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A feed from The UN Says.
Copyright The Government Says 2004-2005
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.</p>
Good afternoon.  Welcome to the briefing.</p>
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, is wrapping up her visit to South Sudan today.  Yesterday, she travelled to Jonglei State and meet with state officials in Bor, the state capital.  She discussed the measures needed to protect civilians and prevent future violence through sustained community reconciliation.</p>
She also travelled to Walgak and Pibor, where aid agencies have identified almost 3,000 people in need of help.  She said: “The problems are enormous.  They can only be solved if we all work together.”  She said that continued insecurity, restrictions on movements and lack of operational partners continue to slow the humanitarian response.  And just to let you know that Ms. Amos will be my guest next week to brief you on this visit.</p>
Ms. Amos has just issued a statement on Somalia.  She says that she welcomes the news that famine conditions are no longer present in Somalia, according to analysis released by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit and Famine Early Warning System.</p>
But she says she is very concerned that the situation remains critical for at least 2.34 million people in Somalia.  In southern parts of the country, 1.7 million people need food, clean water, shelter and other assistance just to survive — mortality rates remain among the highest in the world.</p>
While sustained humanitarian efforts and a good harvest have helped to mitigate the crisis, we must not forget that the progress made is fragile.  Without continued and generous support from the international community, these gains could be reversed.  And continued conflict and lack of access to people in need remain major operational challenges.  Ms. Amos says that we need to focus on building up people’s ability to cope better with future droughts and food crises.  And we have to keep our attention firmly focused on Somalia and ensure that we do not fail the most vulnerable.</p>
And the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, said that hunger remains a threat in the Horn of Africa unless long-term measures are taken to restore food security.</p>
And the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says that improved farming prospects have prompted several thousand Somali refugees in Ethiopia and Kenya to return home temporarily.  The agency reports that some 7,000 refugees returned in January, mainly to the previously famine-affected regions.</p>
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is alarmed by recent reports that internally displaced people have been tortured and killed in the camps for the internally displaced in North Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The agency says that, since the last quarter last year, armed groups have been intruding on the camps, violating their civilian character.  The refugee agency calls on all parties to respect the civilian character of these sites.  It is also appealing to the provincial authorities to increase security in and around the camps.</p>
A mission from the Department of Political Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, will visit the Maldives beginning on 9 February.  Mr. Fernandez-Taranco will meet with Government officials, opposition leaders and representatives of civil society to discuss the current situation and identify opportunities to support the country’s process of democratic transition.</p>
At 12:30 today, the President of the Republic of Palau, Johnson Toribiong, will hold a <a href="http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2012/120203_ICJ.doc.htm">press conference</a>.  The topic is “Rethinking Climate Change: Towards an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice”.  Ambassador Stuart Beck of Palau will also participate.  And the press conference will be moderated by Kiyo Akasaka, the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.</p>
And then at 12 p.m. on Monday, at the North Lawn Building 2nd floor stakeout, Marty Natalegawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, will meet with press on the handover ceremony for the deposit of Indonesia’s Instrument of Ratification to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.</p>
And we have copies of the Week Ahead available, and that as you know lists all other press conferences and events that are scheduled for next week.</p>
Questions, please?  Masood?</p>
Question:  I just want to ask you, the US Secretary of Defense yesterday confirmed that Israel is getting ready to attack Iran any time soon.  Does the Secretary-General, in this event, does the Secretary-General intend to convene a meeting of Security Council under Article [inaudible], which is… which compels him and… if it becomes a threat to international peace and security?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, what I can tell you is what the Secretary-General has repeatedly said, including quite recently, that it is incumbent on Iran to prove to the satisfaction of the international community that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, and to comply with UN Security Council resolutions that deal with that matter.  And he has also said that this is a challenge that can only be solved through peaceful dialogue.</p>
Question:  But the US Secretary of State’s, Secretary of Defense’s statement goes beyond that, because he feels that Israel is in a position now to attack Iran.  It’s no longer a speculation.  He is saying that Israel will attack Iran in the near future.  It is no longer a speculation whether Iran should comply with this or not.
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, neither is it speculation that the Secretary-General believes that it is a topic that needs to be dealt with through peaceful means.  Yes, Matthew?</p>
Question:  Sure, I want to ask you about this incident in South Sudan, where it is reported that the UN transported two conflicting groups and that they say up to 37 people are dead in a shootout.  One, how many people are dead?  What provisions for, I guess, disarming people before putting them in a room together took place?  And I wanted to again… you said yesterday that you understood the question, but I want to ask again, since Hilde Johnson, the head of the mission at issue, said on that very screen that she would provide the date on which she was subsequently told there would be Russian helicopters, either the date or why.
