Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon, everyone.

**Secretary-General/African Union Summit

As he mentioned to you last week, on Thursday morning [13 February], the Secretary-General will arrive in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, to take part in the thirty-eighth African Union Summit.    While there, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the leadership of the African Union Commission, Ethiopian authorities as well as Heads of State and Government from the continent.

On Friday, he is also scheduled to take part in meetings of the AU Peace and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, concerning the situations in Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On Saturday morning, the Secretary-General will attend the opening session of the African Union Summit.  He will deliver remarks, during which he will reaffirm that the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union has never been stronger.

He is also expected to reiterate his calls for reforms of the international financial architecture, as well as for permanent representation of African countries at the Security Council.  On Saturday, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to hold a press conference.  

**Secretary-General/France

Before leaving Paris for Addis Ababa to attend the African Union summit, the Secretary-General visited the headquarters of Reporters Sans Frontières, where he met with its Director General, Thibaut Bruttin.

Addressing the staff, the Secretary-General said that organizations like RSF are on the front line in the common fight for truth against fiction, for science against conspiracy, and for the fight against impunity when journalists face violence and even death. 

The Secretary-General said the struggle to defend freedom of the press and the journalists themselves is essential to preserve our democracies.

**Yemen

The Secretary-General strongly condemned the death in detention on 10 February of a World Food Programme (WFP) colleague who had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities since 23 January.

The circumstances surrounding this deplorable tragedy remain unclear, and the United Nations is urgently seeking explanations from the Houthi de facto authorities.  The Secretary-General has called for an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.

In his statement, he said that the continued arbitrary detention of dozens of personnel from the United Nations, national and international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions is unacceptable.  He renewed his call for their immediate and unconditional release.

**Namibia

And yesterday, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General joined the people of Namibia in mourning the passing of His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma.

As President of Namibia, Dr. Nujoma demonstrated steadfast leadership in the face of immense challenges, leaving an indelible mark on his country, Africa and the world.  The full statement is online.

**Security Council/Syria

This morning, the Security Council held an open briefing on Syria.  Speaking by video conference, Special Envoy Geir Pedersen updated Council members on where things stand on the political transition in Syria.

He noted the official announcement today by the caretaker authorities of the establishment of the preparatory committee for the national dialogue conference.

He added that the caretaker authorities have so far committed to consulting closely with him on all steps of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition.  His mission, he said, stands ready to offer counsel and support.

For her part, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, said that the immense humanitarian crisis is affecting more than 70 per cent of the population in Syria.

Fighting in and around Menbij, in eastern Aleppo, has displaced more than 25,000 people.  Further east, hostilities have continued in Ar-Raqqa and Al-Hasakeh Governorates. Despite that, she stressed that we and our humanitarian partners are working to deliver critical assistance while adapting our systems to the shifting context in Syria.

Meanwhile, we and our partners are appealing for $1.2 billion to reach 6.7 million people through March of this year.

**Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that in the first two weeks of the ceasefire, the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, reached 1.2 million people with food.

The agency opened 37 new shelters for people returning to the north — providing tents, blankets, plastic sheeting and warm winter clothing. UNRWA has repaired water wells and provided water and waste disposal services to nearly half a million people in and around its shelters.  And as of last week, UNRWA was hosting about 120,000 people in 120 shelters, including more than three dozen that opened since the ceasefire.

Overall, at least 644,000 people across Gaza have received shelter assistance since the ceasefire came into effect — including tents, sealing-off materials and tarpaulins — from our partners.

Meanwhile, healthcare partners have been relocating medical facilities to accommodate families on the move.  They have also established mobile clinics and new medical points and supported the expansion or re-activation of services at existing facilities.

Since the ceasefire took effect, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been able to bring in supplies for 1.6 million people. WHO has also expanded its operations and pre-positioned supplies at health facilities.  In a media briefing today, Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that since the ceasefire, WHO has supported the medical evacuation of 414 patients requiring treatment outside Gaza, alongside 588 companions.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and its partners are providing more medicines, treatments, outpatient visits and services — and they are distributing more infant warmers, postpartum kits and dignity kits.  Last week, our partners established a new women’s shelter in Gaza city to address the risks of gender-based violence.  It is run by a solar power system to ensure uninterrupted services.

