HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2016

HAITI: SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ELECTION OF PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT

• In a statement, the Secretary-General welcomes the 14 February election by the National Assembly of Haiti of a Provisional President of the Republic. This election stems from the agreement signed on 6 February between Haitian stakeholders to preserve institutional continuity and further the electoral process.
• Welcoming this crucial first step, the Secretary-General encourages all parties to work together towards the implementation of the roadmap contained in the agreement to ensure the return to constitutional normality.
• The Secretary-General expresses his confidence that the stabilization of Haiti and the democratic process will continue in a peaceful and collaborative manner.

SECRETARY-GENERAL VOICES HOPE THAT U.N. CHARTER – NOT GEO-POLITICAL RIVALRIES – DRIVE SECURITY COUNCIL’S AGENDA

• The Secretary-General spoke at the Security Council meeting this morning on the UN Charter, telling the Council that the past year saw important steps to uphold the values and advance the vision set out in the Charter of the United Nations. However, he added, we must also recognize that 2015 was one of the most troubled and turbulent years in recent history, with civil wars ravaging Syria and Yemen and violent extremism spreading.
• The Secretary-General noted the importance of Article 99 of the Charter, saying that whether or not Article 99 is formally invoked may be secondary.  First and foremost, he said, is the responsibility to alert the Council when he sees situations that require its engagement. 
• When considering which items reach the agenda of the Security Council, the Secretary-General said that his further hope is that we will be driven by the Charter, not by geo-political rivalries or other external dynamics.  When a Member State uses an overly broad definition of terrorism to monopolize power at the risk of long-term stability, he added, that would seem to merit the Council’s attention, as would massive loss of life and cross-border flows of people.

WRAPPING UP CANADA VISIT, SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ADDRESSING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

• The Secretary-General wrapped up his visit to Canada on Saturday. Before leaving for New York, he meet with representatives of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake in Montreal, and he discussed with them the importance of the Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Following that, he visited the Centre for Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence. Addressing Montreal’s Mayor, Denis Coderre, and other officials at the Centre, the Secretary-General said that when we put human rights at the centre of our response to violent extremism, we can succeed in opening a safer and more stable future for all.
• When asked about Canada’s efforts in addressing radicalization at a brief press stakeout, the Secretary-General commended Canada’s work and highlighted the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, which he presented to the General Assembly last month, and called on the Canadian Government and other Member States to work with unity of purpose to address this issue.

U.N. ENVOY HAILS FORMATION OF GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD AS ‘NEW BEGINNING’ FOR LIBYA

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Martin Kobler, welcomed the announcement by the Presidency Council yesterday regarding the formation of the Government of National Accord. He congratulated the Presidency Council on this major breakthrough, which promises a new beginning for Libya.
• Mr. Kobler calls on all members of the House of Representatives to assume their responsibilities under the terms of the Libyan Political Agreement and to do what is right for Libya and its people by endorsing the proposed Government of National Accord. He said that this is an historic opportunity for peace that should not be missed.

TWO MORE BLUE HELMETS PASS AWAY FOLLOWING ATTACK ON U.N. MISSION IN MALI’S KIDAL

• Since the complex attack on the UN Mission camp in Kidal, Mali, on Friday, 12 February, two more wounded peacekeepers have unfortunately died. This brings the number of casualties to seven peacekeepers, all from the Guinean contingent. The Secretary-General called the Guinean President to offer condolences.
• On Saturday, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mohamed Saleh Annadif, and the Force Commander, General Michael Lollesgaard, visited Kidal.
• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative will fly with the remains of the deceased peacekeepers to Guinea on Wednesday.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. MISSION REPORTS CALM ATMOSPHERE FOR SECOND ROUND PRESIDENTIAL POLLS

• The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reports that the second round of presidential elections and the re-run of legislative elections took place yesterday in a calm atmosphere and without any significant incident.
• During voting, the leadership of the UN Mission as well as the international community visited polling stations.
• Vote counting began yesterday, with preliminary indications suggesting a lower nationwide voter turnout compared to the last election. Tally sheets are expected to reach the Data Processing Centre in Bangui within 72 hours.
• The Mission assisted the national authorities in securing the election process and transporting the electoral materials.

