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.
**Allegations against Former President of General Assembly
Regarding the case of John Ashe I know you all want to ask me about, we obviously just learned of these very serious allegations this morning. Of course, the Secretary-General was shocked and deeply troubled to learn this morning of the allegations against John Ashe, the former President of the General Assembly, which go to the heart of the integrity of the United Nations. And I just wanted to let you know that at 3 p.m., in this room, the current President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, will speak to you here at 3 p.m. on this very subject.
**Middle East
Moving on to the West Bank: the Secretary-General is profoundly alarmed by the growing number of deadly incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The last few days of clashes, which resulted in the death of four Palestinians, including a 13-year old boy, and hundreds injured, are yet another worrisome sign of violence potentially spiralling out of control. The Secretary-General condemns the killings and looks to the Government of Israel to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the incidents, including whether the use of force was proportional. He does not believe that the demolition of Palestinian houses or the construction of new Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land will do anything other than inflame tensions still further.
The escalation of violent incidents underscores the need for urgent action by both sides. The Secretary-General welcomes the commitment by Palestinian and Israeli officials to work together to curb the violence, including through continued security cooperation. The Secretary-General reiterates the United Nations readiness to work with all parties to create the conditions on the ground, in the region and internationally, for a political horizon including meaningful negotiations towards a two-State solution.
**Central African Republic
On the Central African Republic, our humanitarian colleagues say the security situation in Bangui reportedly remains relatively calm with more people seen on the streets as commercial activities continue to resume. Movement restrictions for humanitarians are still in place however. The Humanitarian Coordinator, Aurélien Agbénonci, reiterated today that humanitarian organizations are committed to staying and delivering assistance to vulnerable people in the country.
He said that despite security constraints, humanitarian actors continue to provide assistance to the affected population. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that with 37,416 newly displaced people, the total number of people displaced in Bangui now stands at almost 65,000.
**Afghanistan
Again from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), they tell us that thousands of people have reportedly fled Afghanistan’s Kunduz area and an estimated 8,500 families have been displaced in the north-east of Afghanistan as a result of the fighting. The lack of access to Kunduz is making it difficult to quantify needs, which are expected to include food, shelter, water, health and protection services.
Aid agencies are concerned about the continued lack of access in Kunduz, where yesterday there was fighting between armed groups and Government forces, the airport was closed to civilian aircraft, and there was no road access into the city because of roadside bombs, threats of ambushes, and roadblocks. The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, has stressed that humanitarians are not meant to be a target and that we are determined to carry out our work.
**Yemen
And on Yemen, UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] and the International Organization on Migration (IOM) today launched a plan to respond to the crisis in Yemen to deliver protection and humanitarian aid to some 103,000 people who will have fled the conflict by the end of this year. The two agencies estimate this number could rise [to] 202,000 by the end of 2016. The plan unveiled today will cost $36 million from this month until the end of the year. It could cost a further $119 million next year.
**Secretary-General Trip
And I want to announce a trip by the Secretary-General to Lima, Peru on Thursday, 8 October, to participate in the 2015 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). From there, he will proceed on Saturday, 10 October, to Cochabamba, in Bolivia, for the "Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and Defence of Life".
While in Lima, he will meet with the President of Peru, Ollanta Humala, as well as with the President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim. He will also attend several events, including a Development Committee meeting on ‘The World Bank Group Support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, a Climate Ministerial Meeting and a Small States Forum.
The Secretary-General will leave Lima on the evening of 10 October, for Cochabamba, Bolivia, where he will address the "Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and Defence of Life". The event will emphasize the views of indigenous people and those involved in social movements. The Secretary-General will also visit development projects in local communities, alongside the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma. And we expect him to be back at work on 12 October, on Monday.
**Mali
And the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Mali, Mongi Hamdi, this morning told the Security Council that the difficulties of these last two months in the country show the importance of determined international engagement to prevent escalation and bring the peace process back on track.
