HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY VANNINA MAESTRACCI,

ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

THURSDAY, 23 JULY 2015

 

BURUNDI: SECRETARY-GENERAL TAKES NOTE OF BROADLY PEACEFUL CONDUCT OF POLLING; CALLS FOR RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE

  • In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General took note of the broadly peaceful conduct of polling in the Burundian presidential elections on 21 July. He called on all parties to continue to remain calm and immediately resume an inclusive political dialogue to resolve their differences and address the challenges facing the country.
  • The Secretary-General reminded the Burundian authorities of their responsibility to guarantee and protect the safety and security of the civilian population and ensure an end to further acts of violence as well as accountability for any human rights violations committed.
  • The Secretary-General called on the Burundian parties to engage in good faith in the political dialogue putting Burundi’s national interests first and fully determined to implement the relevant outstanding provisions of the 6 July East African Community (EAC) summit outcome document, under the high-level facilitation of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The UN remains committed to working closely with the EAC and African Union (AU) to help find a lasting solution in Burundi.
  • In this regard, the Secretary-General welcomed the deployment of AU human rights observers and military experts aimed at helping prevent an escalation of violence and facilitating a peaceful resolution of the serious political crisis affecting Burundi.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Secretary-General has appointed Paul Ladd of the United Kingdom as Director of the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). Mr. Ladd will succeed Sarah Cook of the United Kingdom to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service and able leadership of the Institute.
  • Mr. Ladd has twenty years of experience in global policy and research on issues such as trade, finance and migration. He is currently Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

U.N. MIDDLE EAST ENVOY WARNS THAT SUPPORT FOR TWO-STATE SOLUTION AMONG PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS IS FADING

  • The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, briefed the Security Council today in its open debate on that region. He warned that support for the two-state solution among both Palestinians and Israelis is fading away.
  • He said that the current situation on the ground is not sustainable as the two-state solution continues to be under threat including from settlement construction, security incidents, occupation-related violence, and lack of Palestinian unity.
  • Mr. Mladenov said that unilateral activities in the West Bank, including settlement construction, so-called legalisation of outposts, demolitions and evictions must stop.
  • He added that Gaza's painstaking emergence from last summer's conflict is undermining belief among the population that genuine progress can be achieved.
  • The activities of Salafi jihadists and other extremist groups are a cause for concern not only in Gaza, but also in neighbouring Sinai, where there are reports of their active support of militants on the Egyptian side of the border.
  • Mr. Mladenov said that in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the frequency of security incidents decreased compared to last month, but the situation has remained tense.
  • In total, he said, 50 Palestinians were injured in recent weeks, and four were shot and killed by Israeli security forces, including two at checkpoints near Nablus and Ramallah. Two members of the Israeli security forces were stabbed and injured, one seriously.

U.N. ENVOY DISCUSSES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF GENEVA CONSULTATIONS WITH SYRIA AUTHORITIES

  • The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, visited Damascus today. He discussed the preliminary findings of the Geneva Consultations and the preparations for next week’s Security Council debate on Syria with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem and Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. 
  • The Special Envoy, having concluded his regional tour, is now planning to return to New York for briefing the Secretary-General and, based on this, prepare for a discussion at the Security Council on 29 July on the Syrian conflict. ?
  • Meanwhile, in a report today, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World.

OVER QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE AFEFCTED BY FLOODS IN NORTH-WEST PAKISTAN

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that heavy monsoon rains, rapid snow melting and flooding from glacial lakes in the past week have led to flooding in various locations across Pakistan, particularly in the north-west.
  • Local authorities report that Chitral District has been badly hit, with an estimated 285,000 people affected. The exact number of people injured is difficult to determine, due to the inaccessibility of many affected areas. Overall, six casualties have been reported, 292 villages flooded and nearly 400 houses damaged.
  • The Pakistani Government and security forces are providing immediate help. The UN is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist should it be requested.

SOUTH SUDAN: U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF MEETS DISPLACED PEOPLE; ASSESSES SITUATION

  • The Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, is currently visiting South Sudan on a four-day mission. He is there to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground and review the aid operation.
  • Today in Juba, he met with President Salva Kiir to discuss the humanitarian crisis. During the meeting, he expressed the need for the violence to end for the sake of the people and the future of the country.
  • Yesterday, he visited a UN civilian protection site in Juba, where some 20,000 people are sheltering, some for up to 19 months. He spoke with a group of women living in the UN protection site who shared stories of their suffering.
  • He said that everything should be done to protect civilians from risk and fear of death from violence in South Sudan.
  • Tomorrow Mr. O’Brien is scheduled to visit Unity State, one of the areas hardest hit by the conflict.

U.N. MARKS MANDELA DAY, URGING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER IN COMMUNITY GARDENS

  • Commemorating Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July), at 10 am, in the Trusteeship Council, the General Assembly will hold an informal meeting tomorrow, including a ceremony to award the first-ever UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.
  • Then at 12:15 p.m., the new UN Food Garden will be opened by Susana Malcorra, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, on behalf of the Secretary-General, and by Penny Abeywardena, the New York City Commissioner for International Affairs.
  • They will be joined by the Nelson Mandela Prize laureates and others to plant seedlings and place commemorative markers in the garden.
  • On every Nelson Mandela Day, the UN joins a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation for people to devote 67 minutes of time – one minute for every year of Mr. Mandela’s public service – to helping others. Tomorrow, UN staff will mark the Day by volunteering in community gardens across Manhattan.

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