HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2015

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR ALL COMMUNITIES TO BE PROTECTED DURING VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN

• The Secretary-General today visited Kazakhstan, where he participated in the Fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.  In his remarks, he said that there is no greater cause today than building bridges of understanding and cooperation among communities.
• We must open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to those of different backgrounds or beliefs, and safeguard the rights of all religious communities, in particular minority communities. 
• The Secretary-General also met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev. He took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new UN House in Astana, along with Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov. 
• Speaking to the press afterward, the Secretary-General said that Kazakhstan is known for its work within the region and around the world, serving as a global leader in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and peacebuilding. He also said that Kazakhstan should continue to make progress on human rights, including the development of a comprehensive National Human Rights Action Plan.
• While in Kazakhstan, the Secretary-General also met with the President of Finland. He received an honorary doctorate from Alfarabi Kazakh National University, before leaving for Kyrgyzstan.

SECURITY SITUATION IN DARFUR REMAINS SERIOUS, WARNS U.N. PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL

• The Security Council today met on Sudan today and heard a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet.
• Mr. Mulet said the security situation remained very serious in Darfur, with continued need for substantial humanitarian assistance and limited progress in the peace process.
• He also noted a deeply concerning increase in violent attacks against personnel from the African Union-UN Mission (UNAMID) as well as humanitarian personnel.
• Mr. Mulet stressed that the second phase of the Government’s military offensive “Operation Decisive Summer” had resulted in high numbers of newly displaced people. In addition, the current year has seen inter-communal conflicts leading to periodic outbreaks of violence.

U.N. ENVOY FOR SYRIA CONTINUES TO MEET WITH SYRIAN, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INTERLOCUTORS

• The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, continues to meet with a broad spectrum of Syrian, regional and international interlocutors within the framework of the Geneva Consultations.
• Since 5 May 2015, Mr. de Mistura and his deputy, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, have met so far with representatives of the Syrian Government, the Syrian opposition Coalition and 39 Syrian political and civil society groups. They have also held 26 meetings with representatives of concerned Member States from the Security Council and the region, as well as regional organizations. This process is expected to continue into July.
• Mr. de Mistura reiterates his sincere hope and belief that guns will fall silent one day. The sooner they fall silent, the more lives will be saved. It is the responsibility of all Syrian, regional and international actors to try to bring that day forward and to make every effort to protect civilians under any circumstances and at all times. This is particularly relevant to the unacceptable use of barrel bombs.
• In the coming weeks, the Special Envoy intends to brief the Secretary-General on his findings from this process.

IRAQ: U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CALLS FOR GREATER ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CRISIS

• The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, called for greater assistance for millions of people across Iraq following a two-day visit to the country.  He said that it is imperative at this critical time that we do more to mitigate the suffering of the Iraqi people.
• Since January 2014, more than three million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes and more than eight million people are in need of assistance. Aid agencies urgently need access to vulnerable people in need as well as funding for critical relief work.
• Mr. O’Brien said that all the families he spoke with had heart-breaking stories of fear, flight, loss and grief. International humanitarian law obliges all those engaged in fighting to protect civilians during hostilities, including by refraining from targeting them.
• He said that the United Nations is working to ensure emergency assistance is provided wherever it is needed in Iraq but the UN urgently needs $497 million to provide shelter, food, water and other life-saving services over the coming six months.

MORE THAN 1,000 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN YEMEN IN RECENT MONTHS, WARNS U.N. RIGHTS OFFICE

• An estimated 1,297 civilians have been killed and 3,227 others injured in Yemen as a result of the conflict between 26 March and 7 June, according to the latest figures released by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
• Meanwhile, a health office warehouse in Taizz city was hit by shelling yesterday, destroying thousands of medical kits, mosquito nets and other health supplies, according to humanitarian partners.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REMAINS HOPEFUL THAT LIBYA DIALOGUE PROCESS WILL HELP TO END CRISIS

• All delegations of the Libyan political dialogue are currently in Berlin for discussions hosted by Germany with senior officials from a number of States, including the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom, as well as, of course, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative Bernardino León.
• In a communique issued moments ago in Berlin, all participants renewed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya, while recalling the Security Council statement of 23 July [2014] and other relevant Council resolutions.
• The Governments represented at the meeting and the European Union expressed their unequivocal support for the Libyan political dialogue led by Mr. León and to his proposals to reach a compromise.
• The Secretary-General remains very hopeful that this agreement will help the Libyans end the current crisis and rebuild their country in a peaceful and unified manner.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND U.N. HEALTH AGENCY START REVIEW OF MERS OUTBREAK

• In Seoul today, the joint mission by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health has begun its work to review the situation regarding the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, also known as MERS CoV, currently ongoing in the Republic of Korea.
• The WHO mission led by the Assistant Director-General Dr. Keiji Fukuda said that current efforts to control the outbreak and prevent further spread are being intensified.
• There have been 108 confirmed cases and 9 deaths so far in the Republic of Korea.
• Evidence suggests that the pattern of the outbreak may be similar to the ones that have taken place in health care facilities in the Middle East, but that investigation is still ongoing.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

• In a response to a question on the Secretary-General’s phone conversation last week with the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, the Spokesman said that during the phone call, the Secretary-General congratulated the President on his accomplishments since assuming office, including on the adoption of the 19^th Amendment to the constitution.
• The Secretary-General sought the President’s views on the prospect for electoral reform. He wished him success with ongoing legislative efforts and inquired about next steps.
• The Secretary-General appreciated the President’s emphasis on reconciliation and offered the UN’s continued support to Sri Lanka’s peacebuilding efforts.
• In response to a question on the Healthcare for Population Control Law in Myanmar, the Spokesman said that the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) late yesterday said, in a statement, that it is gravely concerned about the adoption of the law.
• UNFPA warned that if implemented the law could directly undermine basic human rights and women's reproductive rights and freedoms, as confirmed in the Programme of Action adopted at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, to which Myanmar had agreed to.
• Angola became the 98th Member State to pay its dues to UN regular budget in full.