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.

**Syria

The Secretary-General and his Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, will inform the General Assembly of the latest developments on Syria at an informal meeting that starts at 3 p.m. this afternoon.  I understand that the meeting is open and will be webcast.  Mr. de Mistura will appear via video because just earlier this morning he was in Geneva, unless he took a plane.  I don’t know.  I don’t think so.  We will see.  It will remain a mystery.

He spoke to reporters in Geneva today following a meeting of the Humanitarian Task Force, and he said that the UN considers the current 11-hour pause in Aleppo as a direct response to an urgent request for medical evacuation and relief for those who have been wounded and are sick victims inside eastern Aleppo.  That request, he added, has been on the table for a few weeks, and the UN welcomes it, as it does any humanitarian pause. 

At the same time, the Special Envoy said his plan for a permanent cessation of hostilities in Aleppo has not yet been implemented.  That plan, he said, entails a halt to bombing and fighting from both sides; the voluntary departure of Al-Nusra and other fighters, with their weapons, to another location; public assurances by the Government of Syria to allow the local administration, in eastern Aleppo, to remain in place, and for non-Al-Nusra fighters who accept the cessation of hostilities to be allowed to stay; as well as humanitarian access.  Mr. de Mistura continues to push for that plan, which has not yet been fully accepted by all parties.

**Haiti

And from Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues report that humanitarian partners continue to deliver critical assistance to devastated areas in Les Cayes.  Yesterday, WFP [World Food Programme] distributed additional food to affected families with further distributions planned this week.  Access to remote communities continues to be a challenge but is improving.  Yesterday, the World Health Organization along with the Pan American Health Organization visited the remote village of Randell.  They brought medical kits while assessing their immediate humanitarian needs.  More items, such as hygiene kits, buckets and essential drugs will be delivered again today.

Heavy rains in Jérémie may result in a further deterioration of sanitary conditions in the area, which will likely aggravate the health situation.  WFP has so far provided food assistance to 77,000 people in the most affected departments and transported well over 2,000 MT of food to Les Cayes and Jérémie.

The Peacekeeping Mission also continues to support the humanitarian response.  It is increasing its deployment of engineering assets in the southeast between Port au Prince, Belle Anse and Grand Gosier to maintain roads and conduct assessments in remote areas. The Mission also enhanced its engineer capacity to improve logistical support to the base in Les Cayes, a major hub for the hurricane response.  The Mission notes that with access to remote areas now possible by sea, cargo ships are carrying aid and assistance to areas not accessible by roads.  MINUSTAH, in agreement with and support of the Haitian authority stands ready to secure the unloading of relief items upon arrival.

**Iraq

And from Iraq, our humanitarian colleagues there say that since the beginning of the Mosul operation, 5,640 people have been displaced, with more than 3,700 displaced yesterday alone.  The vast majority of displaced families are so far have been received in Qayyarah district, some 60 kilometres south of Mosul; some have also been received in Debaga, on the outskirts of Erbil.  They are receiving assistance from humanitarian partners, through pre-positioning facilities and supplies.

Humanitarian workers continue to focus on identification, assessment and establishment of potential displacement sites.  Shelter is currently available for 60,000 people in camps and emergency sites, and construction of additional sites, with a capacity for 250,000 people, is under way.

Emergency supplies of food, health items, medicines, shelter kits, water and sanitation assistance continue to be moved into storage sites and distribution points.  Serious concerns remain for the protection of civilians in the areas under the control of Da’esh inside Mosul, and for their safety as hostilities intensify closer to densely populated areas.  And also a reminder that our humanitarian appeal and projects for Iraq continue to be severely under-funded.

**Lebanon

The Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, welcomed the passing of the law for the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution, incorporating a National Preventive Mechanism against Torture.  She said that this is an important step towards achieving increased accountability, transparency and compliance with human rights standards.  The UN, including with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the lead, will continue to support and assist Lebanon in its efforts to uphold human rights.

**Libya

And from Libya, our colleague Martin Kobler, the head of the political mission there yesterday attended a meeting of Libya’s neighbouring countries in Niger and called on regional powers to support the newly unified Presidency Council in its effort to create a new Government of National Accord.  He also encouraged them to urge the House of Representatives to endorse the new government once it is presented.  Mr. Kobler noted that despite the weapons embargo there’s an estimated 26 million weapons in Libya.  He urged all Member States to abide by the embargo and to control their borders.

Mr. Kobler said that Libya is not, as is often said, at a crossroads.  Libya has found its way, he said, but it is the Libyan Political Agreement.  However, the risk of the resurgence of the conflict is real.  He encouraged the region to unify behind a common approach that will bring the Libyan parties together and set the country on the path to stability and progress. 

