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 and happy Wednesday.
**Ebola
The Secretary-General, just about an hour ago, addressed the General Assembly on the Ebola outbreak. He said that, today, we face a critical turning point as the pattern of the outbreak has changed, with a significant decline in the number of new cases in the three affected countries. However, he stressed that incidence rates rose again in Guinea and Sierra Leone in recent weeks.
The Secretary-General said that to get the situation further under control, the UN system, through UNMEER [United Nations Mission on Ebola Emergency Response], is mobilizing surge efforts to support national and local authorities. As the situation improves, he said that the time will come for critical functions to transition progressively and seamlessly from UNMEER to UN agencies, funds and programmes, while significant additional resources will be required by the UN system.
He appealed to Member States to stay engaged and sustain the work against Ebola, providing the resources needed to get to zero cases and to ensure that reconstruction and recovery can occur without delay. His full remarks are available in my office; and after this session of the General Assembly, Dr. David Nabarro, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola, will speak to you at the stakeout on the 2nd floor, and I will keep an eye on it to tell you when that starts.
**Middle East
Meanwhile, back in the Security Council chamber, Jeffrey Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council on the Middle East this morning. He warned that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to threaten further escalation, which could have damaging consequences for both parties and for the two-state solution. He said that the Secretary-General reiterates his call to both sides to refrain from taking unilateral steps or actions that may further aggravate current divisions.
Mr. Feltman said that the situation in Gaza has become increasingly worrisome six months after the conflict. He said that the combination of the failure to rectify the persistent governance and security issues and the slow pace of reconstruction has created an increasingly toxic environment. His statements are available in my office.
**Libya
At 3 p.m., this afternoon, the Security Council will meet again in an open session, followed by consultations, on Libya. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, is expected to brief the Council by video conference.
**Syria
As you’re aware, yesterday, Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, briefed the Security Council about the acceleration of military activities in northern Syria and near Aleppo. He informed them that the Government of Syria has indicated its willingness to halt all aerial bombing and artillery shelling for a period of six weeks in the city of Aleppo. That halt will begin on a date that will be announced in Damascus. Mr. de Mistura told the press that he plans, therefore, to proceed to Damascus and hopefully to Aleppo as soon as possible. He will also send a preparatory team to Aleppo.
**Afghanistan
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, otherwise known as UNAMA, said today that conflict-related deaths and injuries of Afghan civilians rose by 22 per cent in 2014 from the year before, with much of the rise being attributed to increased ground engagements between parties to the armed conflict. The Mission documented 10,548 civilian casualties in 2014, the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries recorded in a single year since 2009. Included in the toll were 3,699 civilian deaths, which itself was an increase by 25 per cent from 2013. Since 2009, more than 17,000 Afghan civilians have been killed and nearly 30,000 wounded in the conflict.
For the first time since 2009, more Afghan civilians were killed and wounded in ground engagements than by improvised explosive devices or any other tactic. The report found that civilian deaths and injuries from ground operations surged by 54 per cent, making them the leading cause of civilian casualties and the biggest killers of Afghan women and children in 2014. More details in UNAMA’s report.
**South Sudan
From South Sudan, the Head of the UN Mission in [South Sudan] (UNMISS), Ellen Margrethe Løj, met the country’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting and expressed her concerns following his remarks about shutting down operations of Radio Miraya — the UN radio operating in that country. Ms. Løj received assurances from the Minister that Radio Miraya broadcasts will continue according to UNMISS' mandate and as stipulated in the Status of Forces Agreement signed between the UN and the Government of South Sudan.
**Cape Verde
Our colleagues in Rome at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) tell us today that they will provide urgent assistance to Cape Verde, where food security and livelihoods are at risk following a sharp fall in crop production due to drought. The Organization will provide food crop seeds, animal feed and drip irrigation equipment to help thousands of people in the country.
Some 30,000 people need urgent assistance, with many of the most vulnerable households having lost all or a large part of their cereal crops in eight of the most affected islands in Cape Verde. The emergency intervention aims to assist more than 8,000 rural households which are most vulnerable to the impact of drought.
