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.

**Syria

The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is scheduled to meet with the delegation of the High Negotiations Committee this afternoon in Geneva.  The Special Envoy and the delegation of the High Negotiations Committee are expected to hold a press stakeout afterwards, just about an hour from now, which as usual should be on the WebTV live from Geneva.  Meanwhile, on the humanitarian end, the World Food Programme (WFP) this week carried out two successful high-altitude drops over the besieged city of Deir Ezzour, dropping a total of 40 metric tons of urgently needed food assistance — roughly, that feeds about 4,300 people for one month.

The first airdrop, as you will recall, took place on Sunday.  The second airdrop was completed today, with a 100 per cent success rate.  All 26 pallets carrying 20 tons of food were collected by the Red Crescent.  The supplies are being checked before distribution actually begins.  At the same time, the number of people in Syria being assisted by UN cross-border convoys from Turkey and Jordan continues to grow.  The average number of people receiving food assistance through UN cross-border convoys each month now stands at nearly 376,000 — almost twice the average number compared with the same time in 2015, last year.

Since the launch of UN cross-border deliveries in 2014, convoys have provided more than 2.7 million people with food assistance; 2.3 million people have received non-food items; and over 2 million people have been provided with water and sanitation supplies.  Despite this progress, much more is required to reach the 13.5 million people in Syria who are in need of aid.

**Security Council

This morning, the Head of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Virginia Gamba, briefed the Security Council on the progress made with regards to the implementation of resolution 2235 (2015), concerning chemical weapons in Syria.  Since her last report in March, the Mechanism’s Leadership Panel and the investigative team visited Syria and other countries in the region to discuss relevant information on the nine cases under the Mechanism’s investigation.  The visits to the region — made possible by Member States' contributions to the Voluntary Trust Fund — will continue during the course of the investigation.  A progress report on the ongoing work of the team is expected in June, followed by a comprehensive report in August.  Under other business today, the Council members are also expected to hear an update on the UN Mission in Western Sahara.

**Ukraine

The UN has expressed a deep concern that one of our staff members is being held captive in Donetsk.  According to the information available, the staff member is being treated well.  The UN in Ukraine and other parts has mobilized all channels to ensure his immediate and unconditional release.  The UN appeals to all parties to respect the staff member and his family in this sensitive phase of the discussions around his release.

**Democratic Republic of the Congo

And just to update you on the travels of Jane Holl Lute:  as we told you on Monday, following her visit to the Central African Republic, she arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Yesterday, in Kinshasa, she met with the leadership of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — the peacekeeping mission in that country — as well as with other international community and local authorities.  Today, she has travelled to Goma in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she is meeting with the UN country team and also the leadership of the peacekeeping Mission in that area.

**Congo

Our colleague the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, said from Geneva today that very alarming reports have been coming out of the Republic of Congo regarding an apparent Government security operation in an area of southern Brazzaville known as “the Pool”.  There have been reports of mass arrests and tortured people in detention, as well as the killing and displacement of people from the Pool.  The reports have been difficult to verify, given a lack of access to the area by independent sources.

The High Commissioner urged the Government to ensure that humanitarian actors are urgently able to access the area and to ensure that security forces act in full accordance with the Republic of Congo’s obligations under international human rights law.  He added that incidents involving the use of force, particularly lethal force, by security forces must be thoroughly, promptly and impartially investigated.  He also calls on the Government, political leaders and their supporters to endeavour to resolve all differences peacefully, within the law, and to eschew violence in the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

**Democratic Republic of the Congo — Humanitarian

Going back to the Democratic Republic of Congo, our humanitarian colleagues there have voiced concern over the fate of more than 35,000 people who, in the past three weeks, have fled areas of North Kivu Province, following clashes between the Congolese army and armed groups.  Since 27 March, five sites for internally displaced persons have been emptied, forcing thousands to seek safety in surrounding villages.  Access to these areas has been difficult, but needs assessment missions are being conducted.  The renewed displacement is taking place amid a shrinking of humanitarian funding while needs remain great, with about 781,000 people displaced in North Kivu province alone.