**Philippines

And our colleagues at OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] say that Typhoon Haima, known locally as Lawin, made landfall in the Philippines yesterday evening, bringing strong winds and torrential rain.  According to the Government, some 6,500 families were evacuated and the Government is leading damage assessments, and OCHA stands ready to help.

**Habitat III

In case you had not noticed, Habitat III Conference is wrapping up in Quito this afternoon, where Member States are expected to adopt the New Urban Agenda.  The Agenda recognizes urbanization as a key element for development, and contains several important commitments for a more sustainable future.  Joan Clos, the Executive Director of UN Habitat has described the Agenda as "a vision for a better and greener urban future, where everyone has access to the benefits of urbanization".

**Traffic

A couple more things, a report from UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] that says that millions of people are dying and opportunities to bolster the fight against climate change are being overlooked due to the lack of investment in safe walking and cycling infrastructure.  The report calls on countries to invest at least 20 per cent of their transport budgets on this kind of infrastructure to save lives and reduce carbon emissions.  Erik Solheim, the head of UNEP, said designing transport systems around cars puts more vehicles on the road, increasing both greenhouse-gas emissions and deadly air pollutants.

**Earlier Questions

I was asked, I think by you, Mr. Lee, about a gentleman named Daniel Gitner and his involvement in the case concerning Ng Lap Seng.  Daniel Gitner is an outside counsel who has been retained to advise the UN with respect to certain aspects of the case.

**Guest

And after we are done here, Richard Kollodge, the Editor of the UNFPA State of World Population report 2016 will brief on the report’s main findings.  Among other topics, the report highlights the importance of supporting the world’s 60 million 10-year-old girls today as they start their journey from adolescence to adulthood.

**Pressers Tomorrow

Tomorrow, quite a busy day; 11 a.m., a briefing by Alfred de Zayas, the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order will take place highlighting the findings and recommendations of the report to the seventy-first session of the GA.  At 11:30 a.m., press briefing by Mrs. Ségolène Royal, the French Minister of the Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs, responsible for International Climate Relations.  12 p.m. in ECOSOC [Economic and Social Council], as you heard extensively a short while ago, there will be the Wonder Woman event, and the briefing will probably be delayed a little bit.  And at 1 p.m., there will be a press briefing by the Special Rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights, Ben Emmerson, who will speak to the press after presenting a new report examining the impact of counter-terrorism measures on the human rights of migrants and refugees.  You have been waiting quite a long time, sir.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Two presidential questions.  First, on Lebanon, today, there was a development that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his support to… for Michel Aoun to become the next President in Lebanon.  Do you have any comment on that?  And my other question is about the, Mr. Donald Trump said yesterday that he wouldn't say whether he would accept the results of the presidential elections here in the US.

Spokesman:  Let me take the easier one first:  Lebanon.  Who would have thought that would be simpler, huh?  Our colleague Sigrid Kaag told us just this morning that she remains closely engaged with all stakeholders on finding a solution to the political stalemate.  She meets on a continuing basis with political leaders, including today with the former Prime Minister, Saad Hariri; Speaker Berri's office; and the Hizbullah Deputy Secretary‑General Naem Qassem.  Her consultations have underlined the need to ensure the credibility and viability of any approach to resolve the crisis.  The Secretary‑General, as called for by the Security Council's Presidential Statement this summer, continues to encourage a compromise agreement with the aim of ending the political and institutional crisis in Lebanon.  On the second question, I think, first and foremost, to be clear, the UN has, plays no role in the holding or the organizing of the, of the elections.  So I'm not going to comment on the process.  That being said, I think, as I would say and as we would say here about any election, any election around the world, any grievances related to the process need to be addressed through established, constitutional and legal means.  Michelle.

Question:  Follow‑up, Stéph.  How concerned is the UN that such remarks as the ones made by one of the US presidential candidates that the election is rigged could spark some form of post‑election violence?

Spokesman:  I think there's lively debate going on in this country in advance of the presidential polls in November.  I'm not going to get further into it.  As I said, this is what we would say for, if you'd asked me about any election, the importance of people bringing any electoral‑related grievances through the established, constitutional and legal process.  Mr. Lee.

Question:  Sure.  I was going to ask something else, but I'd meant to ask you this yesterday.  I don't know if it's related or not, but, as you may have seen, Ecuador announced that they had, had intentionally cut the Internet service to Mr. Assange, who's in their embassy seeking asylum.  So I wanted to know… and they said, you know, their expressed reason is to prevent the interference and the internal matters of another country.  But, does the UN accept that, that a grounds for… for blocking the Internet or suspending publication of any kind, does it accept that reason?  And what do you think of it?

