HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
MONDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2016
 
CYPRUS OFFERS HOPE THAT LONG-STANDING CONFLICTS CAN BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

• The Secretary-General was in Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland, this morning, to open a week of intensive negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders.
• Speaking to the press before the start of the meeting, the Secretary-General noted that the leaders have expressed their hope that this meeting will pave the way for the last phase of the talks, in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement this year.
• He said that the leaders have reached a critical juncture in their talks, encouraging them to make the most of the moment and the momentum.
• The Secretary-General commended them for their vision, courage and leadership, stressing that the prospect of a solution in Cyprus is within their reach.
• He emphasized that Cyprus offers tremendous hope to people around the world that long-standing conflicts can be resolved peacefully through negotiations. 

• The UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, known as COP22, kicked off today, just three days after the Paris Agreement on Climate Change entered into force.
• In her opening address to the Conference, Patricia Espinosa, who heads the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said that while the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement is a cause for celebration, it is also a reminder of the high expectations now placed on governments.
• She stressed that achieving the aims and ambitions of the Agreement is not a given, adding that the peaking of global emissions and attaining far more climate-resilient societies is urgent.
• The Secretary-General will be attending the high-level segment of COP22 which begins next week.

• The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, told the Security Council’s debate on peace operations facing asymmetric threats that terrorism and violent extremism are a reality in many contemporary conflicts.
• In response, our action and footprint have to be more nimble and comprehensive, and we need more flexible support arrangements, as well as more sophisticated and predictable uniformed capabilities, he said.
• Mr. Eliasson stressed the need to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, to adapt how we deliver our mandates, and to fully take into account how and when the United Nations can support national and regional efforts to prevent violent extremism and terrorism.

• In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms the deadly complex attack that occurred yesterday north of Douentza, in the Mopti region, claiming the life of two Malian civilians and killing one peacekeeper from Togo while injuring seven others.
• The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the Governments and people of Mali and Togo.

• The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, spoke this morning at the launch of the 11th UN Police Week.
• He said UN Police faced three major challenges: the protection of civilians, performance and accountability.
• He said that the abhorrent acts of sexual abuse, exploitation and violence have shaken peacekeeping and the UN to their core and noted that the Secretariat is taking action on three fronts: prevention, accountability and victim assistance. Mr. Ladsous asked the police leaders to ensure that officers understand what it means to be a peacekeeper. He added that with great power comes great responsibility. 

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that more than 34,000 people are internally displaced in the context of the military operations in and around Mosul. This number is expected to increase further with military operations underway inside Mosul neighbourhoods. An increase of 5,000 displaced people was recorded from 5 to 6 November alone.
• The Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said yesterday that we are deeply disturbed by reports of civilian deaths and injuries from crossfire and improvised mines, forced recruitment of children and the use of families as human shields in areas under control of Da’esh.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) condemns reported attacks using ambulances to target civilians in Tikrit and Samarra. WHO received reports of suicide bombers driving ambulances, killing more than 20 people and injuring dozens more at a checkpoint in Tikrit and a car park in Samarra. The reported use of medical vehicles as weapons threatens the ability to deliver health care and urgent medical services. When ambulances are suspected as potential security threats, their freedom of movement to care for the sick and injured is at risk of life-threatening delays. Such delays will leave vulnerable people with even less access to life-saving medical care.

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that shots were fired last evening in Bentiu by unknown gunmen attempting to attack soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) at a checkpoint located in close proximity to the UN base. As a result, ten civilians were injured. UN peacekeepers immediately responded to the incident causing the assailants to flee. The wounded received medical treatment and are in stable condition. The UN Mission continues to monitor the situation.
• Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ellen Margaret Løj, met with local and state officials during a visit to Yambio yesterday and reiterated the need to give unfettered access to UNMISS in order for it to implement its mandate.
• The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, is also visiting South Sudan from 7-11 November to assess the situation from the perspective of his mandate.

• The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is investigating allegations that at least 32 civilians were killed and 19 others injured in air strikes in Kunduz city last Thursday.
• The vast majority of those killed were women and children.
• United States military forces in Afghanistan have acknowledged carrying out air-to-ground engagements in Kunduz city at the time of the attacks and expressed deep regret for the civilian deaths.
• UNAMA has stressed the need for a full investigation, as well as accountability and compensation for the victims.

• The Secretary-General is announcing today the appointment of Mourad Wahba of Egypt as Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.
• Mr. Wahba will succeed Sima Bahous of Jordan. The Secretary-General is grateful to Ms. Bahous for her dedication and commitment to the Organization during her term in this post.
• Mr. Wahba brings many years of leadership experience to the position.