**Paraguay

Continuing with humanitarian updates, in Paraguay, extended rains which started in November of last year have caused flooding affecting tens of thousands of people across the country. The UN deployed today a team of disaster response experts to support the Government-led response.  Some 63,000 people remain displaced in 125 temporary shelters, while 7,000 people have found shelter with relatives and neighbours.  Weather forecasts — aggravated by El Niño — indicate more rains in April in the north of the country, increasing the risk of further overflows of the rivers Paraguay and Paraná.

**Mental Health

I also want to flag today a new WHO-led study which estimates, for the first time, both the mental and economic benefits of investing in treatment of the most common forms of mental illness globally.  The study finds that every dollar invested in scaling up treatment for depression and anxiety leads to a $4 return in better health and ability to work.  It is estimated that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion every year.  Joint events co-hosted today and tomorrow by the World Bank and the World Health Organization in Washington, [D.C.], bring together ministers of finance, development agencies, academic experts and practitioners to discuss how to put mental health at the centre of the health and development agenda.

**Press Encounters

Encounters today, press encounters that is, 1 p.m., at the stakeout area, you will not be surprised to hear that Vesna Pusić, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia will be appearing, as she is now being questioned in the Trusteeship Council.  And at 5 p.m., at the same stakeout area, another press encounter by Natalia Gherman, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, as part of the same event.

Tomorrow, my guest will be Professor Michel Kazatchkine, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  He will be here to brief you on a recently launched Johns Hopkins-Lancet Commission [report] on Public Health and International Drug Policy.  He will also brief you about HIV and drugs in the Central Asia and Eastern European region.  And then at 1 p.m., a briefing by Jean-Paul Laborde, Executive Director of the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and others on the UN’s efforts to stop terrorism financing.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thanks, Stéph.  AIDS‑Free World just sent out a press release a little while ago saying that there are an additional, I believe, 41 allegations of [sexual exploitation and abuse], and they also criticise the UN; they say they've been sort of withholding information.  What can you say about these new allegations and the charge that the UN is somehow withholding information from reporters?

Spokesman:  I don't think we're withholding information.  I think, on this particular case, we've been telegraphing and sending signals that serious issues were afoot when we first announced [that] a first mission would go, and then a second, and then a third.  We've been trying to keep reporters, the public and officials, including Troop Contributing Countries, up to date.  I think, with allegations of sexual abuse that we take extremely seriously, one also has to be very… as meticulous as possible in handling numbers, in handling and interviewing victims, and it's exactly what we are doing.  I'm hoping that we can update you sooner rather than later on the latest numbers that we have in terms of allegations.  I think we talked it over… about 108 was the last number we'd shared.  I would not be surprised if that number goes up a bit.  But, again, I think we need to be careful and methodical in our approach, and that's… while being as transparent as possible, and I think that's exactly what we're doing.  Mr. Lee.

Question:  Yeah, I'd asked Farhan yesterday, as I'm sure you know, in both the House and Senate today, there are hearings on just this topic, sexual abuse.  He said that the UN will somehow be monitoring it.  I wanted to ask you, what does that mean?  You're going to watch the live stream?  Among the witnesses are Aicha Elbasri, who blew the whistle in Darfur; Peter Gallo, formerly of OIOS; Miranda Brown, fired by UN… by Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).  And I just… it seems like… like… other than, you know, I guess UN Foundation and a Better World Campaign, what is the UN's involvement as the major funder of the UN… of the… of… the largest funder of the UN has hearings into a lack of accountability for these very rapes.

Spokesman:  I think it is… it is procedure in many, many countries that the legislative bodies that have budgetary authority hold hearings on issues which they contribute.  And the US is, indeed, a very large contributor, if not the largest, for peacekeeping.  So, I think there's nothing surprising… it seems to me… and it's not my job to comment on the parliamentary proceedings in any country, but it seems the parliamentarians seem to be doing their due diligence.  I will be watching, for one, the hearings.  We are keeping… I think going back to Lou's question, we have been keeping Member States, including the United States, very much up to date on where we are.  And we've answered questions that may arise from Member States so…

Question:  Yeah, but did the UN want to be represented?  Particularly at the House one, which talks about failure… a lack of accountability.