Spokesman:  No, I'm not going to comment on Ecuador's decision.

Question:  Okay.  I wanted to ask you… first, I want to ask you about Haiti.  I heard your readout.  I'm sure you've seen the reports that… that not just that it prevents, it presents a danger of spreading but that there are, in fact, 800 new cases of cholera since Hurricane Matthew.  And I wanted to know, given the UN's role in having brought cholera to Haiti, what… what… either the outcomes of that meeting on Friday, have any pledges been made?  And what does the Secretary‑General himself, personally feel about… it's one thing to say sanitation causes its spread, but if the UN caused the introduction of the strain of cholera… what's his response?

 

Spokesman:  I would refer you back to what the Secretary‑General himself said in Haiti.  You can look it up.  I think it was, it was very personal and very heartfelt, and that stands.  We're very well aware of the increased cases of cholera.  I think Dr. Nabarro, who was down there earlier this week, even said they were probably underreported.  I think all of that, it just underscores the need to deal with the outbreak, both quickly in terms of sending out chlorine and water purification tablets and other medical supplies.  And as we've said, we're working on this two‑track approach, and more details will be unveiled very soon.

Question:  And just on… I'd asked or begun asking about teargas last time Haiti… I was asking about Haiti.  And I wanted to just know what your response is.  It seems like it was reported that teargas was used on “looters”, but there's footage of people taking infant children on motorcycles to get the teargas used by MINUSTAH had washed off them.  So, what is… what's the protocol for MINUSTAH and UN peacekeepers to use teargas…?

Spokesman:  It is very important for MINUSTAH to be able to protect the humanitarian convoys.  They're doing their best.  If there are any issues that need to be investigated, they will.  Yep.

Question:  Stéphane, do you think it's a coincidence that today is… there's a meeting in the General Assembly on Syria and the very same day Russia and Syrian regime announced a humanitarian pause?  Don't you think it's a preemptive move against the [inaudible] of this meeting?

Spokesman:  I'm not good at analysis.  I think you need to ask both the Russian and the Syrians for the motivation on their timing.  Iftikhar.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  The ceasefire in Yemen did take hold initially, but [inaudible]?

Spokesman:  We're waiting for some updates.  We've been in touch with the Special Envoy's office.  He's trying to get some updates, and as soon as we have something, we'll share that with you.  Yep, Nabil.

Question:  On Aleppo, we hear different numbers and assessments on how many Nusra fighters there are in… there is in Aleppo.  And Mr. de Mistura said once 900, and some other parties believe that the number is different, is lower or higher.  So do you have a final assessment, or is this number confirmed, or is it still…

Spokesman:  You know… I'm not going to second‑guess what Mr. de Mistura said.  Obviously, I think you can imagine that it is hard to get precise, exact numbers in light of the situation on the ground.

Question:  And you said that he's engaged with parties and discussing his proposal for Aleppo.  Is there any progress on that?  And is there any expectations, timeframe?

Spokesman:  Look, I think we're beyond the, in a sense, the expectations game, right?  We are in the situation that we are in Aleppo.  The people of Aleppo are suffering, they continue to suffer.  I think Mr. de Mistura and Jan Egeland's press encounter in Geneva explain what they're trying to do in the coming days in terms of evacuation, but what we would like to do in a greater sense in terms of humanitarian access and the agreement for all the parties and his plan that he's put forward, which has not yet been implemented, but he continues to push forward.  I think the General Assembly meeting is obviously an important one in order for him to be able to brief the Member States as well as the Secretary‑General.  We hope that, by coincidence, it could be the catalyst for, for more positive developments on the ground.  But I think we're in a situation where we have to take it one day at a time and pursue any open avenue that may be open.

Question:  May I follow up [inaudible]…?

Spokesman:  You may.

Question:  Is there any cooperation or coordination between the United Nations and the actions on the delivery of, of any kind of aids?  And are you taking this opportunity?  Thank you.

Spokesman:  I think the pause that we're seeing will be really one that will be used by our humanitarian colleagues, both in the UN and other agencies, to do medical evacuation critically, the hundreds of sick and critically wounded people.  We need a broader pause involving all the parties to do the humanitarian access to bring aid in, and that we're not there at, we're not there yet.  Mr. de Mistura has contacts with the Russian and other parties.  Colleagues in Syria have contacts with all the parties.  I mean, people are talking, but what we need to do, what we need to see are results on ground for the people in Aleppo.  

Question:  [inaudible]?