Meanwhile, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) has reached more than 10,000 children under the age of two since the ceasefire with ready-to-use complementary foods.

OCHA stresses that the ceasefire must hold — noting how crucial it is to sustain the humanitarian scale-up in Gaza.

And turning to the West Bank, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, today visited Balata refugee camp in Nablus.  He met with students whose access to education has been disrupted by Israeli operations.  In a video message from Balata, Mr. Hadi expressed his commitment to supporting the education sector in the West Bank and in Gaza.

**Democratic Republic of Congo

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, our peacekeeping colleagues (MONUSCO) tell us the situation in the Kivus remains tense. Our peacekeeping mission’s contractors were denied access to Goma to deliver food to the mission’s bases by members of the M23 armed group.

Additionally, the Mission also reports continued obstruction by the M23 for the safe disposal of unexploded ordnance — including one that poses a direct threat to both peacekeepers and unarmed Congolese Armed Forces personnel within MONUSCO premises.

The UN Mission calls on the M23 to allow the unimpeded movement of UN personnel and to fully respect established humanitarian corridors.

Meanwhile, we can confirm that the remains of 18 South African soldiers — two MONUSCO peacekeepers and 16 Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo soldiers — have been repatriated to their home country this morning.  The remains of our Uruguayan peacekeeper colleague who was killed in the same circumstances left yesterday from Kampala to Uruguay.

And the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that clashes in South Kivu continue, leading to more displacement. Local partners reported fighting early this morning in Ihusi locality about 70 kilometres north of Bukavu, with people fleeing to nearby towns and islands in Lake Kivu.

Transportation to some of these areas are strained due to the conflict, raising challenges for partners to move food and other goods.

Meanwhile, in North Kivu, we and our humanitarian partners are continuing assessments and providing emergency relief as security allows.

Humanitarian partners are also working with the national electricity company to restore the power supply between Goma and Bukavu.

In Ituri province, local authorities report that attacks since 8 February killed at least 59 civilians in Djugu.  Many others are wounded or missing.  OCHA reiterates that all parties must protect civilians and allow access to the essential services they need to survive.

**Bangladesh

In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Office today released a report which says that Bangladesh’s former government, security and intelligence services, as well as violent elements associated with the Awami League party, systematically engaged in a range of serious human rights violations during last year’s student-led protests.

The report also found an official policy to attack and repress anti-Government protesters, raising concerns as to crimes against humanity requiring urgent further criminal investigation.

The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, said that the brutal response was a calculated and well-coordinated strategy by the former government to hold onto power in the face of mass opposition.

The report estimates that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between 1 July and 15 August of last year, and thousands were injured, the vast majority of whom were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces.  Of these, the report indicates that as many as 12 to 13 per cent of those killed were children.

You can read the full report online.

**International Day

Today is the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism.  In a post, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, says that preventing violent extremism requires addressing its root causes — which are inequality and injustice.  On this International Day, she says, let’s commit to fostering inclusion, development, and human rights to build a future free from extremism and terrorism.

In a video message, the Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, said that prevention of violent extremism requires long-term multifaceted solutions that are rooted in cooperation across all sectors, from Governments to international and regional organizations, and from civil society to educators, religious leaders, and the private sector.

**Guest

Tomorrow, our guest will be the Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira.  He will join us virtually to brief on his current visit to the Middle East.

**Financial Contribution

And last, does anyone like hazelnuts?

Did you know that around 70 per cent of the world’s hazelnuts come from this nation’s Black Sea region?  Which country are we talking about?  [Response from the crowd:  “Türkiye!”]  Yes, Türkiye!  We thank Ankara for its payment and for making Türkiye the fifty-second Member State to pay its dues.

**Questions and Answers

Deputy Spokesman: If you have a question, you can ask it now.  Not yet? Okay.  Then Linda. but you get a chance to ask a question, because you did get this right.

Linda?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  I'd just like to ask you a couple of questions about the Houthis and the status. I know you just mentioned the latest situation with one of the detainees.  But are there some something like 60 UN or international staff, NGOs that are being detained by the Houthis?  The humanitarian assistant

Deputy Spokesman: In terms of UN personnel, there's 24 who are being held.  I can't speak for all international NGOs and international personnel, but there are 24 UN personnel, and we ask for all of them to be released.