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  The expression I used Matthew was “I hear you”, that’s the expression I used.</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Oh.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  But just to…</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I’ll come back to that bit in a second, but to answer your question on South Sudan, we are not in a position at the moment to confirm the death toll.  We have seen the reports on the figures.  What I can tell you is that the Mission, the UN Mission in South Sudan is urging the Government of South Sudan to investigate this incident and to bring the perpetrators of the attack to account.  I can also tell you that, on that day, it was 1 February, Wednesday, a team from Bentiu comprising seven staff from the UN Mission in South Sudan along with three state government officials travelled by UNMISS helicopter — so a Mission helicopter — from Bentiu in Unity State to meet with the County Commissioner of Mayendit County in order to investigate recent inter-communal violence along the border between Warrap and Unity States.  And during the course of that meeting, the County Commissioner from the neighbouring Maper County which is in Lakes State appeared and interrupted the meeting with some angry remarks directed to his Mayendit counterpart — and this was in a local dialect.  And then four pickup trucks carrying armed men appeared and started shooting indiscriminately at the Mayendit County Commissioner’s compound.  And it appears that the UN team itself was not the target of the attack.  One staff member from the UN Mission was wounded in the crossfire.  And then when the shooting stopped, the wounded staff member along with the rest of the team were flown to Bentiu on a Mission helicopter with Mission force protection.  And the injured staff member was subsequently evacuated to Juba, where he is undergoing medical treatment and is in a stable condition.  And just to reiterate, we can’t confirm the death toll figures, but we have urged, and the Mission has urged, the Government of South Sudan to investigate this incident.</p>
Question:  Just one… and thanks a lot, that’s really… it’s really helpful, but there is a quote out there, it is attributed to the UN and it’s in quotation marks, saying that the people that opened fire that showed up in the trucks were believed to be SPLA, i.e. the Government itself, so…
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  It is believed to be SPLA and SSPS, which is one of the reasons why we are urging the Government of South Sudan to investigate this incident and, needless to say, to bring the perpetrators of the attack to account.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I think it is important to stress the words “believed to be” and that’s why there needs to be an investigation.  Other questions?  Yes?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I am not aware of any, but that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be.  I’d need to check with my colleagues who know about these things.  I don’t have any update for you just at the moment.  Yes?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Of course.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  No, as I mentioned to you yesterday, we are certainly aware of these two incidents, but we don’t have anything for you at the moment.  Of course, any loss of life is regrettable, but I don’t have anything further for you at the moment.  Other questions please?  Yes?</p>
Question:  I want to ask you about Sri Lanka, but first just a follow-up on Morocco.  There are these reports of, you know, clashes between police and unemployed youth in the city of Taza that has been reported in many places and I just wondered, is anyone in the UN, whether it is DPA or otherwise, tracking that?  Do they have any comment on how the Government should respond to these demands of unemployed youth in their country?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I would be certain that my colleagues in the Department of Political Affairs are tracking this as they track many other things.  And the Secretary-General has consistently said that leaders everywhere need to listen to the voices of their people, and that young people in particular need to be listened to.  And what was your question on Sri Lanka?</p>
Question:  Okay, it has to do with, again, Shavendra Silva, but also something new.  There has been an open letter by Edward Mortimer, who used to be the Communications Director for Kofi Annan, saying and stating as a fact that the UN investigating itself under Thoraya Obaid is… has been disbanded, did not proceed.  I wanted you to confirm if that’s true.  And I also, the organization that Mr. Mortimer is the chair of, called the Sri Lanka Campaign, has provided… has given a quote about Silva saying that “very surprising that the Secretary-General would accept Mr. Silva given the allegations against him of war crimes in a Secretary-General’s report that hasn’t been acted on”.  So I wanted to… I mean, you said various things before.  I have actually looked at the GA resolution; it doesn’t seem to on its face say that the Secretary-General has to accept it.  So I want to ask you again, given that former UN officials are saying it’s a black mark for the UN to have alleged war criminal as an adviser on peacekeeping, what’s the thinking in the Secretariat?  Is there any attempt being made to defuse this, to seek another individual from Sri Lanka, or are you simply saying we have no power, we accept it whatever the consequences?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Matthew, it is not a question of accepting or not accepting.  It is a question of the Member Stats deciding.  It is a question for the Asia group among the Member States to decide — and that was their decision.  And I suggest that you take it up with them.</p>