Spokesman:  We don't, I don't have that number.  I think we have to wait and see if it happens.  Michelle.

Question:  Question on Burundi.  Has the UN received the letter from the President withdrawing from the ICC [International Criminal Court]?

Spokesman:  It was not in the morning post as far as I know.  If it comes in the afternoon post, I shall announce it.

Question:  And to clarify, does the one‑year deadline, I guess, kick in from the moment the letter is received or from the moment the President signed it?  You'll find out for me.

Spokesman:  Thank you.  Mr. Lee and then we'll go…

Question:  Also on Burundi.  I wanted to ask, yesterday and today, there was a Peacebuilding Configuration meeting at which a question was asked but not answered and has to do with this announced national militia, excuse me, national volunteer corps.  And the question was asked by one of the Member States whether this is, in fact, just a militia.  And I wanted to know, since the UN at least… first of all, what's the status of the UN's presence in the country, including through the… of the Office of Human Rights people that are supposedly being contacts broken off with to?  And also what is the UN's analysis of this announced national volunteer corps which many see as a new parallel militia?  

Spokesman:  I'll see what I can get on this latest development.

Question:  What about the people?

Spokesman:  The people, as far as I understand, they're still, discussions are on, and the human rights staff remain in country.  Nabil?

Question:  JIM [Joint Investigative Mechanism] report, we heard it's expected anytime today or tomorrow.  Do you know if it's coming out?

Spokesman:  You know, there's a big pipeline where a lot of documents are in, and they sometimes pop out like geysers.  So we just have to wait.

Question:  And… and does the SG [Secretary-General] believe that JIM needs to be extended…

Spokesman:  I think we'll, we'll wait to see to get the report.  Edie.  Sorry.  I didn't know if you were waving at me, trying to ask questions.  Go ahead.

Question:  Could you… after this humanitarian pause, this 11‑hour pause, there seems to be an indication from the Russians that the bombing is going to remain stopped.  There are these expert talks going on in Geneva.  What's the next step going to be?  Is the Secretary‑General going to be trying to convene some kind of a meeting to get possibly a restart in negotiations between the Syrian parties?

Spokesman:  I think, again, we have to take it one day at a time.  What we're seeing, hopefully, later this week are the medical evacuations of those who urgently need it from Aleppo.  We are asking, we've been asking repeatedly, for a larger, more extended pause agreed to by all the parties to get humanitarian aid in.  Obviously, Mr. de Mistura's goal has always been to restart the talks, but I think, as he's also often said, he doesn't want to have talks for the sake of having talks.  So when he feels that the situation is ripe to bring people back around the table, he will do so.  But it doesn't seem like that's currently the case.  

Question:  On other matter, could you please clarify the ground rules for us using the material from the previous…

Spokesman:  What I had announced is that it was on deep background, nothing was to be quoted.  What I'm trying, what I'm trying to get, and I think Ms. Gallach will agree, is for her to basically release the opening remarks she made, and you'll be able to quote from those.  But let me check with her as soon as I get back.  Yeah.

Question:  Thanks, Stéph.  She seemed to indicate that everything could be used tomorrow, direct quote or anything.  Could you check on, double‑check on that?

Spokesman:  I will do that.  I will do that, yes.  Yes, sir.

Question:  I guess I want to know. Maybe it's for this one or for going forward, why you don't try to resolve these things in advance, because it was announced as a background briefing, which would imply that you could cover it live and administrative officials?

Spokesman:  I agree with you.  Listen… if I could resolve things well in advance, I would do so.

Question:  When did you know…?

Spokesman:  Sometimes…sometimes we fly by the seat of our pants here.

Question:  Right, but when did you decide to do it?

Spokesman:  Go ahead.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  What's the current status of the SPLA in Opposition members that were evacuated…? 

Spokesman:  Sorry?

Correspondent:  The SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] in Opposition members evacuated from the eastern DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] some time ago…

Spokesman:  That's a very good question.  I'd asked for an update which I don't think I've received, so let me see what I can get.

Question:  There was a report by Reuters today that Iran stepped up delivery of arms to Yemen through Oman and… 

Spokesman:  Stepped or stopped?

Question:  Stepped up the delivery of arms to the Houthis in Yemen.  Do you have anything to say about that?

Spokesman:  I'll check, see if we can confirm it.  Yes, ma'am.

Question:  I was wondering if you would comment on Secretary Kerry's comments on a new Syria ceasefire.  He said he didn't have very high expectations from the talks in Geneva.

