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.
**Press Conferences
In a short while, I will be joined by Hassan Baage, the Director of the Assessment and Technical Assistance Office of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED); and he will be joined by officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The additional guests are Jim Marriott, Deputy Director, Aviation Security and Facilitation of the Air Transport Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organization, and Carolina Ramírez-Taborda, Global Director, Aviation Security and Facilitation, International Air Transport Association.
**Secretary-General’s Travels
The Secretary-General was in Kyrgyzstan today, where he attended the opening of the International Conference on the “Development of Parliamentarianism”. He then met with President [Almazbek] Atambaev. Speaking to reporters together, the Secretary-General said since his last visit to the country in 2010, a time of high tension, Kyrgyzstan has made great progress. He also stressed the pivotal role of civil society, independent media and human rights defenders. He also met with the Speaker of Parliament and with women members of Parliament.
The Secretary-General also visited the city of Osh, together with the Prime Minister. Speaking to reporters with the Prime Minister at a wreath-laying ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the tragic events in Kyrgyzstan, the Secretary-General acknowledged the efforts of the Kyrgyz authorities to tackle the many challenges they face. But foremost in his mind, he said, were his deepest feelings of regret and solidarity for the victims and their relatives, in particular women and children, still waiting for justice.
In Osh, he also met with civil society representatives and local authorities. The number of registered civil society organizations in this country runs into the thousands, he said. He added that this was a healthy sign, setting Kyrgyzstan apart, while attesting to the openness and democratic space of the country.
The Secretary-General arrived a short while ago in Uzbekistan, the next leg of his visit to Central Asia.
**Deputy Secretary-General’s Travels
Tomorrow, the Deputy Secretary-General will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, to represent the Secretary-General at the twenty-fifth Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit, which will take place on 14-15 June.
On Saturday, the Deputy Secretary-General will participate in the Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council. During his visit, he will meet with officials of the African Union Commission, as well as Heads of Delegations of Member States attending the Summit.
**Burundi
From Burundi, you will have seen that Said Djinnit left his work as facilitator for the dialogue in Burundi, but will remain Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region.
We will consult with leaders of the Great Lakes Region, the African Union Commission, the East African Community (EAC), as well as the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR), to see how best the United Nations can continue supporting international efforts to encourage political dialogue among Burundian stakeholders.
The United Nations believes this will be the subject of discussion at the ongoing African Union summit. We will have more clarity on the situation, including on the role of facilitator, after these consultations.
**Central Africa
Back here, the Security Council heard a briefing this morning by Abdoulaye Bathily, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa. Mr. Bathily stressed that the political and security situation in the subregion remained marked by pre-electoral tensions, worsening economic conditions and the activities of armed groups, such as Boko Haram and the Lord’s Resistance Army.
On the Central African Republic, he said that moving forward, it will be critical to capitalize on the momentum generated by the Bangui Forum and to mobilize the required resources.
On Boko Haram, he stressed that the threat remained for the Lake Chad Basin region, with a dire humanitarian situation also affecting hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Cameroon and Chad.
Insecurity and insufficient resources continue to strain the already stretched response capacities and while the fight against Boko Haram is not over, we must start looking ahead to the stabilization phase in order to secure the military gains, Mr. Bathily told the Council.
His full statement is available in my office.
**Kenya
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that starting next Monday, half a million refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma camps in Kenya will receive 30 per cent less food due to shortage of funds for relief operations.
The agency is reducing the size of rations as the only way to make its supplies last longer. It expects ration cuts to continue at least through September, unless new funds become available very quickly.
WFP is currently struggling to raise $39.4 million — that’s just $39.4 million — to cover shortfalls through January next year, of which $12.4 million is urgently required to avoid a critical food gap in August and September. If you think about it, it’s not much money that is actually needed.
The agency continues to appeal to the international community to support its efforts. Last year in November, WFP was forced to cut rations by half but new funding helped to reduce the size of the cut and eventually resume distribution of full rations.
**Middle East
Meanwhile, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, welcomes Egypt’s decision to open the Rafah crossing from 13 to 15 June in both directions, following consultations between President (Mahmoud) Abbas and the Egyptian authorities.
He hopes that the security conditions will allow for this decision to be extended and that Rafah can be open on a regular basis. The need for the full lifting of all closures remains. A sustainable solution to address the situation also requires the return of control of the crossings in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.
