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.

Good afternoon.  Happy Tuesday and welcome to all of you watching on the webcast.

**Arms Trade Treaty

I will start with a statement from the Secretary‑General on the Arms Trade Treaty, in the Secretary‑General’s own name:

“Tomorrow, 24 December 2014, the Arms Trade Treaty will enter into force.

“This marks the opening of a new chapter in our collective efforts to bring responsibility, accountability and transparency to the global arms trade.  From now on, the States parties to this important Treaty will have a legal obligation to apply the highest common standards to their international transfers of weapons and ammunition.

“The speed with which the Arms Trade Treaty came into force — less than two years since its historic adoption by the United Nations General Assembly — is testimony to the commitment of States, international organizations and civil society to stop irresponsible arms transfers.  Ultimately, it attests to our collective determination to reduce [human] suffering by preventing the transfer or diversion of weapons to areas afflicted by armed conflict and violence and to warlords, human rights abusers, terrorists and criminal organizations.

“I am encouraged by the multitude of initiatives and activities that have already been undertaken by various entities to assist in the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty.  The United Nations will continue to work in partnership with States, regional organizations and civil society to ensure that all States parties will have the capacity to fully comply with the provisions of the Treaty.  The multi-donor United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation, otherwise known as UNSCAR, has proven to be an effective tool to that end.

“It is also critical that we continue to promote universal participation in the Arms Trade Treaty, by encouraging all States, particularly major arms exporters and importers, to join this Treaty.  With this in mind, I call on those States who have not yet done so, to accede to it without delay.”

And in a separate statement, the High Commissioner for Human Rights also hailed tomorrow’s entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty.

**Libya

Right here, the Security Council this morning held consultations on Libya, during which the Secretary‑General’s Special Representative, Bernadino León, updated Council members on the situation on the ground, including his mediation efforts, via video conference from Tunis.

Also on Libya, a new report by the UN Support Mission in that country (UNSMIL) and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) says that persistent fighting between armed groups in western, eastern and southern Libya has killed hundreds of people and caused mass displacement across the country.

In Benghazi alone, since the fighting escalated in mid-October, 450 people have reportedly been killed and more than 15,000 families have been displaced.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, has warned all the parties involved that grave abuses of international human rights and international humanitarian law are criminally liable, including before the International Criminal Court which is investigating the situation in Libya.

On the humanitarian front, our colleagues at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) say that despite the current security and operational challenges, aid organizations continue to respond to people in need.  UNHCR and its partners have delivered essential relief supplies, such as sleeping mats and mattresses, to more than 1,500 families in Libya in recent days and are planning to reach some 87,000 people over the next six months.

**Iraq

And from Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UN have called for an additional $152[.2] million to meet the basic needs of close to one million displaced Iraqis across the region until March 2015.

According to local authorities and humanitarian partners, close to half of Iraq’s 2.1 million displaced people are now in the region.  As people continue to flee ongoing violence, some 946,000 Iraqis have sought refuge in the region since January.

The appeal for the region released today is part of the revised $2.23 billion Iraq Strategic Response Plan (SRP) launched in October, which aims to address the protection and humanitarian needs of nearly 5.2 million Iraqis across the country through 2015.  And as of today, the SRP faces a funding gap of $1.5 billion.

And I’m also expecting a statement on Tunisia, which I believe my office will bring [to] me in a few minutes.

**Gaza

From Gaza, the UN’s Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict, and that is the one, as you will recall, the Commission was set up by the Human Rights Council in July.

In a statement issued from Geneva, it said today that it has repeatedly sought the Israeli Government’s cooperation for access so that it can meet victims and relevant authorities.

In the absence of a response from Israel, the Commission said that the Egyptian Government has indicated it is ready to facilitate its travel to Gaza as soon as the security situation permits.

In the meantime, the Commission of Inquiry is in the process of interviewing witnesses and victims in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory using technology.

**Central African Republic

On the Central African Republic, following what we told you yesterday about the situation in Yaloke in the Central African Republic, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said today it was concerned by the deteriorating situation for Muslims in the Peuhl ethnic minority there.

UNHCR says that despite the presence of international forces, the group at Yaloke is still subject to recurrent threats, verbal and physical aggression, and looting by anti-balaka militias.  Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed along with help in relocating them to safer places, either inside the Central African Republic or to neighbouring countries.

The agency adds that, across the country, more than 36,000 people remain trapped in seven enclaves — and that’s the PK5 neighborhood in Bangui, and in the towns of Boda, Yaloke, Carnot, Berberati, Bouar and Dekoa.

UNHCR has access to these populations and has conducted several missions to register their intentions.  Some have told the agency that they wanted to seek asylum in neighbouring countries, some would like to relocate to safer areas within the Central African Republic and some of them wished to stay.

