HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2015

SOUTH SUDAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES IN UNITY AND UPPER NILE STATES

• In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the escalation of hostilities in the past ten days between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition and their allied forces in Unity and Upper Nile States. 
• He is appalled by the reports of human rights violations committed by the SPLA and their allied forces, including the burning of villages, and the killing and rape of civilians, in the course of their military operations in Unity State.
• He also deplored the death of four internally displaced persons (IDPs) caught in the cross-fire in the protection of civilians site within the UNMISS compound in Melut.
• He demanded that immediate national investigations be conducted so that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable by their respective leadership.
• The Secretary-General underscored that this fighting is unacceptable. It is part of a series of violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by the parties on 23 January 2014 and undermines the ongoing Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan.
• The Secretary-General called upon President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Riek Machar to immediately cease all military operations and reminds them of their obligations to protect civilians under international human rights and humanitarian law. He reminded the parties that they must respect the inviolability of UNMISS premises, including protection of civilian sites, which are now host to more than 120,000 IDPs. 

MALI: U.N. MISSION CONDEMNS ATTACKS AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS IN BAMAKO

• The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) today strongly condemned an attack overnight at a residence housing several UN military personnel in Bamako.
• An unidentified armed assailant shot and wounded a local security guard, who prevented an attempt to set fire to a MINUSMA vehicle parked outside. Two grenades were later found on site.
• The Mission has stressed that attacks against UN staff and premises is a serious crime and that the Malian authorities are responsible for the security of UN personnel.
• MINUSMA is also very concerned by an eruption of violence in many localities in the North of Mali and intensified its contacts with all parties to restore calm and continue to advance the peace process.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS KOREAN OFFICIALS, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF POST-2015 AGENDA, CLIMATE CHANGE

• The Secretary-General attended the Seoul Digital Forum, a global communications event sponsored by the Seoul Broadcast Service.
• At the start of his speech, the Secretary-General announced the cancellation of his planned to the Kaesong Industrial Complex by the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Secretary-General said no explanation was given for this last-minute change, which he called “very regrettable.”
• He added that he will continue to not spare any effort to encourage the DPRK to work with the international community for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and beyond.
• The Secretary-General met later in the day with President Park Geun-hye and her cabinet ministers and senior advisors. They shared their views on the critical importance of making progress on the Post-2015 Agenda, climate change, development assistance funding, protection of refugees and migrants, and other urgent global issues.
• He also met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea, Chung Ui-Hwa, and other senior members of the Assembly. At that meeting, the Secretary-General expressed his hope for the Republic of Korea’s continued contributions towards the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda, climate change efforts, countering violent extremism, and other global issues.   
• The Secretary-General attended a number of events during the day, and he was granted an honorary doctorate from Ewha Women’s University. In his remarks following the official ceremony, the Secretary-General said that there is no better investment than women’s empowerment. 

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY WELCOMES COMMITMENT BY MALAYSIA, INDONESIA AND THAILAND TO RESOLVE MIGRANT CRISIS

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today welcomed the commitment announced by the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to resolve the issue of the thousands of refugees and migrants stranded in the Bay of Bengal and off the coast of Southeast Asia.
• The Agency said this is an important initial step in the search for solutions to this issue, and vital for the purpose of saving lives. It added that it is now urgent for people to be brought ashore without delay, and that immediate first aid and other care is provided for all who are in need.
• The Agency said it agrees with the Ministers that further action will be needed, and that this includes addressing root causes and looking properly at the needs of those in need of international protection. It urged countries in the region will need to work together for this to be addressed meaningfully and successfully.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF INCLUSIVE CONSULTATIONS ON YEMEN

• The Secretary-General today announced the launch of inclusive consultations starting on 28 May in Geneva to restore momentum towards a Yemeni-led political transition process.
• The initiative, bringing together a broad range of Yemeni governmental and other actors, follows extensive consultations by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, as well as strong expressions of support by the UN Security Council in its resolutions for a peaceful and Yemeni-led political transition process.
• In particular, in resolution 2216 (2015), the Security Council emphasized the need for the return to the implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism and the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and reaffirmed its full support for, and commitment to, the efforts of the United Nations to re-launch the political dialogue.
• The Secretary-General urged all the participants to engage in the UN consultations in good faith and without pre-conditions. The only durable resolution to the crisis in Yemen is an inclusive, negotiated political settlement. 
• The UN has worked closely with Yemenis since 2011 to support national aspirations for change. With this experience and coupled with Yemen’s tradition of dialogue, the Secretary-General hopes these consultations will help Yemen re-launch the political process, reduce the levels of violence and alleviate the intolerable humanitarian situation.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF ARRIVES IN IRAN TO DISCUSS REGIONAL ISSUES

• The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, arrived in Tehran today for an official one-day visit. This is her third official visit to the country in her capacity as Emergency Relief Coordinator. 
• Ms. Amos is expected to meet senior Iranian Government officials in Tehran, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Javad Zarif and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. She will discuss regional issues, including the situation in Iraq, Yemen and Syria.

U.N. OFFICIALS EXPRESS GRAVE CONCERN OVER ISRAEL’S PLANS TO TRANSFER PALESTINIAN BEDOUINS

• In response to questions on plans concerning the transfer of Palestinian Bedouins, the Deputy Spokesman said that the Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, James W. Rawley, and the Director of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Operations for the West Bank, Felipe Sanchez, expressed their grave concern today that Israel is rapidly advancing plans to transfer Palestinian Bedouins in the central West Bank from their current communities.
• Mr. Rawley said that Israeli practices in Area C of the West Bank, including a marked increase of demolitions and confiscations of donor-funded structures in the first quarter of 2015, have compounded an already untenable situation for Bedouin communities.
• The plan occurs against the backdrop of a discriminatory zoning and planning regime that facilitates the development of illegal Israeli settlements at the expense of Palestinians, for whom it is almost impossible to obtain permits for construction.
• Instead, they live in constant fear of eviction and home demolitions. The forced urbanization of Bedouin communities in the three relocation sites would destroy their culture and livelihoods.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL TO VISIT FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MADEDONIA

• The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonovic, will begin a visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia tomorrow. This will be the first visit to the country by a senior UN human rights official since 1999.
• Mr. Šimonovic, who will be joined on his two-day visit by colleagues from the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), will meet with Government officials, the Ombudsman, political party leaders, human rights defenders, representatives of civil society, the UN Country Team and the international community.