Spokesman:  Well, I mean, I think I have been commenting on it.  I mean, our focus right now is on, is on this unilateral declaration by the Russian and the Syrian Government of a halt to the bombing and the attacks.  We will seize that window of opportunity to hopefully be able to evacuate those who need to be evacuated on medical grounds.  What we seek is a broader cessation of hostilities agreed to by all parties to enable us to get the humanitarian aid in.  As I said, I think we're beyond the prediction model here.  We're just trying to get things one step at a time.  It's a very fragile construct that we're trying to put together.  Olga.

Question:  Stéph, I'm sorry to ask again about ceasefire in Syria, but I'm just reading what Jan Egeland said in Geneva.  So you are saying that, during this humanitarian pause in Aleppo and, hopefully, by the end of this week, the medical evacuation will be provided?  But Jan Egeland just said that today, on Thursday, UN is expecting to deliver humanitarian aid in Moadamiyeh and in the current days in Foah, Kefraya, Madaya, and Zabadani.

Spokesman:  I was talking about Aleppo.  So, we'll see if, I have no reason to go against what Mr. Egeland said.  I was referring to Aleppo.

Question:  So again… but the humanitarian pause was like first 8 hours, then 11 hours, and then it was said that, hopefully, depends on the situation on the ground… [inaudible] days, if the situation will be stable.  Are you ready to provide the humanitarian aid on Friday…?

Spokesman:  We've been ready to provide humanitarian aid for… 

Question:  …Saturday?

Spokesman:  …for weeks and weeks.  What we're waiting for are the right conditions for a broader pause agreed to by, by all the parties, and that remains the aim.  Oleg, then Matthew, and then Nabil.

Question:  If I would just continue the Aleppo questions, yesterday when you were asked about the delivery of humanitarian aid, you were talking about the security guarantees you need from all the parties on the ground.  So, now you're saying that the evacuations, medical evacuations can proceed.  So, how different is the operation with the medical evacuation and with the…?

Spokesman:  It's, and I don't want to get into logistical details, we're talking about different logistics and perhaps different routes.  Mr. Lee.

Correspondent:  [inaudible].

Spokesman:  Please, go ahead.  You and your Periscope.

Correspondent:  All right.  Okay.  Absolutely, because…

Spokesman:  It gets my double chin so I don't really… 

Correspondent:  No, no.  This thing is too high.  If we could lower…

Spokesman:  You can hook it up to the front.

Question:  All right.  Here's the… first on Mr. Gitlin [Gitner], thanks for the answer, but his law firm is not currently having an active contract in terms of the UN procurement database.  So I wanted to know, maybe you don't know, but if you can find out, what… what budget line does hiring outside counsel to deal with the Ng Lap Seng case come out of?  And also, what's your answer on providing at least a summary of the 61 documents that were provided and when other ones will be given…?

Spokesman:  I'm not going provide any details of an ongoing case.  I would imagine it comes out of the budget of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Question:  Okay, and here's the real… this is what I wanted to ask you.  I'd asked you about the speech the Secretary‑General gave on Friday.  You said it was a private event.  You said to check with the sponsors what the financial arrangements were.  So I have.  And $100,000 was charged to attend this… this dinner of the Council of Korean… of Korean‑Americans.  And I wanted to know, what is… did… did the Secretary‑General seek any Ethics Office ruling for… for speaking?  They've been promoting his attendance since August on Twitter and elsewhere.  So it wasn't just that he happened to in D.C.  So he raised money for this group.  And I wanted to know, what is the ethics of UN officials raising that kind of money for a private group?  And can we infer from that that he believes in and supports the political views of the group given that he raised the money for them…?

Spokesman:  I don't think you can infer that from that.

Question:  How much did he raise for them?

Spokesman:  I think UN officials often speak at places where money is raised.

Question:  I've heard UNDP say… say that they can speak if what's charged is to pay for the food, but $100,000…?

Spokesman:  It's hard to say.  That's what I'm telling you…

Question:  Does the Ethics Office have an opinion on this?

Spokesman:  Nabil?

Question:  So the tension between the Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi and the Turkish President is getting higher and higher, especially around Mosul battle.  And they're exchanging accusations related to sectarianism, Shia-Sunni, et cetera.  And we haven't heard any direct message or position from the SG on that.  What do you have to say to both leaders?

Spokesman:  Iraq and Turkey are two very big neighbouring countries.  I think it's very important, especially given the current, the current situation, that they enjoy open and honest and non‑acrimonious relations.

Question:  Can any UN official use their picture with the UN flag to raise money for an outside group without getting an Ethics Office opinion?

Spokesman:  [inaudible] Ethics Office.  I will get our guest, the UNFPA briefer.  Thank you.