REPATRIATION OF TROOPS FROM D.R. CONGO SERVING WITH U.N. MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CONTINUES

• Regarding the repatriation of the battalion from the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the Central African Republic, which was announced in January, the Deputy Spokesperson said that the DRC Formed Police Unit was repatriated on 15 January. The repatriation of the DRC battalion in Bambari will begin on 25 February.
• In the meantime, the Mauritanian infantry battalion that will relieve it, is completing its deployment. Currently, some 208 Mauritanian soldiers are in Bambari. The rest of the Mauritanian soldiers will be deployed in the coming days before the Congolese peacekeepers leave.
• Meanwhile, a team from the Republic of Congo arrived in the country to investigate recent allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against their troops. We expect the Republic of Congo company of 120 soldiers, who are currently confined to barracks in Berberati, to be repatriated before the end of the month once the investigation has been completed.
• The UN is committed to the enforcement of the zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and will continue to take all measures necessary to that effect.

AFGHANISTAN: CIVILIAN CASUALTIES REACH PEAK LEVELS IN 2015, NEW U.N. REPORT FINDS

The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2015 is the highest recorded, according to the latest Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict produced by the UN Assistance Mission (UNAMA) together with the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).

The report, released today, documented more than 11,000 civilian casualties last year, exceeding the previous record level from 2014.

It cites increased ground fighting in and around populated areas, along with suicide and other attacks in major cities, as the main causes of conflict-related civilian deaths and injuries in 2015.

Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, called the harm done to civilians “unacceptable” and called on those inflicting this pain on the people of Afghanistan to take concrete action to protect civilians and put a stop to the killing and maiming of civilians in 2016.

MORE THAN 3,000 UROOTED BY CLASHES IN MYANMAR’S SHAN STATE – U.N. RELIEF WING

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that it has received reports that more than 3,000 people have been displaced in Myanmar’s northern Shan State in the past week.
• Most of these people are seeking shelter in monasteries and are receiving assistance from local organizations, local authorities, and the Myanmar Red Cross Society.
• The United Nations is liaising closely with the relevant authorities, and UN humanitarian staff are assessing the situation to identify gaps and provide further aid if needed.
• The UN’s priority is to ensure that civilians are protected and that people affected by the conflict receive the humanitarian assistance that they need.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME DELIVERS FOOD TO 18,000 PEOPLE IN YEMEN’S TAIZ

• The World Food Programme (WFP) successfully delivered food for 18,000 people inside an area undergoing heavy fighting in the central Yemeni city of Taiz where residents are in desperate need of external food assistance.  The convoy entered the area of Al Qahira, carrying 3,000 family rations including vegetable oil, wheat, pulses and sugar – enough for a family of six for one month.
• This is the second time WFP has had access to the Al Qahira conflict zones this year.
• Taiz is one of 10 governorates in Yemen that are in the grip of severe food insecurity at ‘Emergency’ level – one step below famine on the five-point classification scale. At least one in five households in the area does not have enough food for people to lead healthy lives and many people face life-threatening rates of acute malnutrition.

U.N.-BACKED MEETING TO EXAMINE AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES

• Starting today, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is hosting an international symposium on "The Role of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition" in Rome.
• Over 500 scientists, representatives of government, civil society, the private sector, academia, farmers' associations and cooperatives are participating in this scientific conference.
• It explores how agricultural biotechnologies can benefit family farmers, particularly those in developing countries, who need to improve nutrition and food systems while facing the challenges of poverty, climate change and population growth.

LESOTHO BECOMES 31^ST MEMBER STATE TO PAY FULL U.N. DUES

• Lesotho has become the 31^st Member State to pay its UN dues in full for 2016.