**Tunisia

And as promised, here’s the statement on Tunisia.  See how things work here…

Now I have a statement attributable to the Spokesman on the presidential elections in Tunisia. 

“The Secretary‑General commends the Tunisian people on the successful holding of the second round of democratic presidential elections on 21 December and congratulates Mr. Beji Caid Essebsi on his election.  This historic event is a critical step in the country's transition and a clear demonstration of the people's desire for accountability and representative government.  The Secretary‑General expresses the hope that the Tunisian people and their newly elected authorities will continue to embrace the spirit of inclusiveness that has guided the transition up to this moment.

“The Secretary-General reiterates the availability of the United Nations to continue supporting the Tunisian authorities as they tackle the challenges the country is facing and pursue the process of democratic consolidation and economic development.

“The Secretary‑General also congratulates the Tunisian electoral authorities for their continued efforts in finalizing the process.”

**Liberia

And a note on Liberia.  The UN peacekeeper from Liberia (UNMIL) [United Nations Mission in Liberia] who tested positive for Ebola virus disease, and who was evacuated to the Netherlands on 6 December, has now recovered.  The Nigerian peacekeeper has returned to the mission area yesterday evening and will resume duties while receiving psychological counselling and close monitoring.

**Banana Disease

And one more note from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says today that a global effort is needed to prevent the rapid spread of the deadly Fusarium [wilt] disease that hits bananas.

Plant scientists have been warning for several years that the world's most popular banana variety, the Cavendish, has fallen victim to a new strain of the fungus, causing wilting and mass plant die-offs.

The Organization stresses that bananas are the world's most consumed and exported fruit.  With 85 per cent of all bananas being produced for domestic consumption, it warns of a great impact of this disease on food security and livelihoods in developing countries.

And the FAO and international experts are working on a global framework to deal with the issue.

**Security Incident

And an answer to question you asked yesterday, Lou, on a security incident on Friday.  Spoke to our security colleagues who say there is a long-standing organizational policy that does not permit visitors to come in wearing political messages, display banners or distribute leaflets outside of a planned event and with proper authorization.  In this case, the security officer acted properly in accordance with regulations.

Right, excellent.  On that note, yes?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Sure, I wanted to ask about commissions of inquiry.  Two questions.  One, the Commission of Inquiry on the Conflict in Gaza in 2014 put out a notice today saying that they've gotten no response or I guess cooperation from Israel and people can submit by e-mail.  I wanted to know, has the Secretary‑General… what can you say about the failure to respond to this UN…?

Spokesman:  I just read…

Correspondent:  Okay.

Spokesman:  I just read that.

Correspondent:  Okay.  Thanks.

Spokesman:  States have a responsibility to cooperate with the… with these commissions.

Question:  What I wanted to do was go back to the Sri Lanka one because they totally didn't cooperate.  And now the President, Rajapaksa, has reiterated as part of his campaign for the snap election that he will not participate with outsiders.  So I wanted to know what… I don't know.  What repercussions?  What, what do you believe about that?  And what do you believe about the way that the alleged war crimes are being used in the electoral presidential election currently underheld… underway?

Spokesman:  That's a lot of questions intertwined.  I think in terms of… generally, the Member States have a duty to cooperate.  On Sri Lanka, the Secretary‑General, as you know, has always encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to comprehensively address the post-war agenda and the Secretary‑General has also echoed the calls made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate with the ongoing human rights investigation mandated by the Human Rights Council.  Lou, and then Olga.

Question:  Thanks.  And thanks for getting back to me about the question I asked.  I just had a follow-up.  Wondering, since, you know, it's more a statement of fact, the phrase "black lives matter," the sentence, I'm just wondering, you know, how this is construed as a political message in the sense that you do see things like “AIDS kills”, etc., around, inside the UN — also similar statements of fact and associated with UN campaigns, etc.  Wondering, you know, how…?

Spokesman:  I… no one is disputing it is a statement, that that sentence is a statement of fact.  I think the Secretary‑General has spoken out on the two incidents that led to the campaign, and I think he's been clear about it.  I think there is a difference between those types of political statements, and more humanitarian statements are ones having to do with diseases or development of humanitarian causes.  I think it is about keeping some sort of… avoiding, let's say, demonstrations from many different sides in this building, which is a Member State… Member State-run organization.  It's a policy that's in place, and again, I think the officer acted accordingly.  Olga?

Question:  Thanks, Stéphane.  My question is on Ukraine.  The Ukrainian parliament endorsed a law cancelling the “non-aligned” status of the country so it could mean that Ukraine starts its course to NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization].  How do you think it will stabilize the situation in the region, in the long term and short term, or it's a threat because…?