While regretting the delays of the implementation of some provisions of the peace agreement, he stressed that the concerted actions of MINUSMA [United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali], the Government of Mali and the international mediation was successful in bringing the parties back to the logic of the peace agreement. The process is back on track, he said, adding that vigilance was nonetheless necessary. He also said he was convinced that promoting the implementation of the peace agreement was the best opportunity for Mali to address the multiple challenges.
**Ebola
And on Ebola, I also want to flag a statement by WHO [World Health Organization]: it said following a meeting of its Emergency Committee, WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, declared that the outbreak continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, as two active chains of Ebola transmission continue, one in Guinea and one in Sierra Leone.
However, the Committee noted that since its last meeting, Liberia has been declared free of Ebola transmission for the second time, that the overall case incidence in Guinea and Sierra Leone has been below 10 cases per week, and that the Sierra Leonean capital of Freetown has remained free of transmission for over 42 days. The situation will be reassessed within three months.
**Adolescence
And WHO and UNAIDS [Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS] have also today launched new standards to improve adolescent care, and those are online.
**Noon Briefing Guest Today
After we are done here, I will be joined by the Executive Director of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, Jean-Paul Laborde, who will brief you on the report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) by States affected by foreign terrorist fighters.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thanks, Steph. Was the UN involved at all in the U.S. Attorney's investigation, or was this morning the first time anyone here at the UN had heard about this? And the US Attorney said this morning that he's vowed to continue investigating if corruption is business as usual at the UN. Would you like to respond to that?
Spokesman: First of all, corruption is not business as usual at the UN. Second of all, we have… we had not been informed of the investigation by the US Attorney's Office. Our Office for Legal Affairs and other senior officials were not aware of the case until it was read about in the press. Obviously, if we're contacted by the relevant US authorities, we will cooperate with them. Mr. Bays and then Matthew.
Question: Given that the allegations are of something very rotten in the President to the General Assembly's office for that year, would it be sensible for the Secretary-General now to launch an investigation or audit of all interaction between the Secretariat and the PGA [President of the General Assembly] during that time period to see if there are other things that need investigation?
Spokesman: You know, I do agree that I think the allegations… and, at this point, it is important to stress that these are, these are allegations, that they do go to the heart of integrity of the legislative process of the United Nations. I think we're still studying what has just happened. Obviously, if we have more to say on how we will go forward, we will. And I'm sure the current President of the General Assembly will address this issue as well. Mr. Lee.
Question: Sure. One of the allegations is that former PGA Ashe gave a document to the Secretary-General about this proposed UN conference centre in Macau. So that's just a factual question. Have you been able to... will you deny or confirm that this document was given? And what happened after the document was given?
Spokesman: No, you know, I read the indictment, thank you. I read the indictment, I think, like most of you, about this UN document, which supposedly has a document number. We've not been able to find that document. As a check this morning, checked the correspondence log of the Secretary-General's office. There was no communication on this issue of Macau. So, obviously, if there is such a document, we'll take a look at it, but we've not been able to find what document is referred to.
[The Spokesman later noted that the document had been found, which is a standard letter from a Permanent Representative to the Secretary-General asking him to circulate it as an official document of the General Assembly: document A/66/748.]
Question: Okay. I also wanted to ask, one of the… one of the entities indicted or involved is Sun Kian Ip Group, which is a member of the Global Compact, proudly on the website. And I wonder, do you think… what is the reaction of the Global Compact to a member being charged with corruption…
Spokesman: I'm sure, you know, I think there are processes in place, and I have no doubt my colleagues at the Global Compact will review the relationship and the membership of this foundation.
Question: And this is smaller but closer to home. Last week…
Spokesman: This is pretty close to home.
Question: Yeah. No, no. I mean, this is right next to your office. The… the, during last week's General Debate, there was an event at the Waldorf for the South-South Awards involving Mr. Francis Lorenzo, who was also indicted, the former, or DPR [Deputy Permanent Representative] of Santo Domingo. I noticed at the time but thought it was strange that the DPI [Department of Public Information] sent out the press release for the South-South Awards, which, to my knowledge, is not a UN entity. Right? It's an NGO or… so I wanted to know, what is the relationship between that group, South-South Awards, that seems to be kind… there seems to be a lot of the intertwining, and why did the office right next to yours send out their press release for…
Spokesman: I don't know. We'd have to ask. We'd have to check.