**Tanzania
A note from Tanzania, where our colleague Alvaro Rodriguez, the UN Resident Coordinator, today expressed the UN’s concern at the recent abductions of two young children with albinism in that country. He noted that, in December, the abduction of a child named Pendo with albinism left the country in shock. Despite the Government’s efforts, Pendo has not been found.
On Sunday, a one-year-old, Yohana Bahati, was abducted in Chato District in Geita Region of Tanzania. Mr. Rodriguez commended the Tanzanian Government for its efforts and the support it has provided the regions affected by these abductions. He encourages the national and regional authorities to enhance their efforts to ensure the protection of human rights and full adherence to the rule of law.
That's it for me. Mr. Lee?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Sure. Some other stuff, but I just wanted to ask a follow‑up. I'd asked about this Radio Miraya thing yesterday. And I just wonder, because, also, as part of the question, they've closed down other newspapers there. I want to know, in her meeting with the Minister for Information, who also talked about throwing the whole Mission out, she raised the issue of other media in the country being closed down by the Government.
Spokesman: This is what I have from the meeting. I don't have anything else to share with you, but obviously, our stance on the need for the press to operate freely continues and is unaltered.
Question: Just as a… I don't know if you will or not, but I want to, for the record, ask you: Can you confirm that Mr. Ján Kubiš is the Secretary‑General's nominee to replace Nickolay Mladenov in Iraq, as reported?
Spokesman: Matthew, you know the drill. No.
Question: He's not?
Spokesman: I cannot confirm.
Question: When will he?
Spokesman: When I announce it, I will confirm it. Yes, Madame?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Do you know when the new team will be sent to Syria? And to Aleppo?
Spokesman: Mr. de Mistura's team is working on it. As soon as we have some details, we'll share that with you. Yes, sir, Iftikhar?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. This is regarding high civilian casualties in Afghanistan: In the past you used to tell us that United Nations is involved in bringing about national reconciliation between Taliban and the national Government. Is that still going on?
Spokesman: I can give you an update as soon as I get one on the political discussions, but obviously, a big part of the Mission’s [mandate] is to work on reconciliation. And I failed in my duties today to flag the honour roll.
**Honour Roll
Netherlands brings to 37 the number of Member States that have paid their regular budget assessments in full. So as we say, “dank u wel” to our Dutch friends. Let's go back to your questions. Go?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On Syria, so one year has passed since this Geneva II, and today we see again this initiative by Mr. de Mistura, this attempt. Do you have any perspective of Geneva III on your horizon… the future?
Spokesman: I think… you know, Mr. de Mistura was very clear and sober in his assessment to the Security Council yesterday. We continue to see untold suffering by millions in Syria, by the millions who have been impacted and had to flee Syria. The freeze, the efforts to create that zone in Aleppo, is continuing. Mr. de Mistura, I think, flagged for you the Syrian Government's decision. He'll be going and following up on those discussions, and obviously, a political settlement continues to be the forefront of our efforts. Yes, in the back?
Question: Thank you. Yesterday, United States and Turkey already declared to agree in principle the Syrian rebels to training. And how will it affect Mr. de Mistura’s plan? Can you tell me?
Spokesman: Well, I think Mr.… our efforts continue on finding a political solution to the conflict. Mr. de Mistura will go ahead with his plan to follow up on the announcement made by the Syrian authorities about halting the fighting there… the attacks on Aleppo. He will go to Damascus and follow up on that. And obviously, as I said, our focus remains finding a peaceful solution. Signore Stefano?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Still on Syria: Does the Secretary‑General think that, ironically, the danger of ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham], the common danger, the common enemy, could facilitate to find a… finally way of… towards peace in the country?
Spokesman: I think the Secretary‑General's taking a very close look at the very fluid situation in Syria, the violence that we see on a daily basis and his drive is continuing to be to find a way to alleviate the suffering of the civilians and to find a political solution. Obviously, the situation every day in Syria gets more complicated and more complex. But, we continue our work, as we have. Olga and then we'll…
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. At the Cairo conference in October, donors decided to transfer to Gaza more than $5 billion, but according to Jeffrey Feltman’s briefing today, it's not fulfilled. Is it clear how much money has been already transferred?
