HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 17 APRIL 2018
 
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF ARISTIDES GOMES AS GUINEA-BISSAU PRIME MINISTER

• In a statement, the Secretary-General welcomes the appointment of Aristides Gomes as Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau on 16 April. Mr. Gomes’ appointment was made on the basis of consensus arrived at by the key national political stakeholders. The Secretary-General also welcomes the announcement that the country’s legislative elections will take place on 18 November 2018. The announcement provides a clear mandate for the urgent preparations for these elections. These developments followed an Extraordinary Session of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Guinea-Bissau, held in Lomé, Togo, on 14 April 2018. The Secretary-General commends the role played by the President of the ECOWAS Authority, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and the ECOWAS Mediator for Guinea-Bissau, President Alpha Condé of the Republic of Guinea. 
• The Secretary-General is encouraged by the spirit of compromise and leadership demonstrated by President Jose Mario Vaz, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and the Party for Social Renewal (PRS). He urges all parties to promptly take the next crucial steps, including the formation of an inclusive Government, reopening of the National Assembly and implementation of the remaining provisions of the Conakry Agreement.
• The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment to continue to work closely with the African Union, the ECOWAS, the European Union and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) in supporting peacebuilding and consolidation efforts in Guinea-Bissau.

• In Riyadh, the Secretary-General today spoke at the opening of the 16th meeting of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre Advisory Board.
• He stressed the need to focus on prevention by addressing the underlying conditions that lure young men and women to terrorism and violent extremism.
• “No one is born a terrorist,” he said, but added that unresolved conflicts and socioeconomic marginalization play a significant role in transforming grievances into destructive action.
• He said the Centre should adapt to the changing needs of Member States and expand and diversify donor support if it is to succeed. The Secretary-General also told members of the Board that in June he will convene a UN High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States to strengthen cooperation trough new partnerships.
• The Secretary-General also met today with His Majesty King Salman and had lunch with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. He also met with the Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and they held a joint press conference after.

• Martin Griffiths, the new Special Envoy for Yemen, briefed the Security Council this morning on his recent talks with the parties. 
• In what he said was a preliminary report, Mr. Griffiths said that there is good news and bad news – the good news being that a political solution to end the war and halt the fighting is available; the bad news being that the war has, if anything, become louder and more pressing these last few weeks.
• He said he was encouraged by his meetings with President Hadi and with the Ansar Allah leadership and their constructive attitudes. Mr. Griffiths emphasised that a negotiated political settlement through inclusive intra-Yemeni dialogue is the only way to end the Yemeni conflict and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Regarding the negative developments, Mr. Griffiths noted unconfirmed reports that movements of forces in Yemen are on the increase and that the prospect of intensive military operations in Al-Hodeidah may be soon forthcoming.
• The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, also briefed the Council, saying that humanitarian agencies have scaled up their work in Yemen. Last year, he said, more than 7 million people were receiving monthly food assistance by December. Yet Yemen remains the world's worst humanitarian crisis. He said that three quarters of the population, more than 22 million people, urgently require some form of humanitarian help, including 8.4 million people who struggle to find their next meal.

• The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says that the shortfall in the agency’s budget, which covers UNRWA core services such as health and education, has been reduced from $243 million in January to $173 million after the successful Rome conference.
• The shortfall for the lifesaving emergency assistance in the occupied Palestinian territory has been reduced to $97.6 million, while the shortfall for the Syria crisis has been reduced to $165. 5 million.

• The UN Mission in the Central African Republic reports it has launched a joint military and police fact-finding investigation into the events of 8-11 April in Bangui relating to Operation Sukula and its aftermath. The Force Provost Marshall-Military Police will take the lead in the investigation with support from the UNPOL-Criminal Investigation Section. The fact-finding is in accordance with internal investigation procedures and is expected to be completed on 30 April 2018.
• Upon completion of the investigation, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Central African Republic shall make a determination on the required follow-up action, which may include convening of a Board of Inquiry and/or referral for further investigation.

• The UN Refugee Agency said today it is alarmed at a spike in intercommunal violence in central Mali which over the past weeks has driven some 3,000 people into neighbouring Burkina Faso. Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between the Dogon and Peul communities since February, and homes and other property have been destroyed, mainly in the Koro area of central Mali’s Mopti region.
• With extremist and inter-communal violence on the rise, UNHCR now fears more displacement and increased humanitarian needs. The new displacement adds to the challenges faced by people of the region. Food insecurity is high due to a lack of rain affecting crops. Health facilities are equally overstretched, with gaps in medicines and staff.

• UNHCR also reports today that Chile has become the latest State to accede to the international conventions on statelessness. The UN Refugee Agency welcomes the country’s commitment to protect and promote the fundamental right to nationality.
• UNHCR is promoting the eradication of statelessness. Without a nationality, people can be denied the ability to enrol in school, access medical services, seek legal employment or even get married.

• Guatemala has paid its regular budget dues in full, bringing the Honour Roll to 80 members.