Question:  Okay.  And this seems like a high number.  I mean, how standard is this for a group in this case, you know?

Deputy Spokesman: Obviously over the years…

Question:  But I mean, at this current time.

Deputy Spokesman: Yeah.  You've been around enough to know that different countries and different authorities have sometimes seized UN personnel.  And that is, of course, contrary to international law wherever it happens.  This has been going on for several years now.  In each of the last four years, basically, we've had people detained and it is egregious in our eyes.

Question:  And is…  Can the US, can the Security Council, does the Secretary-General think the Security Council should do something?  And then also, apropos of the Houthis, how much of this aid is being taken by the Houthis?  I mean, if they're seizing people, and are they taking a good part of the aid?  Does the UN know?

Deputy Spokesman: We believe our aid is going where it needs to go.  Obviously, as I announced on Monday in one area, the governorate of Sa’ada, where we are putting a pause on aid, until we can ensure that the safety and security of staff will be guaranteed.

Yes, Pam?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said today that many Syrians have expressed alarm about senior members of the new military being from foreign Governments. Can you specify a little bit about that?  And he also said some individuals with violation history — can you specify what Governments he's talking about?  And then I have a second on Syria.

Deputy Spokesman:  I think he said it as much as he wants to. There's a report from the Secretary-General to the Security Council that details…

Question:  Foreign fighters.

Deputy Spokesman: As to the question of foreign fighters. But, beyond that, I would just refer you to the text of what he said.

Question:  Okay. And the second part is I've asked this before, but there are reports from Homs and Hama of alleged ethnic cleansing against the Alawites.  Has he…  he didn't say anything about it.  Have you gotten any reports?  Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman: Obviously, we would be concerned against any targeted attacks against any groups.

Question:  Sorry, and that includes also Christians?

Deputy Spokesman: That includes Christians, Alawites, Druze — all of the various groups that are included in Syrian society.  So we're going to continue monitoring the situation to make sure that those groups are protected.

Question:  And nothing else?  [inaudible]

Deputy Spokesman: There have been some small-scale incidents of concern, but there's but in terms of questions of large-scale problems, obviously, we haven't reported it yet.  But if something happens, we would.

Tony?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  President [Donald] Trump just announced on social media that he and President [Vladimir] Putin of Russia have agreed to begin negotiations on ending Russia-Ukraine war.  First of all, would you please share, like, a comment or a reaction to this announcement?

Deputy Spokesman: Certainly, what we would appreciate is any efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine that would involve the Russian and Ukrainian sides.  And so, obviously, if both of them are willing to be involved in a process, that would be a welcome development.

Question:  And, just to follow up, like, the UN will be part of this negotiations, will take part of it?

Deputy Spokesman: We would have to see what role we would have to play.  Obviously, as we've said many times over the last three years, the United Nations is willing to play a good offices role if asked to by the parties.  Yes, please?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  Lu Tse from CCTV.  Yesterday, US President Donald Trump met with Jordan King Abdullah in White House.  And during the meeting, President Donald Trump doubles down the ownership of United States of Gaza.  He said that United States don't need to buy Gaza.  United States will directly take over and have the authority to own Gaza.  And even one day earlier, President Trump said explicitly that Palestinians will not have the right to return to Gaza.  So what's the comments or reactions from the Secretary-General on that?

Deputy Spokesman: The Secretary-General has already made clear his opposition to any forcible transfer of population, including in Gaza.  But beyond that, as you know, and as the UN has made clear for decades now, the status of the Palestinian territories is something to be negotiated between Palestinians and Israelis.

Yes.  Sinan now.

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  I have a couple of questions if you can stay with me, if you don't mind.  The first question is, what is the Secretary-General's perspective on the process of drafting Syria's constitution?

Deputy Spokesman: It’s as Geir Pedersen has discussed. He has been working with the parties to make sure that you can have consultations on the constitution, and he will is going to continue with that effort.

Question:  And the second question is, what is the Secretary-General's view on the four-year election period that has been set?  Does the UN believe this period is too long?  I know I asked this question before, but it's been a while.

Deputy Spokesman: Well, this is something that Mr. Pedersen himself is dealing with the parties on.  And I think, as I pointed out to you, he stands ready to offer counsel and support with the caretaker authorities to make sure that there will be a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition process.