Spokesman:  I think there is a… they're holding their proceedings.  We keep troop-contributing countries, Security Council members updated, and we try to keep the media updated.

Question:  Relatedly, on the same kind… I guess I'm going to call it an impunity question, at the stakeout, Danilo Türk, who's already done a stakeout, said, as to bringing cholera to Haiti, he agrees that the UN should be legally immune, but he said he believes that there's some process by which the Secretary‑General is still considering paying compensation, that he either believes that or trusts that that's taking place.  And I've heard you say… I don't know… maybe 10 times now that the position hasn't changed.  Is there any process by Ban Ki‑moon to consider before he leaves making good to the 10,000 people that were killed by cholera in Haiti?

Spokesman:  I think, as you said, the fact [that] our legal position has not changed is not a surprise.  The fact also remains that we have tried and we continue to try to raise money to deal with the aftermath of cholera and the greater issue of sanitation, lack of proper sanitation, in Haiti, which impacts not only cholera but all sorts of waterborne diseases.  Our country team as well… you know, which includes a peacekeeping mission, WHO, UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund], are working on all these issues to try to help solve the problem of sanitation and waterborne diseases in Haiti.

Question:  But what about… thanks… what about the duty to the people that… that lost their…?

Spokesman:  I think the Secretary‑General… I would refer you back to what the Secretary‑General said when he went to Haiti as sort of a personal show of respect and that he has expressed his personal and deep concern as to what happened.  Michelle.

Question:  Thanks, Stéph.  On Syria, any comment from the Secretary‑General on the parliamentary election being held in Syria as peace talks get under way in Geneva?

Spokesman:  No.  It is not… whether it's de Mistura or the Secretary‑General, we are not commenting on these.  This is not the first time that there have been elections taking place in the midst of mediation efforts.  There were some in 2012 under Kofi Annan.  So, our focus is… will be on the elections that, according to the timeline, should be held within 18 months.

Question:  Back to the CAR [Central African Republic] and the new revelations from AIDS‑Free World, can you talk about this meticulous process a little… in a little more detail from the point of the allegation being made to the point at which you have the information in front of you to present to the media or whomever?  What happens from A to B, if you will?

Spokesman:  I think, you know, we have increased our presence of OIOS investigators in the prefecture.  I think it's now up to ten.  It is about trying to gather as many… as much information as possible, which is then passed on to the troop-contributing countries, to the local authorities.  Obviously, working on… for these two battalions, the Burundians and the Gabonese, jointly with the national investigation officers, ensuring that the victims and the alleged victims are given the care that they need and are protected.  It is also ensuring that, you know, the… the other thing that I think that needs to be underscored with the work that we're doing in that particular area is it's a very remote area.  We have electricity about two hours a day, so we also have… unfortunately, this has taken a little bit more time, but ensure that we have places where our colleagues can actually live and work… work out of.  And, you know, and also ensuring that the names of the victims are not released or leaked inadvertently.  I think the protection of the victims should be at the forefront.  But, obviously, the actual criminal investigation needs to be done when it comes to soldiers by the troop-contributing countries to ensure that there is justice at the end of the road.

Question:  I think I'm not quite understanding what prevents you from announcing there are these new allegations; we're looking into them, and sort of avoiding this meticulous…?

Spokesman:  I think we have… you know, we have… when this first came out, we came out with a number, I think, last week.  Obviously, we've increased our capacity to conduct interviews.  We want to be a little bit more comfortable with the number before we go forward.  I think it's a matter of being efficient and responsible and as transparent as possible at the same time.  Stefano and then Evelyn.  Sorry.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Again, about the European and Turkish agreement on migrants, yesterday here in New York City, there was the Minister for the Interior of Italy, Angelino Alfano, and we asked what he thought about the reservation that UN expressed about this agreement.  He said that the European Union already gave to the UN many explanation, juridical explanation, about… and he thinks that UN starts to be satisfied about those explanation, but there are… if there are more, of course, the European will provide more.  And he thinks that this has been a very successful agreement and actually can work as a precedent, meaning something that can work also for the future in other situation.  So, what is exactly now the position of the UN after the European Union…

Spokesman:  I think it remains early days.  We have seen the voluntary repatriation of a number of people from Greece back to Turkey.  But, we have to make sure, throughout the whole process, that people's rights and dignity are preserved.  If I have anything more, I will share what with you.  Evelyn.