Question: Can you? Okay.
Spokesman: Yeah. Let's go this way, round by round. Go ahead. Abdelhamid, then Somini.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. First, I want to commend the Secretary-General for issuing a statement condemning the killing of the child Abed a‑Rahman Abdallah from the refugee camp of Aida and referring to the demolishing of houses, which two houses were demolished this morning. My question is, recently, the Secretary issued a statement condemning Palestinian for attacking settlers and soldiers. Is there a legal basis for that? Do the people under occupation have the right to resist occupying forces or not?
Spokesman: I'm not going to get into legal pronouncements here. What I do know is that we have seen a very worrisome increased, of violence over the last few days, violence that is targeting civilians, where young people are being killed, whether it's by troops, by IDF troops, and, again, where we called for an investigation or whether there are attacks, terror attacks, where people, civilians, are being stabbed in the street. It has to stop. Right? I think that is what is worrying the Secretary-General, and that is the underlying message that he will continue to give out. Somini.
Question: Just to clarify, was the Secretary-General asked by Mr. Ashe or anyone else for the establishment of a permanent expo centre in Macau? And, secondly, the Secretary-General did attend a conference in Macau, August 25th and 26th, on South-South Cooperation. Was that at the request of Mr. Ashe, and was there any discussion of the establishment of a permanent centre?
Spokesman: No. Two things. The Secretary-General did not attend that conference. A message was sent to the conference on his behalf, which the Secretary-General often sends a message. I mean, one has to underscore the issue of South-South Cooperation is a very important one, one that the General Assembly has been working on since the 1970s, so I think, and is something that the Secretary-General supports the idea of South-South Cooperation. The Secretary-General or his senior advisers on the 38th floor have no recollection of any discussion between John Ashe and the Secretary-General relating to a centre in Macau. I think all of this was news to us when we read about it in the paper this morning. Yes, go ahead, and then Carole.
Correspondent: Me?
Spokesman: You first, and then Carol. Go ahead.
Question: I'm wondering if you can recall any precedent for such allegations involving UN officials.
Spokesman: Do I recall any such allegations involving the President of the General Assembly? No. Clearly not. I don't think, and if anybody does, they can correct me. You know, and I, it is, it is important to point out that the President of the General Assembly does not report to the Secretary-General, and in the performance of his functions is completely independent of the Secretary-General and of the Secretariat. Carole. Then Mr. Abbadi.
Question: Sure, I'm just confused about you can't find the letter that Ashe wrote supporting this…
Spokesman: You know, the indictment of the complaint, whatever the legal term is, makes reference to a UN document, not a letter or anything, a UN document, possibly has a number, an official UN document. In the cursory search that we've done this morning, we have not been able to find such, such a document, nor have we found any letter that John Ashe would have addressed to the Secretary-General on this subject.
Question: Okay. So presumably there would not have been a response from the Secretary-General?
Spokesman: Well, if I can't find, if I can't find the ingoing, there's no outgoing.
Question: [Inaudible]?
Spokesman: Okay. Well, that's great. Thanks. I don't have my iPhone with me. Mr. Abbadi.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On the events and the violence in Jerusalem this weekend, Mahmoud Abbas has asked the Secretary-General to provide international protection. What can the Secretary-General do under Article 99 of the Charter?
Spokesman: I think what the Secretary-General is, continues to call for, is for the parties to create the conditions on the ground and in the region internationally for political horizon and encourages them to resume direct negotiations. Yes, sir.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. We have read the Secretary-General's statement on the attack in Kunduz, Afghanistan, but is the United Nations also involved in investigating this tragedy?
Spokesman: No, we are not. We remain in contact with the NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] and the Afghan authorities in Afghanistan. Again, the Secretary-General and others have called for an impartial and transparent investigation into the facts.
Question: But, transparent [inaudible] United Nations?
Spokesman: I think others can do, those responsible can also do an investigation that is fully transparent and credible. Mr. Lee.