Mr. Mladenov said that a permanent end to the suffering of the Palestinian people can only be achieved through an end to occupation and realization of the two-State solution, in which Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian State.
**Kuwait
Our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs today welcome the announcement of an allocation of $200 million from Kuwait to help alleviate the suffering of people in Iraq.
Kuwait also announced a decision to allocate $100 million to help the people of Yemen.
The details about how the generous donations will be distributed are being discussed currently with Kuwait, but we thank our friends in Kuwait today.
**Pakistan
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, expressed deep regret today that Pakistan has executed more than 150 people, including juvenile offenders, since it cancelled its moratorium on the death penalty in the aftermath of the Peshawar school attack in December.
The High Commissioner said that the execution yesterday of Aftab Bahadur suggests a very troubling approach to the use of the death penalty in the country. Aftab Bahadur was only 15 when he was convicted of a murder 23 years ago, and his claims that he was tortured into confessing were not listened to.
High Commissioner Zeid said he was very disturbed that the response of the Pakistani authorities has been to execute just as many people in the six months that have passed since the massacre as died during the Peshawar attack.
Pakistan has gone from zero to 154 executions in just six months, making it the third most prolific executioner in the world, according to the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
**Venezuela
Yesterday, I was asked about a hunger strike of Venezuelan students in front of the Secretariat building.
Our colleagues from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights met with the students and the High Commissioner for Human Rights was then briefed on the reasons for their action.
The High Commissioner conveyed to the students that he is closely following the human rights situation in Venezuela and that he is seriously concerned about the legality and conditions of those who are being detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly.
The High Commissioner added that he intends to continue his advocacy for the protection and promotion of human rights in Venezuela.
**Yemen
I was also asked yesterday about a breakdown of civilian casualties in Yemen. I think it was Joe who asked, or maybe not but anyway, I can tell you that our Human Rights Office says that at least 1,037 civilians, including 130 women and 234 children, lost their lives in Yemen between 26 March and 20 May, while at least another 2,453 civilians have been wounded.
**Sport for Development and Peace
I was also asked by some of your colleagues about the Secretary-General’s position on the opening of the First European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, tomorrow.
I can say the Secretary-General’s position is that he welcomes the opening of the First European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, and commends the people and the Government of Azerbaijan for the organization of the Games and hopes that they will promote greater international and regional cooperation.
I think there were recent comments by Mr. [Wilfried] Lemke, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser [on Sport for Development and Peace] to German media. Just to say that they do not represent the exact views of the Secretary-General or the United Nations.
The Secretary-General trusts that they will not distract from the positive role that sports and youth can play in the promotion of peace and development around the world.
**Blood Donation
Sunday is World Blood Donor Day — and ahead of that day, the World Health Organization is calling for increased regular blood donations from voluntary, unpaid donors.
The need for blood and blood products is increasing every year and in many countries — particularly low- and middle-income countries — demand exceeds supply, and blood services find it hard to make sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
In 2012, almost half of the blood donations worldwide were collected in high-income countries, home to just 15 per cent of the world’s population. More details on the WHO’s website.
**Appointment
And a senior personnel appointment today: the Secretary-General is announcing today the appointment of Kelly T. Clements of the United States as Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees.
Ms. Clements will succeed T. Alexander Aleinikoff, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service and commitment to the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Most recently, Ms. Clements has served as United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration. More details are available in my office.
**Questions and Answers
And now I will turn to you, Masood. So you may repeat your question.
Question: Yes, sir. Just wanted to ask you about this leaked report, which is now saying United Nations peacekeepers were involved in sex in exchange for goods and services and so forth. I mean, Congo, Haiti and elsewhere. Do you have any comments on these reports now?
Spokesman: It’s… it continues to be a report that’s not officially out. We have not seen the last… the ultimate copy. I think it comes out on Monday. What I will say is that obviously any allegations of sexual violence, sexual abuse by peacekeepers is to be condemned and is not to be tolerated. And we would hope that anyone who is involved in this type of activity be fully prosecuted and investigated by the countries that have the authority over them.