Question:  The last one, Mr. Geir Pedersen this morning was saying he expects concrete actions from the transitional government.  Can you elaborate that a little bit — what kind of concrete actions he expects?

Deputy Spokesman:  I would just refer you to what he's been saying in the Council itself.  Both he and the members of the Security Council have been talking about the steps that they believe are necessary for this transitional government on the way ahead. And we certainly hope that the transitional government is listening to what's happening in the Council today. Okay.  Now, on the screens, let's turn to Dezhi.

Question:  Yes.  Farhan, can you hear me?

Deputy Spokesman: Yes.

Question:  I'm surprised because all the questions I have, nobody has asked. Follow-up with Sinan's question. Has Geir Pedersen talked with Kurdish people in Syria? I asked this question couple of weeks ago.  Is that still the case that there's no contact between Geir Peterson and Kurdish people?

Deputy Spokesman: He's reaching out to all of the parties; obviously, because of the significant change in leadership in Damascus over the past two months, he's been concentrating on talks with the caretaker authorities.  But he has, as you know, in past years as well been in touch, with entities representing the Kurds, and he will continue to do that.

Question:  Secondly, UNRWA, how's the…  I just heard how UNWA conducted their operations also in still in Gaza.  Is there any, let's say, changes of operations of UNRWA, after the two bills put in implementation of Israel?

Deputy Spokesman: There are changes.  As you know, from the bills, UNRWA is unable to have official contacts with the Israeli Government, and that is affecting their work. But they're going about their work. And as you can see, they've done a huge amount of work on the ground since the ceasefire took effect.

Question:  Okay.  On Ukraine, the US Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, said that to maintain Ukraine's 2014 borders is now an unrealistic objective.  What is the reaction from the UN on this opinion?

Deputy Spokesman: No.  I wouldn't have any comment on what this or that official says.  From our standpoint, what is needed is for Ukraine and Russia to be able to resolve their differences with each other, and we're supportive of that.  And as you know, we are supportive of all of the General Assembly resolutions on Ukraine, which have affirmed the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Question:  But that language doesn't really in line with the relevant resolutions and UN Charter, isn't it?

Deputy Spokesman: You can judge that for yourself, but where we stand is with the UN Charter and with the General Assembly resolutions.

Question:  Which leads to my last question.  Is there any new update on the contact between the Secretary-General and President Trump?

Deputy Spokesman: There's nothing to say about it for now.

Iftikhar?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  My question is about the human rights report on Bangladesh by the United Nations Human Rights Office that you read out.  The report holds former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been responsible for the deadly crackdown on the protesters last summer, calling it a war crime.  What are the next steps in this election [sic]?  Where does this report go, and what action that we can anticipate?

Deputy Spokesman: Well, certainly the report will be looked at by the Human Rights Council.  But beyond that, the report itself says that some of the crimes that they're detailing would require urgent further criminal investigation.  And so, of course, that would be a question for the judicial bodies in Bangladesh itself.

Question:  Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman: Okay.  Denis?

Question:  Hello, Farhan.  Can you hear me?

Deputy Spokesman: Yeah.

Question:  Thank you so much.  I have a follow-up question on the phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin.  So, the authorities from Russia and the United States haven't had the discussions and contacts for such a long time?  So I'm wondering if the UN welcomes and sees this as a positive development.  Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman: Given the importance of the United States and the Russian Federation, the UN welcomes any efforts to resolve issues through regular contact.  And so, of course, that is a positive thing.

Stefano?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  The Associated Press say that yesterday that journalists from the agency were not allowed in the Oval Office with all the others because the Administration say that, because AP doesn't use the name “Gulf of America”, then this will be the case. They are not allowed anymore in the room.  So what does Secretary-General think about these situations?

Deputy Spokesman: We stress the importance of freedom of the press and the importance of working with the press rather than denying them access.

Question:  Yeah.  But I'm sorry.  But about this, in particular, about this issue, about that, now it seems that the Trump Administration will punish any organization.  I guess that is not using, let's say, what will happen if President Trump says that the UN in the document has to use Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico?  Because if not, we'll not recognize those documents.

Deputy Spokesman:  I think that's a speculative question.  I'm not going to indulge in hypotheticals. The language we use is consistent. And with that, I wish you all a good afternoon.