Question: Sure. I have some other questions on South Sudan and stuff, but given what you said about the importance that the PGA's office is independent doesn't report, issues have often come up about whether it should be a full-time position, which it's not, like Mr. Kutesa was Foreign Minister of Uganda throughout it, and whether it should disclose who pays the people that work in the office. What I wonder is, given that Ban Ki-moon has been here now, you know, seven years, does he have any… does he… has he seen any need for a greater transparency in the way that office works and how the individuals…
Spokesman: That's a question for the Member States to decide, how they want to run the Office of the President of the General Assembly. And I'm sure the PGA will take questions on that issue.
Question: And I wanted to ask about yesterday's announcement of the new Under-Secretary-General for OIOS [Office for International Oversight Services]. I noticed that she had been actually the Philippine prosecutor who had worked on a case of DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] here paying money directly, instead of to the Mission or to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly to the army in the Philippines, and I wanted to know, did… was this taken into account? What was the outcome of this? It just seems like it's a little, again, close to home. If the UN's new incoming investigator worked on seemingly, was this… was the conclusion from that case that DPKO broke the rules by paying the army directly or that the army broke the rules by…
Spokesman: I think Ms. Diaz [Mendoza] was fully vetted, and we're very glad to have her on board. Mr. Abbadi.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Yesterday, at the press conference, the President of Security Council said that the… that the Quartet can be expanded by members of the region. Is this expansion, or is this simply consultation with other members?
Spokesman: Well, you know, at this point, the format of the Quartet remains a quartet, four parties: the UN, the European Union, the United States and the Russian Federation. Very often, the Quartet has met in an expanded format, has invited Arab foreign ministers, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and other interested international parties, and I think they will continue to meet with that format, which in French I would call à géométrie variable. I mean, it can change. But, the core format remains the same. Abdelhamid.
Question: Thank you. The House of Representative in Tobruk, Libya, decided to extend its mandate beyond October 20th. This is probably changing the rules of the game…
Spokesman: Abdel, I will stop you right here. I'm waiting for an update from Libya. I hope my colleagues, who are hopefully in my office paying attention to what I'm saying right now, will bring it in for me, and I can answer your question.
[Later a statement attributable the Spokesman was issued, in which the Secretary-General reiterates the call of Member States and regional organizations who, during a high-level meeting he convened on 2 October, urged participants in the Libyan political dialogue to urgently conclude the process and sign an agreement leading to the formation of a Government of National Accord. As participants in the event stressed, the agreement is the only way to end the current crisis.
The Secretary-General commends the political will and courage of Libyans who remain committed to resolving the current crisis through dialogue. He encourages them to seize the opportunity of the agreement to start rebuilding Libya and confronting the country’s urgent challenges. Only a Government of National Accord will unite the Libyans and enable them, with the support of the international community, to address these challenges. The Secretary-General remains committed to supporting the Libyan people through his Special Representative and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).] Mr. Lee, and then we'll go to our guest.
Question: In South Sudan, I'm sure you've seen and maybe you were saying it and I was otherwise occupied, but in…, MSF [Médecins Sans Frontières] and the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross], they've all left Leer County saying their offices have been looted and they're not… and I'm just wondering, what's the role of UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] in terms of protecting humanitarian groups and ensuring that humanitarian services are…
Spokesman: Well, I'd have to check. Obviously, if they are there, they will do whatever they can to protect civilians and protect humanitarian bases, but I don't know where the exact deployment is in Leer.
Question: Stéphane, I know you answered this question yesterday, but regarding the situation in Syria, so many countries now, they are involved in the conflict there. So where does the United Nations stand for the Syrian people? And there's so many bombing there, and the Syrian people, they are still paying the price…
Spokesman: I think the United Nations stands on the side of the Syrian people. I think our humanitarian efforts are doing whatever they can to bring support and help to the Syrian people, whether it's inside, to those who have been forced to flee the country into the neighbouring countries and beyond. Our humanitarian appeals for Syria continue to be underfunded, and meanwhile, on the political track, we are continuing to be in touch with all the parties to try to get them to sit down and agree to a political solution which we all know is the only solution. I will go get Mr. Laborde, and I'll be right back.