HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2015

 

COTE D'IVOIRE: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT ON RE-ELECTION, LAUDS PEOPLE FOR SUCCESSFUL POLLS

  • In a statement, the Secretary-General welcomes the publication of the final results of the presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire by the Constitutional Council on 02 November 2015 and congratulates President Alassane Ouattara on his re-election.
    The Secretary-General also congratulates the people and Government of Côte d’Ivoire on the successful conclusion of the presidential election. He applauds the Independent Electoral Commission for having organized and carried out the elections in a professional manner in accordance with the law and the Constitution of Côte d’Ivoire. He also wishes to acknowledge the role played by the different electoral observation teams, including from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. He acknowledges in particular the commendable engagement of civil society, which contributed to enhance the transparency and credibility of the elections.
  • The Secretary-General believes the successful conduct of these polls confirms that Côte d'Ivoire is returning towards lasting peace and stability. He commends the Ivorian leadership and people for their tireless efforts over the past five years to consolidate peace, and promote democracy and the rule of law. He is hopeful that the same democratic and peaceful spirit will prevail in the conduct of the upcoming legislative elections.
  • The Secretary-General looks forward to working closely with President Alassane Ouattara and the people of Côte d’Ivoire in defining the future role of the United Nations in support of the consolidation of peace, stability and democracy in the country.

LIBYA: U.N. MISSION CALLS FOR REDOUBLING OF EFFORTS ON POLITICAL DIALOGUE

  • The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) calls on the main political stakeholders in Libya to redouble their efforts in bringing the Libyan political dialogue process to a successful conclusion. Such a conclusion would allow for an agreement to form a Government of National Accord and resume Libya’s democratic transition.
  • Immediately after the conclusion of the Libyan Political Dialogue, UNSMIL transmitted on 11 October the Libyan Political Agreement to the main political stakeholders for their endorsement. Following this, the Mission has undertaken extensive consultations with parties across the Libyan political spectrum on ways to address some of the concerns with respect to the configuration of the Presidency Council, especially those related to fair and adequate representation for the east, more specifically Benghazi.
  • Meanwhile, in response to questions concerning the leadership of UNSMIL, the Secretary-General has reaffirmed that his Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, remains fully engaged on his behalf in facilitating the Libyan Political Dialogue. The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to reiterate his full confidence in Mr. León's efforts.

U.N. ENVOY VISITS SYRIA FOR TALKS ON RECENT VIENNA CONFERENCE

  • The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, spent the last two days in Damascus, where he discussed with the Government of Syria the outcomes of the Vienna Conference and the importance of early confidence-building measures in order to maintain the spirit of the Vienna meeting.

YEMEN’S ALREADY FRAGILE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION RAPIDLY DETERIORATING, U.N. AGENCY WARNS

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) says that Yemen’s fragile food security is deteriorating fast. Ten out of Yemen’s 22 governorates are classified as facing food insecurity at ‘Emergency’ level – one step below famine. Humanitarian organizations need to be able to move freely and safely to provide assistance to reach all those in urgent need before they fall deeper into crisis. 
    Yemen has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world. Now, an estimated 1 in 5 people is “severely food insecure” and in urgent need of food assistance.
  • The security situation in Yemen continues to be tense. Airstrikes and ground conflict reported across the country have major implications for WFP food deliveries. Road access to Taiz from Sana’a is particularly affected by insecurity and conflict in the governorate.
  • Despite colossal challenges, WFP has been reaching 1 million people on average every month since the conflict started. In September and October, WFP scaled up its response, providing food assistance to over 2.5 people across Yemen each month.
  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that a category 3 cyclone is bearing down on Yemen's southern coast and expected to make landfall at 9:00 local time on Tuesday.
  • The effects of the cyclone may be felt over large parts of Yemen but are likely to be more severe in the coastal governorates Shabwah and Hadhramaut. These governorates have a combined population of about 1.8 million people, 1.4 million of whom are already considered in need of humanitarian support. OCHA and UN agencies are monitoring, planning and pre-positioning relief in preparation for the cyclone.

TENSIONS PERSIST IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CAPITAL – U.N. MISSION

  • The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reports continuing tensions in Bangui.
  • UN police personnel were yesterday caught in a crossfire during clashes in the vicinity of Fatima Church in the 6th district of Bangui. No injuries were reported.
  • Earlier in the day, there was movement of a group from the Muslim stronghold in the 3rd district towards the Christian-dominated Kpetene area in 6th district. UN police officers interposed between the two communities to prevent clashes. The Mission also sent reinforcements, including armoured vehicles to the area.

U.N. SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ABDUCTION OF AID WORKERS IN EASTERN D.R. CONGO

  • The Humanitarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mamadou Diallo, strongly condemned the abduction on Sunday of 14 aid workers working for a Congolese NGO in the Rutshuru area in North Kivu province.
  • He said that this abduction confirms the fragile security situation in which many humanitarian organizations are working in the DRC, and whose first victims are the local people.

MORE THAN 700 IRAQIS KILLED BY TERRORISM, FIGHTING IN OCTOBER – U.N. REPORT

  • According to casualty figures released yesterday by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 714 Iraqis were killed and another 1,269 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in October 2015.
  • Ján Kubiš, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, said that the figures illustrate the suffering of the people of Iraq from terrorism and conflict.

U.N. RELIEF CHIEF MEETS UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER AHEAD OF VISIT TO COUNTRY’S EAST

  • The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, arrived in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv today for a three-day mission.
  • He met with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and had a good discussion on ways to get vital humanitarian aid to people in need.
  • Tomorrow, Mr. O'Brien is scheduled to travel to areas in the east of Ukraine to see for himself the impact of the conflict on civilians caught in the middle of the fighting.

MYANMAR: AHEAD OF POLLS, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES CURBING OF PRESSURE, VIOLENCE BASED ON ETHNICITY, RELIGION

  • In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern at the continuous resort to hate speech, the incitement of communal animosities and the abuse of religion for political purposes resorted to by extreme elements among the majority community in Myanmar.
  • He noted the antagonism displayed in certain quarters against international organizations, including the United Nations.
  • With the approaching elections on 8 November, the Secretary-General urged all concerned in Myanmar to eschew any kind of pressure, intimidation, dissemination of hatred or violence against individuals or organizations based on their ethnic identity, gender, religious persuasion or political views.

MARKING INTERNATIONAL DAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES THAT IMPUNITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST JOURANALISTS ALLOWS CENSORSHIP TO THRIVE

  • Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
  • In his message for the day, the Secretary-General stressed that more than 700 journalists have been killed in the last decade and that only 7 percent of such cases are resolved, and less than 1 crime out of 10 is even fully investigated.
  • Such impunity deepens fear among journalists and enables Governments to get away with censorship, the Secretary-General said, adding that the world must do more to combat this trend and make sure that journalists can report freely. 

LONG-SERVING U.N. OFFICIAL NAMED TO SENIOR POSITION IN U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

  • The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Tegegnework Gettu of Ethiopia as Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
  • Mr. Gettu succeeds Maria Eugenia Casar of Mexico who is taking up a new position as the Executive Director of the Agency for International Co-operation and Development of Mexico (AMEXCID). The Secretary-General expresses his gratitude to Ms. Casar for her services to the Organization and her role in leading change from within UNDP.
  • Mr. Gettu is currently serving as Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, and has previously had a distinguished career within UNDP.

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