Spokesman:  I think, looking at the vote, just at the vote itself, I don't want to predict what will happen or may not happen.  I think the Secretary‑General notes that Ukraine, just like any other UN Member State, has the sovereign right to decide of its… on its own future.

Question:  But how will that help?  I mean, the settlement in the country?

Spokesman:  I think states have sovereign rights to decide, the elected parliament has a sovereign right to decide.  That does not contradict the Secretary‑General's position that all parties involved in this current conflict need to redouble their efforts and recommit to the protocols and agreements already signed and find a peaceful way forward.

Question:  I have a question.  Regarding the dialogue today in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Hariri, do you have a statement on that?

Spokesman:  I do not, sorry.  Abdelhamid, and then Stefano and then Ann.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  My first question is about Mr. León, if he indicated that he's still continuing his efforts to organize Ghadames II among the warring parties in Libya and if he made any success on that.

Spokesman: I think the efforts to continue to… for political dialogue are continuing.

Question:  But he didn't define a date?

Spokesman:  That's where we are, yep.

Question:  Okay.  And my second question, if you recall on December 10, a Palestinian minister was killed.  And there were four or five statements by the Special Envoy to the Middle East peace efforts, which is Mr. Serry, the Secretary‑General himself, the Security Council, and I think the President of the General Assembly.  They all called for impartial transparent inquiry in the killing of Mr. Ziad Abu Ein.  Any follow-up to that?

Spokesman:  No, I will ask our colleagues at UNSCO [Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories] if they received any follow up.  Stefano, and then Ann.

Question:  It is, we just had a few days ago a delegation of the Christian clerics here from Syria.  And the question about ISIS, they were… you know, if they… if it was… what did they think about the bombing on ISIS?  The response was, well, I think it had to do with arms that arrives there and they were talking about the arms trade.  And my question is, what does the Secretary‑General expect about this Treaty?  Will it be able to stop the armed treaty, especially in area like the Middle East?  Even the Pope, just yesterday, talked about arm trade in the Middle East.

Spokesman:  I think the Secretary‑General in the long statement I read out made his views clear.  Obviously, it will be up to, first, it's important that all States become party to the Treaty and it's important that States live up to the obligations under the Treaty.  But the arm… you know, the arms trade, the illegal arms trade is also linked to criminal enterprises, to drug trade, and member… it's important that Member States live up to their obligations in order to stem the flow of illegal arms around the world.  Ann?

Question:  Yes.  The Norwegian Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, reported recently that Sweden had complained that a Russian military plane had come very close to a Swedish civilian plane in the Baltic Sea region.  Does the UN Secretary‑General have anything to say on Russian non-stop provocations in Europe's Baltic Sea region, which includes countries such as Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania?

Spokesman:  We don't have any first-hand information on that particular incident.  Go.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  A follow up on ATT [Arms Trade Treaty].  Is there anything planned tomorrow, anything symbolic — a ceremony or…?

Spokesman:  That's a very good question.  I will find out if there is some sort of an ATT event.  My sense is that probably not, given the date, and if there had, I would have been told hopefully, but I will check, I will double-check for you.  Nizar, then Matthew, then Oleg.

Question:  Are the reports coming from Syria talk about hundreds of fighters who finish their training in Jordan, near Amman, across the border from Turkey and they are already stationed in areas close to Latakia and Idlib.  Does the, how does the United Nations view that?  And of course, these people have been trained in a country which claims that they fight terrorism.

Spokesman:  I don't have any first-hand account of the report that you state, but obviously, I think all Member States, especially those in the region, have a responsibility to halt the flow of fighters and exercise their influence positively.  Mr. Lee?

Question:  Sure, thanks a lot.  I want to ask about Haiti and also about this room.  So on Haiti, I wanted to know, there's a letter that's signed by 77 members of US Congress directed to the Secretary‑General saying, urging him so set up a settlement mechanism through which victims and their families may seek relief for the introduction of cholera to the country.  And I wanted to know, has it been received?  And what is the response?  The members include, you know, from New York: Carolyn Maloney, Yvette Clarke, John Conyers, John Lewis.  It's a pretty, heavy hitters.  It's on rep Conyers’ website so I think they sent it.

Spokesman:  I’m sure… I don't doubt the fact that they've sent it.  I just haven't seen it.

Question:  Okay.  And I wanted to ask you just to get to the bottom of it.  I appreciate it, yesterday you sent me an answer saying specifically, you know, saying that a particular question asked at the Secretary‑General’s press conference hadn't been given to you in advance, and I appreciate that.  But I wanted to know, I’d asked sort of about the briefing as a whole.  Is it possible to just get a yes or no, whether in the briefing that was held on 17 December, if any of the questions were provided in advance so that answers could be read?

