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.
**Trip
Good afternoon. Just a reminder that tomorrow the Secretary‑General will leave for a visit to China, where he will speak at the Forum on China‑Africa Cooperation, which is a summit being held in Beijing. During his visit, the Secretary‑General will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other senior Chinese officials. He will also meet with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, and other African leaders on the margins of the summit. And… he will be back in New York on the evening of 4 September. And just a reminder that we will obviously be closed for the Labour Day holiday on Monday.
**Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary‑General, Amina Mohammed, concluded her visit to Oslo in Norway today, where she met with several senior Government officials, including Prime Minister Erna Solberg, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Development. They discussed the climate security nexus, multilateralism, the importance of prevention, the challenges facing human rights in today’s world and Norway’s strong support for the repositioning of the United Nations. Ms. Mohammed also held a town hall meeting with students at the University of Oslo. And she is on her way back to New York a bit later today.
**Lebanon
Turning to Lebanon, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, wrapped up a visit to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, where he spoke to the press today. Mr. Grandi said he had discussed the evolving situation in Syria during his meetings, especially the future of millions of people displaced in Syria, as well as the millions of Syrians in neighbouring countries. He said the situation in Syria is very political, stressing that the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) remains a humanitarian organization that is focused on one objective: to support refugees.
The High Commissioner also emphasized that the best solution remains voluntary repatriation, adding that people should not be forced to go back. And in Damascus, he said he echoed the appeal regarding Idlib made by the Secretary‑General to find a solution that spares civilian lives and averts a humanitarian catastrophe.
**United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
Also on the topic of Lebanon, as you saw yesterday afternoon, the Security Council unanimously approved the renewal of the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in the country, UNIFIL, which was welcomed by the Force’s new Force Commander today, Major General Stefano Del Col. He said that the extension, at the request of the Lebanese Government, reaffirms the importance of maintaining the cessation of hostilities along the Blue Line and the prevailing calm in the UNIFIL area of operation south of, in south Lebanon.
**Gaza
And an update on the situation in Gaza, where, as we have said before, the ongoing energy crisis is having a devastating impact on the already dire humanitarian situation. Today, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick, wrote to the donor community informing them that the United Nations‑assisted emergency fuel program, which provides life‑saving fuel to operate standby emergency generators at critical health centres, water and sanitation facilities, has now run out of funding. If new funds are not received immediately, we will be facing a potentially catastrophic breakdown in service delivery, whereby services provided at hospitals, clinics, as well as sewage treatment, water and sanitation facilities will cease. Based on the current electricity deficit in Gaza, with up to 20 hours of power outages per day, a minimum of $4.5 million is required to enable the delivery of some 1.4 million litres of emergency fuel per month to sustain these services until the end of the year.
**Myanmar
The Secretary‑General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, welcomed today’s release of 75 children by the Government of Myanmar, which she called an important step in strengthening the protection of children in the country. She said she is encouraged by the positive actions taken today by the Government following her visit to Myanmar in May, when she strongly advocated for the release of all children, as well as access to Rakhine, Shan and Kahn State and the adoption of the [child] rights law. She calls for the release of all remaining children from the Tatmadaw’s ranks and continued collaboration with the UN.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Mission (MONUSCO) there is working with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other partners in preparing for the establishment of a fourth Ebola treatment centre, in Makeke. The Mission is also supplying food, water, electricity and tents to medical personnel who are involved in vaccination, vaccination interventions.
And the World Health Organization (WHO) is continuing to work with the Government on a 30‑day readiness plan against the Ebola virus in all provinces in the country. The first phase of implementation will prioritize the six provinces at the highest risk. The main objective is to ensure that these provinces can mitigate, rapidly detect, investigate and effectively respond to a possible outbreak of the disease.
**Peacekeeping
And Ethiopia, Italy, Spain, Peru, Poland [and] the Gambia have now endorsed the Declaration of Shared Commitments on Peacekeeping Operations, which we talked to you about a… few days ago. As we previously announced, France, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Pakistan have already endorsed this Declaration.
The Secretary-General sent the Declaration to Member States, as well as international and regional organizations, for their endorsements on 16 August. He has requested that Member States convoy their endorsements by 14 September, ahead of the Heads of State and Government Event on Action for Peacekeeping on 25 September during the General Assembly.
**Senior Personnel Appointment
Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Dennis Gyllensporre of Sweden as Force Commander for the UN Multidimensional [Integrated] Stabilization Mission in Mali, otherwise known as MINUSMA. Lieutenant General Gyllensporre succeeds Major General Jean‑Paul Deconinck of Belgium, who will complete his assignment on 2 October. The Secretary‑General is grateful for his exemplary service and leadership of MINUSMA. As the Chief of the Swedish Defence Staff and Head of Special Forces since November 2014, Lieutenant General Gyllensporre has had a long and distinguished career since joining the Swedish Army in 1983. More on that is in a press release. Halas. Maggie.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thanks, Stéph. The Nicaraguan Government has expelled the Office of Human Rights staffers there, given them until the end of the day, I think, to get out. Are you going to comply? How many staffers are in that office?
Spokesman: We’re checking. I just saw those press reports. We’re checking with our, with our human rights colleagues. We hope to have an update. Yes, ma’am.
Question: How many people are in that office? How many people will be affected?
Spokesman: No, I will… I will check.
Correspondent: Okay.
Spokesman: Okay. Yes, Masood.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. I would like to know about this result of the SRSG [Special Representative of the Secretary‑General], he will go in Idlib to Syria to vacate the civilians?
Spokesman: So I didn’t understand the first part of the question.
Question: When is the SRSG, this is my question. When is he going to go to Idlib in Syria to, what do you call, vacate…?