Question:  I had, and there was no election in the Asian group, and I guess, the reason I think it’s legitimate to ask you is that this is a former UN official saying it is surprising that Ban Ki-moon accepts this, i.e. his thing having had experience in the UN system that clearly the Secretary-General, he can make calls, he can attempt… and I just wanted to know, if in fact there is a switch, which may take place to Mr. Kohona, is the Secretary-General in any way involved in that or entirely [inaudible]?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, with great respect to Edward Mortimer, whom I know, he is not in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General any more.   And so he cannot be privy to what may or may not take place there, at all.  The fact of the matter is that there is a resolution from the General Assembly, and it states very clearly and it sets out very clearly who does what.  And the Secretary-General is responsible for selecting and nominating five eminent persons.  This, he has done.  The other people on that panel or group were to be selected by others.  And that has also taken place.  And I think that’s really what I have to say on the matter.  Okay, other questions?  Yes, Masood?</p>
Question:  I am just going to follow up on this Middle East question that I asked earlier.  I mean, Iran has also called for some peaceful talks because the UN inspectors are there and everything else.  What else does it need to do, because you have been saying that it should open up and it has… UN inspectors are there, it has opened up its… I mean, it has opened up talks over there, and it says it wants more talks.  What else does Iran need to do in order to convince [inaudible]?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  They don’t just need to talk…</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Masood, it is obvious that talking is really important and that’s what we’ve said, there needs to be peaceful dialogue about this with the international community, particularly with the E3+3 group.  What needs to happen, of course, is that Iran needs to comply fully with existing resolutions.  And that means, not least, cooperating fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.  And while there was this recent visit to Tehran by inspectors, there is still some way to go on that.  And I know that the Agency and others would still wish to see full cooperation.</p>
Question:  So basically the Secretary-General believes that things have not come to that place where he can call a Security Council meeting to look [inaudible], pose a threat to international peace and security?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I think the Secretary-General has made his position quite clear that this needs to be dealt with through peaceful means.  Yes, Ozlem? </p>
Question:  Martin, there are some news stories coming from Cyprus saying that the Greek Cypriot side doesn’t want the Council, or National Council, I think.  They don’t want Mr. Downer, the Special Cyprus Adviser of Mr. Secretary-General, to continue his work.  I don’t know if you are aware of those stories and do you have any reaction to that?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Of course, we are aware of the stories, and the Secretary-General has full confidence in his Special Adviser, Alexander Downer.  Okay, other questions, please?  Last one, because I can see that the next people, the President of Palau in particular, is about to start his press conference.  So last question please?  No two prongs, please, thank you very much.  One question.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, you don’t need to wait then, because there was a <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14092.doc.htm">statement</a>.</p>
Question:  Okay, okay.  What I wanted to ask you is about, I have heard from sources that there is now a UN system task force on Syria headed by the… Ms. Alsoswaof UNDP, a former Minister in the Ali Saleh Government of Yemen, and involving Mr. Taranco, who you mentioned earlier in the briefing, and I would like to know, can you confirm such a task force and what is going to be its mandate?  And with whom, including Member States, has the Secretary-General’s Office spoken with about it?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I will check with you on that, but as you well know, the Department of Political Affairs and others coordinate very closely, not least because there is a UN presence, a country team in Syria, in Damascus.  And obviously, the United Nations system is looking very carefully at the ramifications of what is happening on the margins too, whether it is refugees who have gone into neighbouring countries — these are all matters that clearly the United Nations needs to monitor.</p>
Question:  I heard there was meeting yesterday and there is some concern being expressed about a minister formerly with Ali Saleh chairing a UN body having to do with Yemen.  I am also told that even permanent members of the Security Council haven’t heard about the task force.  So I want, if you can address those things in what you confirm or deny about the task force I would like to [inaudible].