Question:  Yes.  Can you…?

Spokesman:  Your microphone, please.

Question:  Oh, sorry.  How dare I forget the mic?  Thank you, Stéph.  Can you repeat again, where were the high‑altitude drops?

Spokesman:  Yes, they were in Deir Ezzour.  This was the second batch of airdrops.  There are plans for them to continue.  And, you know, we cannot stress enough the need to… for us to have road access, because if you think one airdrop… one planeload is equal to one truckload.  So, when you have convoys of 20, 30, 40, 50 trucks, as opposed to one very delicate mission with these airdrops… you know.  Which, in a sense, also are a sign of international cooperation with the plane being a Russian‑chartered contractor.  The Russian Federation was also helpful to us in terms of providing better equipment for the parachutes.  The donations came from Canada, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, the US.  The parachutes were US‑made on the Russian plane.  And we were also very grateful to the Jordanian Air Force, which allowed us to do practice runs in Jordan after the failure of the first one.

Question:  Who… is this ISIS‑controlled or is this an opposition…?

Spokesman:  It is… it is an area that… through which, because of armed groups around, we're not able to have… to have the access that we need by road.

Question:  Yes, but is the Government…?

Spokesman:  That's… all I'm going to go.

Correspondent:  One more thing.  On tribunals or any kind of trials in the country for the sexual abuse cases, every time that's been tried, including by Prince Zeid, when he gave a report on peacekeeping, the [troop-contributing countries] have gone crazy and said…

Spokesman:  I think… you know…

Question:  …is there any chance now?

Spokesman:  This issue of having courts‑martial in situ is one the Secretary‑General has brought up, Mr. Ladsous has brought up.  We hope with these latest revelations we've seen in the last few months that there is an understanding on the part of the TCCs for there to be more transparency and a clearer vision of justice for the victims.  And having… I think having the courts‑martial in place would obviously help for a message of justice and, obviously, one could imagine, in terms of getting witnesses, because things would be done quicker and where the alleged crime took place.  Mr. Klein.

Question:  Yes.  I just would like to follow up on a question I asked Farhan yesterday and just to get some clarification going back to the OIOS audit report.  Why hasn't the Secretary‑General directed the OIOS to use its authority to conduct a full‑blown investigation of wrongdoing?  As the audit is more limited in scope, and there is at least allegations of a pattern of wrongdoing and guilty pleas already in the US federal court criminal proceeding.  And, secondly, can you categorically state that, as of now, there is no more relationship between the Secretariat and the Sun Kian Ip Group, its affiliates and any NGOs funded by the Sun Kian Ip Group?  Because the audit report implied that there could be some…

Spokesman:  I would hope not.

Question:  Well, could you…?  Could you check for us?

Spokesman:  We would very much hope not.  As I mentioned… I think I'd mentioned earlier… OIOS is following up on a number of issues raised in the audit.

Question:  Well, but the question, though, is, were there any considerations being given to specifically authorizing a broader investigation, which is a separate channel that the OIOS can use in its broader scope…?

Spokesman:  The audit was a first step, and as I said, issues raised in the audit are leading to further investigations.  I'll come back.

Question:  And just, again, going back to the… any relationship between the Sun Kian Ip Group.  You said you hope not.  Is it something that you could perhaps verify within the Secretariat?  I'm not talking about the UNDP, because, again, there was an implication in the audit report that talked about the Secretariat monitoring the federal proceeding to determine whether any relationship should continue, and that opens the question as to whether anything is continuing.  So, is that something you could check?

Spokesman:  I understand.  I will.  I'll come back.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  My question is about the situation in Indian‑occupied Kashmir where, according to reports, the situation has taken a serious turn with four civilian deaths at the hands of security personnel in position of curfew and mass arrest.  Do you have any information or any comments?

Spokesman:  I do not.  I will check with my relevant colleagues if we have anything.  Emoke.