Spokesman: Not enough is the answer. The World Bank, Norway and Palestine are following up on keeping tabs on exactly the amount of money that has been transferred. We can help you get in touch with the World Bank and get you those exact figures — basically, the amount of money that was pledged and what was actually received from the Cairo conference.
Question: Thank you. Has the Secretary‑General received any formal request of help from the Government of Libya, a letter or…?
Spokesman: Well, he is meeting with the Foreign Minister. He just met with him a little while ago. We'll get a readout, and we'll get a readout of that meeting and we'll let you know.
Question: How… do you know what time you'll get it?
Spokesman: The meeting was this morning at 10:30 a.m.
Question: No, what time we'll get the readout? In time for the first edition?
Spokesman: I would like to get it as soon as possible. I would have loved to have had it right now, but I don't, unfortunately. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. Speaking of letters, I wanted to ask… that… I asked about Bangladesh yesterday and there was some response. Now, it's reported there that the… it's been confirmed by the Government there that they received a letter from the Secretary‑General. They said they received it two days ago, but in other accounts, it was dated 30 January, and the Government there is saying they're asking the UN Resident Representative why it was lost in the mail for two weeks. But one, can you confirm the letter? Can you say a little bit what's… what you can, what's in it? And also is it true that it took two weeks for Ban Ki‑moon's letter to reach Sheikh Hasina?
Spokesman: I can check on the letter and see what we can tell you about the letter. The standard procedure for these letters is, if there was such a letter, is that the letter is transmitted through the Permanent Mission here and then the Permanent Mission transmits it back to capital.
Question: Right. And I want… they quote from the letter that the Secretary‑General is thanking Sheikh Hasina for the country's contributions for peacekeeping. Some people think it puts the UN kind of in a tough spot. Like, what's the balance between thanking for much-needed peacekeepers and also trying to hold somebody accountable for violence in the streets?
Spokesman: Well, I think you could do both, but I will look at the letter for you. Thank you, all.
Question: Could I ask?
Spokesman: Yeah, you can always ask.
Question: Okay. Great. I have actually a couple of more and I'll try to do them really fast. One is on DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo]. And I wanted to ask if something new has occurred. A spokesman for the Congolese Government, Lambert Mende, has said that MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] is free to do its own operation against FDLR [Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda]. He says that the Government has nothing against that. And I know that it's come up that, somehow, the UN, because of its human rights… stated human rights concerns is not going to work with the Government to go after the FDLR. But, if the Government there is essentially giving its consent, what am I missing? Why isn't the UN doing what was said it would do following 2 January?
Spokesman: I would… I would check with the Mission itself. I have nothing to say from here.
Question: And the other one; this might be a little bit too inside baseball for you, but it's a press freedom issue, so I wanted to ask it. And it has to do with… apparently, some part of the bullpen is going to be assigned to particular media. That's not what my question is about. What my question is about is, it was announced that: “Please note the Department of Safety and Security reserves the right to inspect the lockers at any time.” And since we're talking about journalists that are covering the UN, I wanted to know what safeguards are in place. I mean, could they search people's computers? What… it seems extraordinary to me, this statement.
Spokesman: They will not… I can tell you that I don't believe our colleagues in Department of Safety and Security will search anybody's computers. It's not in anybody's interest. And if there is a search in lockers which may be abandoned or for whatever other reason, there will be people from MALU [Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit] there, as well. Mr. Roth, you come in at the… like the last person at a wedding.
Question: I hope I'm never the one up at the wedding. Any comment… further comment on what the Iraqi Ambassador said yesterday about organ trafficking? I know the UN's point man there didn't have any positive proof. There are reports. Does the UN have any medical or other people who can corroborate what the Iraqi Ambassador said? Is it true?
Spokesman: No, we have… at this point, we're not in a position to corroborate what he says, but obviously, any source of illegal financing of groups such as ISIS or other extremist groups is extremely worrisome. Thank you.