The… to engage in sexual relations in exchange for food, for money, for any sort of material goes against all the United Nations’ rules. Obviously, we look forward to fully reading the OIOS (Office for Internal Oversight Services) report, a UN report in itself, which will be another tool with which the United Nations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, field service can help combat the issue of sexual abuse and sexual violence by peacekeepers.
Question: Yes. On this thing that you read out at the top of your briefing about Pakistan, has anybody from the United Nations Human Rights Office talked to the Pakistani authorities about these executions? Is it just a statement?
Spokesman: It is a statement. I can find out from our human rights colleagues what contacts they have had with the Pakistani authorities.
Luke?
Question: Thanks. At the briefing at Boko Haram today in the Security Council, Mr. Bathily said it’s time to look forward to a stabilization phase to secure military gains. Is he suggesting sort of a mindset that he wants Nigeria and its neighbours to inhabit or is this actually some sort of UN plan?
Spokesman: No, it’s not a peacekeeping plan or military plan. I think what he meant, and this is something the Secretary‑General himself has underscored, is that the root causes of the instability we’ve seen in that region where Boko Haram has been active are linked to issues of governance, of poverty, of lack of jobs, issues with socioeconomic development, and that once the military phase is over, these issues need to be addressed by Governments in the region. They need to take a hard look with the support of the United Nations at the root causes, and in looking at those factors and seeing how they can improve them — governance obviously being an important one; access to services. The population in these areas that have been liberated from Boko Haram need to feel that the Government is there for them and obviously this is something we would welcome and we will work with the Governments.
Matthew, then George?
Question: Sure. I want to ask you about Burundi. The… was the decision for Mr. Djinnit to cease his work as facilitator, was it a personal decision on his part or was — does the UN have any intention to replace him as a facilitator? There’s a request about civil society groups an emergency EAC meeting and it’s cc’d to Ban Ki‑moon so I wonder what he thinks of it.
And finally, there’s… a Spokesman for the Security Ministry there has basically complained about the continuation of protests on journalists, saying journalists are encouraging people to protest in order to photograph them. So this has given rise to concern that journalists are being blamed for opposition to—
Spokesman: I think on your second part as I’ve said here from — on Burundi, I think having an open and free press, a press that is allowed to operate without harassment is critical to creating a conducive environment in which a political process can take place.
On your first part, this was Mr. Djinnit’s own decision. I think he took note of the situation. He took note, as mentioned in his statement, of the — of what certain opposition groups had said, certain members of civil society had said. We’re now entering a consultation phase. Mr. Djinnit will be in Johannesburg at the AU Summit. He will be talking to the Deputy Secretary‑General. He’ll be talking to regional Powers. The Deputy Secretary‑General will also have contacts. I think there will be a lot of conversations that will be taking place over the next few days in Johannesburg on the side line of the summit. And I think we, the international community, whether it’s the United Nations, the Great Lakes community, the East African community, the AU, everyone needs to figure out what is the best way forward, what shape… what mandate a facilitator will have and from what organization that facilitator would have. I think what we as the United Nations want to do is find the best possible solution that the Burundian parties can agree on in order to continue the mediation efforts.
Question: And what’s the status of the UN electoral mission there? Is the… are all of its members still in the country? Have one of them left?
Spokesman: As far as I know, the… well, its mandate is unchanged. Staffing we can check.
Question: There was a former Head of State that was named that I heard is no longer there.
Spokesman: I’ll check. I’ll check.
George and then Joe?
Question: On — with reference to the same country—
Spokesman: Burundi?
Question: With Burundi, exactly. It seems from the report I read this morning about Mr. Djinnit’s resignation. He was particularly — as Matthew alluded to, he was particularly criticized by some of the opposition elements. Does his resignation not create a dangerous precedent, such that any groups in any country that don’t like some particular UN official or SRSG (Special Representative of the Secretary-General) can just amend his resignation or be so uncooperative that their stay is untenable?
Spokesman: I think… [inaudible] It’s a different… you know, obviously, we’ve seen very unfortunate situations where senior UN officials have been PNG’d [rendered persona non grata], asked to leave by Governments. We have challenged those, most lately in [South] Sudan with Toby Lanzer. This is not the same kind of situation. I think we all recognize that, for a facilitation process… a mediation process to function, all the parties involved need to support the facilitator.