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  By all means.</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Thanks.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Have a good afternoon.  Thank you very much.</p>
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.</p>
So good afternoon.  Welcome to the briefing.</p>
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, just released a statement expressing her relief after the release of the seven humanitarian workers who were abducted in Yemen on 31 January.  All have been released unharmed.  They are now in Sana'a and are in contact with their families.</p>
Ms. Amos said that the incident serves to remind us of the dangers faced every day by humanitarian workers helping people in crisis situations around the world and whose only aim is to provide assistance and protection to people in need.</p>
I also have a <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14091.doc.htm">statement</a> attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the outbreak of violence in the Port Said stadium in Egypt.</p>
The Secretary-General is saddened by the death of more than 74 people and the injury of hundreds of others following the outbreak of violence yesterday evening at the end of a football match in the city of Port Said, Egypt.  He extends his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes a speedy recovery to those who were injured.</p>
The Secretary-General trusts the Government of Egypt will take appropriate measures to respond to this tragic incident, with the full cooperation of all concerned.</p>
The Secretary-General is on the last day of his trip to the Middle East.  This morning, he was in Gaza, where he visited a school and housing project, both run by the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA.  The Secretary-General noted the progress made in building houses at the Khan Younis site he had visited on his last trip in 2009.  He said he would again urge Israel to remove restrictions so that work can be further accelerated.</p>
You will have seen that we also issued a <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14090.doc.htm">statement</a> on the Secretary-General’s visit to Gaza, in which we said he was concerned about the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.</p>
The Secretary-General later travelled to Erez in Israel where he visited Sapir College, where he met with survivors of a rocket attack last year on a school bus.  He said that nothing justified the indiscriminate firing of rockets and mortars into Israel.</p>
Shortly, the Secretary-General will deliver a keynote address to the Herzliya 2012 Conference in Tel Aviv.  He’s expected to speak about the Arab Spring and the impact on the region.  He is also scheduled to meet Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak before leaving the country.  The Secretary-General is due back in New York tomorrow.</p>
The Security Council has adopted its programme of work for the month of February.  And Mr. Kodjo Menan, the Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for this month will be here to <a href="http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2012/120202_SC.doc.htm">brief</a> you at 12:30 p.m.</p>
The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, is calling on all political actors to preserve the peaceful atmosphere which has been observed throughout the country since the announcement of the provisional results of the national legislative body. </p>
The Mission is encouraging all candidates and political actors to use the legally prescribed channels for the resolution of disputes and to refrain from the use of force or violence.  The Mission also encourages the Supreme Court of Justice, which has jurisdiction over electoral disputes, to examine with due diligence any and all disputes referred to it with a view to contributing to a peaceful political climate and the strengthening of the rule of law.</p>
MONUSCO reminds all parties concerned that it is continuing to monitor closely human rights violations and acts of violence committed, notably in the context of the elections.</p>
And also on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the humanitarian community has appealed for $718 million to provide emergency assistance in 2012 to hundreds of thousands of Congolese.  The fund will allow aid organizations to respond to the numerous humanitarian needs of Congolese affected by conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters and the lack of access to basic social services. </p>
Last year, despite the many constraints that humanitarian organizations faced, 7 million people benefited from health-care services, and more than 200,000 children in conflict zones continued to have access to education and more than 3 million people received food assistance.</p>
I was asked yesterday about Jeffery K. Armstrong, a former United Nations employee.  Mr. Armstrong was convicted by a federal jury for fraudulently holding concurrent jobs at the United Nations and the US National Labor Relations Board.  He was sentenced on 27 January 2012 to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $128,153 in restitution to the United Nations.</p>
The United Nations fully cooperated with the United States authorities in this matter and is pleased that the United States Court has ordered that restitution be made to the United Nations for the loss it suffered from Mr. Armstrong’s actions.</p>
Questions, please?  Yes, Karim? </p>
Question:  Yes, there was an incident this morning during Ban Ki-moon’s visit in Gaza, where he was pelted with stones.  So, I wanted to know if you have any more details.  Was Ban Ki-moon inside or outside the car, and was it just a few people or a larger crowd?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  He was inside his vehicle at that point.  And I think you will have seen, one, that we issued a statement in which we mentioned the concern that the Secretary-General has for the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.  And the Secretary-General also was asked about this topic when he spoke to reporters at Khan Younis having visited these housing projects and schools, both of which are funded and run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA.  He said that he fully shared the frustrations and concerns of those people who had been waiting at the crossing point.  And he said that’s why he was in Gaza for the third time.  There are very dire social, economic and humanitarian problems; this is what he said, people need to be able to move freely and goods must be imported and exported without restrictions.  He said that’s why he has been urging the Israeli authorities to lift completely and unconditionally the restrictions that there are on the crossings.  So, that’s what I have for you.  He has spoken about it.  But just to be clear, he was inside his vehicle at that point.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Thank you, Martin.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I will come to you in a second.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I think everything was well handled and the Secretary-General was able to continue on what was an important visit, as I just mentioned, to the Khan Younis girls’ school and housing project where progress has been made since his last visit.  Building materials have been delivered and clearly what is needed now is for more construction materials to be delivered.  I think the Secretary-General understands the frustrations of the people of Gaza and that’s why he was visiting now for a third time.  Yes, Masood — I’ll come back to you in a second.  Masood and then I am coming to you.</p>
Question:  Martin, just on a point of clarification on the Secretary-General’s visit to Jerusalem yesterday where he said that the settlement activity is not helpful, quote, unquote.  Does that mean it is legal, but not helpful? 