Question:  Going back to the CAR and I guess [sexual exploitation and abuse], in general, when you say that the victims have been provided with care, I understand the medical, but what about the psychosocial health?

Spokesman:  Part of what UNICEF is doing is providing psychosocial care, as well.

Question:  Right.  But, can you explain what that actually means?  Because two hours of counseling will do little in these situations, so do the victims have access to a trained professional for months or maybe years…

Spokesman:  I think the idea is that they have access, free access, to the facilities and the people that UNICEF has sent in place, and it's not limited in time to, like you said, one two‑hour session.

Question:  And could I ask you about the UN staff member in Donetsk?  Could you talk about the circumstances of the abduction?

Spokesman:  No, as you can well imagine, we're trying very hard to get the staff member released.  And in these situations, the less said is best for the staff member.  Oleg.

Question:  Yes, and a follow-up on that.  Can you confirm he actually was a staff member?  Because after the message posted on the mission's website, the representatives of the People's Republic in Donetsk said that he did not provide any documents, any identification.  And also they claimed that he's a member of a security service of Ukraine.  And also, Stéphane, on the Deir Ezzour drops, since I missed the beginning of the briefing, you were talking about the one… the second one that was convened on Sunday.  Right?

Spokesman:  There was one on Sunday and one today.

Correspondent:  Oh, there was a new one.

Spokesman:  Yes, that's what you missed.

Question:  And how many…?

Spokesman:  Twenty tons.  And it was successful, 100 per cent success rate, 26 pallets and all 26 were recovered.  Thank you.

 

Question:  Stéphane, thank you.  The Syrian opposition says over 1,400 civilians have been killed in regime attacks since the truce took effect... or the cessation of hostilities took effect on 27 January.  How do you monitor these?  How does the Secretary‑General get the information from inside Syria about this cessation of hostilities?

Spokesman:  There is an operation centre set up in Geneva that is staffed with people from the various countries represented in the ISSG, the Support Group for Syria, and UN staff members, where the information comes into.  I think the cessation of hostilities, over the… since it started, has provided a modicum of calm in a large number of areas in Syria.  It has not been perfect.  We have seen, the last few days, a bit of an increase in the violence.  But, it has held… broadly, it has held.  Matthew, then Michelle.

Question:  Sure.  I was going to do this later, but I wanted to ask you about the audit, because, I mean, maybe you didn't hear it… hear Farhan say it, but the World Harmony Foundation, which is listed in the audit and is an affiliate of the Sun Kian Ip Foundation, is still a member of the Global Compact.  So, you might… you're hoping… I mean, can you explain why that is and also why…?

Spokesman:  I can check, but I also encouraged you, when you raised that issue the other day, to contact the Global Compact.

Correspondent:  No, but I'm saying he said it right from this podium during a noon briefing.  It's in the transcript.

Spokesman:  Okay.

Question:  Okay.  What I wanted to ask you is… things that are not in the audit.  I've now, obviously, read the audit very closely, and it seems extraordinary that, if this was an attempt to… even to find, as an audit, not an investigation, interactions between these groups and the Secretariat, that such facts as the Secretary‑General being on the front page of the Macau… the programme for the Macau event in August 2015, greeting them and praising them extensively, also the Secretary‑General's spouse being photographed at an UNCA event with Vivian Wang, since been indicted, the Vice-President of South‑South News.  It seems like… why are… let's look at the Macau one, for example.  This is an online document.  It's online through a UN website.  Can you explain how a UN audit would fail to make obvious links between the Secretary‑General himself and the groups they were seeking to review?

Spokesman:  I think you're jumping to many conclusions here.  The Secretary‑General attends a lot of events.  People ask for him to take his photo with him.  So, it does not imply any sort of… of any other link than just him attending the event.

Correspondent:  But, I guess in the sense of Mr. Nambiar and Mrs. Ban attending the… attending, because it's an invitation‑only event, the founding of the Global Sustainability Foundation, which was founded by Sheri Yan, who's pled guilty to bribery charges…

Spokesman:  I think, Matthew, as a matter of logic, obviously, if we knew then what we know now, they would not attend, but I think…

Correspondent:  No, I'm asking why the audit, which describes minor things like partnering with Habitat, were they instructed not…

Spokesman:  It's a matter… of course not.  Of course not.  Michelle.