Now, Mr. Djinnit, I think, had seen what had been said by certain opposition groups. He decided for the benefit of the process, for the benefit of the Burundian people that it would be best that he step aside. We’ve seen mediators change in different processes, in fact in the very recent past. So it’s not that it sets a bad precedent. I think we just need to be realistic, and I think that’s exactly what Mr. Djinnit did.
Nizar, then Britney? Then Joe. Sorry.
Question: On Yemen, there were calls today for urgent medicine needed in Yemen, especially for the cancer patients and, of course, dialysis patients are still suffering there. Given that Sana’a airport is open for relief, are there any aircraft landing there and delivering such aid?
Spokesman: I have not… our humanitarian colleagues are usually pretty good about keeping us up to date. I don’t have any report of any UN plane or UN chartered plane having gone in. Obviously, it depends. While the air… the runway may be operational, also depends on the security situation at time. I know we’re trying to get ships in, but I think, as we flag from here, the facilities of the ports are inadequate and we have a lot of the ships waiting out at sea.
The fact that there are… there’s a great humanitarian need in Yemen is something that we’ve been talking about every day, and every day the violence continues, that need becomes even greater.
Question: Are there any endeavours to make the Saudis just relieve or allow for some… some truce?
Spokesman: We’re working at different levels, one to ease the screening process but what we would like to see from all sides is a humanitarian pause. We would like to see those who control the weapons put those weapons down, and allow us space and time with which to deliver humanitarian aid.
Joe, I’m sorry. You had your hand up. Then Britney. Then we’ll go front.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Throughout history of war, there are many examples of Governments allowing soldiers to bring their wives, even to the front, the Civil War in the US, for example. UN peacekeepers are not in combat situations. What are the rules? Are they allowed to bring their wives and families to live with them?
Spokesman: No, I mean, peacekeeping operations, I think almost all of them, save for a couple like Cyprus, are non‑family duty stations for the civilian staff. You raise a point that’s interesting, that I don’t know the answer to. I don’t believe uniformed peacekeepers or police officers are able to bring their spouses along.
Question: Is that something that should be looked into? I mean you see where I’m going with this, right?
Spokesman: I think I… I think I see where… where you’re going, but I think the issue of abuse of power, of sexual abuse needs to be fought, regardless of what those rules may be.
Britney?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Regarding the children in armed conflict report, it listed four criteria for inclusion of persistent offenders, so if Israel was recommended for inclusion based on meeting two out of the four criteria, why wasn’t the US also recommended for inclusion, based on the 167 estimated to 202 children they killed in Pakistan in the drone strikes?
Spokesman: The report, as you have, is the official report. As I’ve mentioned, there were discussions as to how… the drafting of the report, who should be on the list, who should not be on the list. That’s a normal and healthy process with any report in the United Nations. There are internal discussions. I don’t know who was on the list or off the list. The point is that there’s only one report, and that’s the final report.
Question: But my question was whether or not the US was considered for inclusion.
Spokesman: As I… you know, I'm not going to talk about what the internal discussion process was. What’s important is that you have a final report, and that’s the one you have, which is out on the web as of today, as I understand, in six languages.
Question: Thank you. My question is about the reports of increase of foreign fighters joining ISIS. There’s estimates of 1,000 fighters joining ISIS each month. And Monday, President [Barack] Obama openly criticized Turkey for not doing enough to prevent those foreign fighters to join the fights in Syria and Iraq. Does the security… the Secretary‑General has any comments about that?
Spokesman: The influx of foreign fighters into the theatre of conflict in Iraq and in Syria is of great concern, has been of great concern to the United Nations. The responsibility to stop that influx is… lies not only with those States bordering the conflict area, but also with the countries from which these young men and young women come from. And that goes to the point of addressing the rise of extremism and of extreme ideologies and figuring out how to stop young people from being indoctrinated into these ideologies. How do you stop them from leaving their lives in, you know, in comfort or wherever they may be — however they may be living — and joining extremist groups?
Question: Countries like Lebanon, neighbouring Syria and even Jordan, they are complaining that they don’t have even technical support.