Spokesman: What Mr. de Mistura was saying is that he would do whatever it takes to help avert a humanitarian crisis, and it was a, that’s the vein in which he, he said it. I have no, those discussions on how to best protect civilians and what we can do on the UN side are ongoing, but obviously, it is in the hands of the parties to ensure that there are, that all civilians are protected, that civilian infrastructure is protected.
Question: So what… my question is what are the constraints for him at this point in time, that he’s unable to go right now?
Spokesman: It’s not that he’s unable to go. What, what he was saying was trying to bring attention to the issue and said he would do whatever, whatever it takes, and those discussions are ongoing. Edie.
Question: As a follow‑up on Nicaragua, when you get the numbers, would you also please put out some kind of a reaction statement?
Spokesman: Yes. Maria.
Correspondent: Yeah, okay. Stéphane… sorry?
Spokesman: Okay. Yes, Masood. Go ahead.
Correspondent: Okay. I should go, okay. I thought you said… I just want to know any reaction from the Secretary‑General about the arrest of Indian human rights activists and writers, intellectuals, yesterday by [inaudible] and condemnation from India’s own human rights organization and so forth?
Spokesman: I have nothing on, we’re obviously taking a look at it, but I have nothing right at this point.
Question: Do you know what these…?
Spokesman: I… as I said, I have no, I have no language on that at this… at this moment. Yes, madam. Sorry, young lady behind you. Your, your microphone, please.
Question: Hi, I’m from iCast News and my question is about, do you have any comments about Argentina economic collapse that happened yesterday and its consequence in the neighbouring country?
Spokesman: No, I think that’s an issue more directed, in terms of the UN system, to the International Monetary Fund. Yes, sir. And then, go ahead, go ahead.
Question: Human rights security, the Human Rights Council report on Yemen spoke of war crimes committed by all parties. Now, will the Security Council of the UN refer any of the parties involved to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court?
Spokesman: That’s, obviously, that’s up to Security Council to, to take those own decisions. That’s a question you need to ask Council members. You know, for the Secretary‑General the issue of accountability in all these conflicts is, is a very important one, very much high on the list.
Correspondent: Follow‑up, please.
Spokesman: Yes. Go ahead.
Question: Is the Secretary‑General aware of any talks at the moment to reach a ceasefire in Yemen?
Spokesman: Well, there are discussions going on that are being led by his Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths. As you know, he has extended invitations to the Government of Yemen, to the representatives of the, of the Houthis to be in Geneva in early September, as well as women’s groups. We have to make, I think it’s very important for Mr. Griffiths that the voice of, of women be included in the peace, in any peace discussions, any discussions on, on the cessation of hostilities. Thank you for your patience.
Question: The head of self‑proclaimed Donetsk Republic was, Alexander Zakharchenko was killed today, so do you have any comments on that? And do you think it underlines the need of sending UN mission to Ukraine?
Spokesman: We have no, you know, we’ve, I’ve just seen the press reports in the last half hour. We don’t have any confirmation. Obviously, as a matter of principle, the sending of peacekeepers is a decision that is in the hands of Security Council. Yes.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The armed groups of Central African Republic have united to have negotiations with the Government and asking the Russian Government to help them in the negotiations, so does the UN have any comment on this?
Spokesman: I think this is something that our colleagues in the peacekeeping Mission on the ground are following closely and I understand they’re in touch with the Russians on this, on this issue. Edie, and then Maggie.
Question: Thanks, Stéph. Late yesterday, the Syrian Ambassador came to speak to journalists outside the Security Council and was critical of the Secretary‑General’s comments on Idlib, saying that, in their eyes, the comments were biased toward the position of the US, France and the UK. What’s your reaction?
Spokesman: No, I mean, we stand by what the, the Secretary‑General said, and I know the Ambassador… the Ambassador came to see, to see me, as well. I think the, the issue on, on the issue of chemical weapons, it was, this was not a statement that was aimed at any, any one party and any one country. It was a reaffirmation of a basic principle: anywhere, any time, in any country, in any conflict, the use of chemical weapons is prohibited. That was the Secretary‑General’s point. It was not aimed in any way at one party or group of parties. The Secretary‑General’s aim is to put an end to this conflict and to find a peaceful solution for the Syrian people in the future. Maggie.
Question: Stéph, it’s been basically a work week since the fact‑finding mission on Myanmar’s report came out, and in it, critical of the UN for its own failures, but I’ve not seen any sort of reaction or statement or anything. We’ve asked the SG. He didn’t reply to us.
Spokesman: You know, I think this is the report that the Secretariat is taking very seriously, that all parts of the UN should take very seriously. We look forward to the presentation of the report to the Human Rights Council in, in September. I think the, the UN, through its various representatives over the last few years in, in Myanmar, have always spoken I think very loudly and clearly in defence of human rights, in defence of the rights of, of all minorities in, in Myanmar and have also been working, as the UN is mandated to do, on all sorts of development and other issues with the, with the Government of Myanmar, but I think our, as I said, through the years and, and all the representatives who have been there have been very consistent in their defence of human rights.
Question: But on the specific recommendation about, that the UN should have some sort of internal review, will… is it… does the Secretariat accept that recommendation and will you be doing it?
Spokesman: We’ve, we’ve read the report and we’re continuing to study it and we may have something, I mean, that’s, at this point, that’s where we are. Yes, Masood.
Question: Stéphane, sorry. Thank you. Do you have any update on this… Myanmar Government’s refusal to allow, what do you call, United Nations special rapporteur investigation team, in to investigate the continued, what do you call…?
Spokesman: As, as a matter of principle, it is important that all Member States cooperate with the human rights mechanisms in the United Nations system. With that, I wish you all a very pleasant long and peaceful weekend.