Spokesman:  You know, it's, again, you had alluded to Pam's question.  I answered you.  Questions are not planted in this briefing and it is my job for the… my job to be prepared and to prepare the Secretary‑General.  I frankly, you know, I've been… I glided through high school, made it through college, never went to grad school, but I've been here 15 years, and I've studied all of you pretty closely, and I kind of know almost to a fault what question everybody's going to ask.  So…

Question:  Sure.  No, no, and I really appreciate that.  I want it to be clear.  The question I asked about, the one I specifically asked you sitting here and you standing there, was about the Transatlantic Slave Trade.  It was about question 7 out of 10 and it was in French.  So I’m sort of, I guess I'm thinking, maybe if it's in a different language, is that then appropriate to provide it in advance?  I just wonder.

Spokesman:  I really have nothing else to add to what I've just said to you.  On.  Oleg.  All right.  And then Nizar, because it's Christmas almost.

Correspondent:  Please don't study us.  This sounds creepy. [Laughter]

Spokesman:  I have no choice.  I have no choice.  It's my burden.  It's my burden.

Question:  So this one is no surprise, another one on Ukraine.  Tomorrow, there's apparently going to be a meeting in Minsk, this Minsk Contact group.  What's the position of the Secretary‑General?  Does he think that the Minsk Protocol and the Memorandum are enough for now, or he will push for some new agreements?  What is his thoughts on this?

Spokesman:  I think, you know, it's obviously, it's an important, it’s a very important start because it's something that at the time all parties agreed to, so it's an important… it's an important start, and I think all the parties need to build on it.  Nizar?

Question:  Yeah, on the attacks in France by a van overran the pedestrians. Obviously some of these people were associated, calling “Allahu akbar” when they attacked the pedestrians.  Here, Saudi Arabia has some responsibility in financing most of the imams and the mosques all over, in most of the, parts of the world, not just in France, also in Britain and here and Australia, everywhere.  What is expected from Saudi Arabia?  Do they, they need to change the curricula or the teachings they teach in these imams, to these imams, and create such books in order to at least counter terrorism in a way?

Spokesman:  Well, I think, I will answer your question without, what's the term I want to use?  You have, there are a lot of, there are a lot of statements in your question.  I'm not in a position to accept or deny them.  But what I will say is that the fight against terrorism is everybody's business.  Stefano, then Oleg, then Matthew, yeah.

Question:  Are you guessing the question I'm…? [Laughter]  That's why… no, on the warning, the UN warning on Libya and the human rights issue, isn't this contest also the end of Mare Nostrum operation included in this human rights in the sense to protect the people of Libya and the people there are in Libya will be… is a concern in this…?

Spokesman:  Well, I think the issue of Mare Nostrum, you were here for the briefing by Ambassador Swing, so I really have nothing to add to what he said, but obviously the conflict in Libya is having a knock-on effect on the displacement of populations, not only within Libya, but towards Europe, across the Mediterranean, with the deadly impact that we're seeing.  Oleg and then Matthew.

Question:  A follow-up on Minsk.  Does the Secretary‑General look forward to any sort of binding agreement, any outcome coming out from the Minsk…?

Spokesman:  I think he looks forward to a solution.  That's what he looks forward to.  Matthew?

Question:  Two questions.  One is predictable and one is not.  Let's see if you see which one is which.  Kind of seriously, on Ebola, I just want, given that the UNMEER [United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response] Mission, there's a controversy in Sierra Leone about a clinic using an un-tested heart drug which I'll try to — Amiodarone — and it’s led to the withdrawal of some foreign doctors, and I wanted to know what is the UN system, whether it's WHO or UNMEER, do they think it's a responsible use?  What is the status of…?

Spokesman:  Obviously, I think, and I risk speaking for WHO here, but the use of medicine should be only done when things have been thoroughly, thoroughly tested and approved through correct medical protocols.

Question:  Okay.  Thanks.  I wanted to ask whether, I know that yesterday you'd said that the Secretary‑General doesn't want to wade into the complex politics in New York, but given how it’s been said about the peaceful right to protest, I wanted to know if there's any comment on comments made by New York authorities yesterday that protests should essentially cease, at least until, you know, the burial of the officers are in some way… many people saw this as sort of putting a damper or even a threat on protests. How do you see this?

Spokesman:  Contrary to what…

Question:  Since you're here.

Spokesman:  No, since I'm here, why not…?

Question:  In New York, I mean.

Spokesman:  I think there’s a difference, it's… no one is banning any protest.

Question:  Right.

Spokesman:  And I think the right to peaceful protest continues everywhere in the world.

On that note, we will be here tomorrow.  We will then suspend the briefings until Monday, January 5th, right?  We'll be in the office this Friday and all of next week, and we'll brief if news warrants it and we'll post the highlights, but tomorrow will be the last briefing of the year.  Inshallah.  And with that note…