Spokesman: It’s a very—
Question: If the UN would provide any of these countries—
Spokesman: It’s a very valid point. I think there’s been ‑‑ a number of countries have stepped in to help, notably in Lebanon with strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces. I know other countries have also helped: Jordan; Turkey has a lot of resources, as well. But as I said, it’s not… the border countries have been carrying a huge burden in terms of refugees that they’ve seen come over the last four or five years. And also, they have large borders to control. But the responsibility goes beyond those countries.
Mr. Lee? And then Luke.
Question: Sure. I wanted… one, I just wanted to ask, I’ve seen obviously that MONUSCO [United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] is participating with the Congolese Army in fighting the FRPI [Front for Patriotic Resistance] in Ituri. Is that the Force Intervention Brigade that’s doing it? And has there been any progress whatsoever on the UN actually taking, you know, taking up neutralization of the FDLR [Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda], as long requested by the Security Council?
Spokesman: As you mentioned, MONUSCO is continuing its support, as per its mandate in support of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo against the FRPI by conducting search operations on the ground in close air support. Doesn’t specify here. I will stand corrected, but I do believe it is the Force Intervention Brigade which has those sorts of capacities. I have nothing new to add on the FDLR. [The Spokesman later corrected the record to say that regular UN peacekeepers, rather than the Force Intervention Brigade, were involved in supporting operations against the FRPI.]
Question: What would you say to those who say of all the armed groups basically, the UN has gone against… after all of them except the FDLR which is the longest standing and—
Spokesman: It’s not so much the UN going after it. It’s the modalities of the support of the United Nations to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The detail of how the support goes into every operation and is negotiated on the ground by MONUSCO. So I would urge you to ask them.
Question: Do you — I mean, the US — I guess the Assistant Secretary for human rights, Tom Malinowski, called on the UN to… and who is a proponent of human rights and of not working with bad actors, called upon the UN to find a way to take action—
Spokesman: There have been discussions and continue to be discussions on the ground. Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous has gone. There have been all sorts of other discussion. But those discussions are continuing.
Luke?
Question: One of the goals in Bonn this month, in these climate talks was to slim down the ADP text. I think it’s gone from 89 pages to 85 now. Is… I know… the SG’s been sort of quiet about what he wants to see in Paris but is a concise and short document something that he sees as necessary?
Spokesman: I think what the Secretary‑General wants is an effective document that all can sign up on. What the Secretary‑General’s message has been is that the negotiators also need to have clear political instructions from their capitals, and obviously, these are very important discussions that are going on in Bonn. I’m not going to… we’re not going to micromanage them. It’s Member State-led. But it would be good — I think, as in any UN document — the more concise, the clearer and the more… the clearer, the better.
Nizar?
Question: Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has been sentenced by the Saudi authorities to death. He had a death sentence by the Saudi authorities, a long time ago. And this could be executed… he could be executed very soon. We did not hear anything from the United Nations protesting that, especially since he was not given due process.
Spokesman: I don’t have anything new from what we’ve already said on that.
Question: Your statement on the Secretary‑General fully supporting the European Games in Azerbaijan: there’s a controversy about… UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) has been declared the official child rights organization of the European Games and even some members… some Member States have said it’s inappropriate, given issues that have existed about child rights in the country, in fact a child rights organization that’s been kind of prosecuted by the Government. So I wanted to know, first of all, for the UN system as a whole, is there a situation in which, sort of, like, Coca‑Cola or something else, that a UN fund, programme or agency can become the official one, the official child rights organization of a game like this? And is it appropriate?
Spokesman: I’d have to check with UNICEF as to the very nature of that agreement they’ve signed with the authorities organizing the games and I can answer you in more details. I think it is… we see often these large sports events having a UN presence. It’s a good way for the United Nations agencies to engage different public on issues that are of importance. We often engage in places where things aren’t perfect and engaging is a way of improving that record.
Question: But people… I think what the critics say is that it’s one thing to work in a country that has problems but to try to help people. But it’s something else to basically have this sponsoring—
Spokesman: Like I said, I would not dare disagree with what you’re reading but I would have to check as the very nature of that report.
Question: I just want to ask you this. You’ve mentioned that this Deputy Secretary‑General was going to the AU in Johannesburg. Has he seen the reports that President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has said that he will be there and if… what does he think of them? And will he meet with him? And what does he think about the ICC [International Criminal Court] indictment?
Spokesman: We’ll have to see if he’s actually there.
Thank you. I’ll be right back with our guests.