Question:  Thanks, Stéph.  A question on Yemen.  What's the latest UN assessment of the ceasefire?  And is aid getting through to the areas that need it?

Spokesman:  Unfortunately, I did not receive any humanitarian update from Yemen, but we understand it's still… things are still broadly holding.  We're working towards the 18 April talks in Kuwait.  We'll try to get an update from our humanitarian colleagues.

Question:  And just on the talks, are all the parties still committed to attend?  

Spokesman:  I think we will… as we did with Syria, we've announced the date, and I think we very much hope that all the parties will attend.  But, obviously, let's take it one day at a time.  Stefano.

Question:  Yes, about Libya, since the Sarraj government is in Tripoli, there is something… are you totally satisfied of the way things are going, or there is still something that should have happened that didn't?

Spokesman:  Well, I think "totally satisfied" is not an expression I would use to describe the situation in Libya.  We're obviously… but I'm saying, we're obviously pleased that the Presidency of the Council has managed to arrive in Tripoli, that there's been some transfer of authority.  Libya still faces some very steep challenges, and it's really up to, first and foremost, the Libyan political leaders to live up to the agreement that most of them signed on to and to put the interests of their people [first].  But, there is still a grave political situation and humanitarian situation.  But, I think progress has been made to where we were a few months ago.  Oleg.

Question:  Stéphane, you actually did not answer my question on the staff member in Ukraine.  Can you confirm…?

Spokesman:  I have no other information than what I've said.  So, as far as I know, I'm describing this person as a staff member.  Yep.  Kahraman.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  On the… the so‑called migrants in Greece and other parts of Europe that are not Syrian, that are not part of this deal between European Union and Turkey, that cannot go back… cannot go further into Europe from Greece, I mean, how does the UN describe them?  Who are they in the eyes of the Secretary‑General?  Are they refugees?  Are they migrants?  What are their rights?

Spokesman:  The determination as to whether or not people are refugees or economic migrants needs to be made according to processes laid out by the 1951 Convention on Refugees through an interview process.  Obviously, if they're determined to be refugees, they have certain rights.  If they're determined to be economic migrants, they may not have the same rights of refugees, but they have the same right to be respected and their human rights to be respected and to be treated with dignity.  If they need to go back… to be sent back, that's something that needs to be done according to, with full respect of [their] dignity and human rights.  So, it's not up to the Secretary‑General to make a determination.  It's a determination that is made through a very particular process laid out in relevant documents.  Mr. Lee.

Question:  Sure.  Thanks a lot.  I want to ask about Burundi and then something about the Security Council.  On Burundi, I tried to ask this to Farhan yesterday, but he gave a generic response, but there's been an arrest of the sister of the director of Radio Isanganiro, and this happened on Tuesday.  And the reason I'm asking about it in more detail is that the person had sought the protection of the Office of Human Rights of the UN in Burundi to accompany them because they felt, because of their family relationship, they would face retaliation and arrest, which they did.  So I wanted to know, can you find out who… in the UN system that's in the country there, are they aware of the arrest and detention of the sister of this radio director…?

Spokesman:  We'll find out.

Question:  And, if so, what's their role in it?  What did they do when the arrest took place?  And also, I'm compelled to ask you this.  The Security Council, as you know, as you described, was meeting on Syrian chemical weapons and Western Sahara, but the door to the Security Council was locked.  And I wanted to know, since some passes work and others don't, why is this taking place?  It never took place before.  I've been here for some time.  Why is it that people cannot access the stakeout during a formal Security Council meeting?

Spokesman:  If you have an issue with access, if for some reason security doesn't open the doors, go to MALU and they will escort you…

Correspondent:  MALU has said they're going to throw everything out of my office on Saturday.  So this is the extent of my… this is the extent of my communication with MALU.

Spokesman:  You can still… whether, if you have an office or not have an office, you can still go there.  Thank you.

Question:  And I want to know something about Ms. Gallach and what she said to an African ambassador on Friday that this would not take place.  What changed?