SPOKESMAN’S HIGHLIGHTS

WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2015

**No noon briefing this week [28 December to 1 January]**

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

• In a statement issued on the eve of the presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic, the Secretary-General called on all national stakeholders to commit themselves to ensuring that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and credible manner.
• The Secretary-General is encouraged to see that almost two million people have registered to vote in a clear demonstration of the population’s engagement to exercise their democratic franchise.
• The Secretary-General reiterated that, in line with its mandate, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is doing everything possible in cooperation with the national authorities to prevent any possible disruption of the electoral process.
• The Secretary-General urged all political stakeholders to work closely with MINUSCA in this regard. He calls on them to resolve disputes that may arise from the elections through legal and peaceful means in full respect of the code of conduct adopted on 9 December 2015.
• The Secretary-General also commended the Transitional Authorities for having organized the referendum on the Constitution earlier this month, under very challenging political, financial, logistical and security conditions.
• MINUSCA reported that the elections began in a largely calm and peaceful atmosphere with high voter turnout. Voting is underway in Bangui and all key towns, including Bossangoa, Ndélé, Birao, and Kaga Bandoro.
• At the start of polling today, electoral materials were in place at stations with few exceptions while some voting centres opened later due to logistical challenges.
• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, visited polling centres in Bangui today.
• UN peacekeepers, meanwhile, supported by French Sangaris forces continue to assist national authorities with the electoral process as well as with providing security for the delivery of electoral material.

IRAQ: SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES LIBERTAION OF RAMADI, ABDUCTION OF QATARIS WITH PRIME MINISTER

• The Secretary-General called today the Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi, to congratulate him on the success of the Iraqi security forces in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
• He noted that the liberation of Ramadi was an important victory and stressed the need for measures to be taken to restore the rule of law as well as basic services in Ramadi as to allow for the return of internally displaced persons as soon as possible. He offered UN support in that regard.
• The Secretary-General also expressed his concern over the recent abduction of a group of Qatari citizens in Iraq, including children. He urged the Prime Minister to do everything possible to ensure their prompt and safe release.

OVER ONE MILLION MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARRIVE IN EUROPE IN 2015 – U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported today that more than one million refugees and migrants have fled to Europe by sea in 2015, many on board dangerously inadequate vessels run by people smugglers.
• UNHCR's latest figures show that some 1,000,573 people had reached Europe across the Mediterranean, mainly to Greece and Italy, in 2015. Of these, 3,735 were missing, believed drowned.
• The landmark figure, which was reached late on December 29, also indicated that 84 per cent of those arriving in Europe came from the world's top 10 refugee producing countries, strengthening UNHCR's belief that most of the people arriving in Europe were fleeing war and persecution.
• In addition to the sea crossings, recent figures also estimated that a further 34,000 have crossed from Turkey into Bulgaria and Greece by land.