting.
Question: What's the relationship between CITES and the… and the UN? How would you describe it?
Spokesman: CITES… it's part of the UN system. CITES is a treaty… if I'm… again, I will be struck down if I'm wrong, but CITES is a treaty‑based body that is being secretariat by UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme], but it is not one over which the Secretary‑General or the Deputy Secretary‑General has any authority.
Question: Can we get a copy of the answer that was given there? because this has been…?
Spokesman: I think that's… you should reach out to our colleagues at CITES.
Question: Why doesn't she do a press conference if she feels she's being vilified?
Spokesman: I mean, she… next time she comes to… I don't think she's ever said she feels she's vilified. Others have said that. The… when she next comes to the press, she'll be glad… she'll be happy to answer your questions.
Correspondent: Unrelated question. You're going to love it.
Spokesman: Yes, please. I'm sure I'm going to love it.
Question: There's been a lot of praise of Bangladesh for… and rightly so, for what it's done for Rohingya refugees. But, in the last few days, Sheikh Hasina has given the green light to the… to opening up an island that's an hour's ship traffic from any other island that's owned by Bangladesh as a place to put 100,000 Rohingya. And I wanted to know… there's been some criticism by… by refugee rights groups and others, but does the UN, despite the… the… the overarching praise of the country, does that… does the UN believe that's a good idea?
Spokesman: Look, I don't have the details of the report. We've seen the press reports. I think what is important is that refugees be treated with respect and with the full rights to which they are entitled to.
Question: And can I ask… okay. Just… I just wanted to ask a… yeah, follow… it's a follow… I didn't know that you were going to say that DESA has broken… has suspended, or whatever the right word is, its relationships with China Energy Fund Committee. But I did want… now that you've said that, can you explain… it seems like in the case… in the indictment of Ng Lap Seng, not only was… was Sun Kian Ip Foundation relationships broken with it and money returned, but an audit was launched. So, if there's enough… if DESA… I mean, is it up to DESA or is it up to the Secretary‑General to decide how to react to an indictment that shows that there's been business dealings between an NGO…?
Spokesman: I think we're still… we're very much looking at the situation as a whole. When we have something new to announce, we shall. Mr. Varma. The cactus is yours.