HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 24 AUGUST 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO ITALY AND MYANMAR AFTER EARTHQUAKES

• The Secretary-General is saddened by the reports of lives lost and damage caused by earthquakes today in Italy and Myanmar.
• He expresses his condolences to the peoples and governments of both countries.
• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is in contact with the national authorities and continues to closely monitor both situations. Along with our partners, we stand ready to support the national authorities and local organizations should any humanitarian support be needed.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF FOLLOW-UP NOTE TO REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PANEL ON DEATH OF DAG HAMMARSKJÖLD

• The Secretary-General is pleased to announce the release of his follow-up note to the 2015 report of the Independent Panel of Experts appointed by him pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/246. The Panel’s role was to examine and assess new information relating to the tragic death of the former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold and of the members of the party accompanying him.
• In resolution 70/11 the General Assembly requested that the Secretary-General pursue pending requests for information which the Panel had made to a number of Member States.  Accordingly, the Secretary-General pursued the pending requests for information from Belgium, South Africa, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. The letters from the Secretary-General to these Member States and the responses are provided as annexes to the Secretary-General’s note.
• In resolution 70/11 the General Assembly also requested, as recommended by the Panel, that the Secretary-General explore the feasibility of the establishment of a central archival holding or other arrangement that would enable access to relevant records and archives with a view to ensuring their preservation and access. The Secretary-General has reached out to individuals and institutions that may hold relevant information to request that they provide an inventory of such information.  Responses continue to be received.
• The Secretary-General and the General Assembly have both previously stated that a further inquiry or investigation would be necessary to finally establish the facts of the matter. However, any further inquiry or investigation would benefit from an assessment of potential new information, including from South Africa or other sources. Accordingly, the Secretary-General has recommended that the General Assembly appoint an eminent person or persons to review new information which may exist. Such person or persons would then be able to determine the scope that any further inquiry or investigation should take.
• The Secretary-General has stated previously that the most likely source of any additional material would be the files and records of Member States. To this end he has again urged all Member States to continue to search for and disclose relevant documents and information.
• Ultimately, it is for the General Assembly to decide on any further action.

U.N. MISSION INCREASES PATROLS IN JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that the situation in Juba remains calm but tense. UN peacekeepers maintain a proactive posture to re-establish a secure environment outside of the Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites in the capital, in the aftermath of fighting last month. This includes increasing the frequency of patrols in the city. Peacekeepers also continue to patrol in and around the protection sites close to UN House, including intensified patrolling along the Yei road, where a number of incidents of sexual violence against civilians were documented by the Mission last month.
• Meanwhile, UNMISS reports tensions in Yei in Central Equatoria region. A peacekeeping patrol to the town yesterday received reports of continuing clashes between government and opposition troops. In Nassir in Upper Nile, the Mission also reports an exchange of gunfire and heavy artillery between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Opposition on Monday.

DEPUTY FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS MEETS WITH CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION

• The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Robert Piper, met today with the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Dr. Hanna Nasir, to discuss the latest preparations for the upcoming local council elections scheduled to take place on 8 October 2016.
• These elections will be the first concurrent poll in the occupied West Bank and Gaza since 2006.
• Conducting them in line with established international standards can contribute to advancing Palestinian reconciliation, Mr. Piper said.
• He warned that the lack of party unity or any attempt to influence the outcome of the elections, including through intimidation, threats, violence or coercion during the election campaign, risks widening divisions and undermining the Palestinian national cause.

HONOUR ROLL

• We are pleased to announce two new members to the Honour Roll – Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Both Member States have paid their regular budget dues in full, bringing the total to 103.