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I think he said very clearly, as well, that it is illegal.  I think that that is quite clear.  Yes, George?</p>
Question:  [inaudible] with the previous questions about this little episode with the Secretary-General’s car.  Where was he in Gaza other than just at Khan Younis?  I got the report this morning about his comments at Khan Younis and the housing project there.  Was he also in Gaza City, and where did this episode occur, in fact?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  It occurred at the crossing point into Gaza from Israel, at Erez, and as you know, as he left Gaza, he went to visit this college — the Sapir College — where he was able to meet Israeli…</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  On the way into, at the start of the visit to Gaza, on the way through the crossing point as the motorcade came through the crossing point, they were already then inside Gaza at that point.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I think the focus…</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Khan Younis is at the opposite end of the street down near the Egyptian [inaudible].</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, the main focus of the visit was to Khan Younis.  He also visited UN staff at their offices.  But that’s as much as I have for you. </p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Thank you.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Yes, Matthew? And then I’ll come to the back, yes.  </p>
Question:  Yeah, yeah, questions on Sudan, Sri Lanka, but I wanted… well just one follow-up on this, just to get your response to it.  They… you know, it’s said that in the crowd of protesters were, you know, obviously family members with people in prison and, you know, quote, “they accused Ban of refusing to meet with them”.  So I wanted to know, was there any formal request made?  Did he, and also on this issue of… I mean, was there any idea of meeting, you know, with Hamas?  Would that have been seen as productive, and specifically these families if they are accusing him of not meeting, was there a request and should he have met with them?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  There was a meeting scheduled with representatives of civil society.  At a certain point it became clear that those representatives did not wish to attend that meeting.  It was made clear that a UN official — not the Secretary-General — was prepared to meet with the representatives, but this offer was not accepted.  I think the Secretary-General feels that this was a lost opportunity for him to engage with civil society representatives in a scheduled meeting.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  No, no, the point is that others had wished to attend that meeting and this was not something that could take place.  Okay.  Yes, Evelyn?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, he has spoken out about this topic before, as I have from here.  And so that’s the first thing.  The second thing is that he was asked subsequently — but he’d already raised the topic, and will continue to raise the topic with Israeli interlocutors.  Other questions, please?  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I really don’t know the answer to that.  I suspect not, but I do not know the answer to that.  Yes, I am sorry.</p>
Question:  It’s all right, Martin.  Thank you.  Good morning.  Yesterday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta announced that he wanted to end the combat role of US troops in Afghanistan and maybe change it to more of an advise-and-assist role.  I hear the lobbying is happening, plus NATO countries in Europe are trying to make that a force-wide decision that’s a year early.  Is that good news for the SG and did he made any response or comment at all?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I don’t think the Secretary-General has made any comment on that just at the moment, but obviously we are aware of this development.  If I have anything further from our mission in Kabul, I would let you know.  As you know, the Mission has a very defined, an important role on the civilian side.  And that role is likely to grow over time, of course.  But I don’t have any specific response at the moment to this latest development.  We’re certainly aware of it.  Matthew?</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Sure.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Last question, because I can see that the Ambassador of Togo is here.  So, this is the last question, Matthew.</p>
Question:  Okay, it is a Sudan question, it is double pronged.  One has to do with whether the UN system can confirm the reported bombing of a Samaritans Purse school of children in the Nuba mountains of Sudan, and once, when they do, if they have any comment on it.  The other one is just simply to understand when Hilde Johnson said she would provide the date on which she was subsequently informed that the Russian helicopters would, in fact, not fly.  Can the date be provided, or in the alternative, some type of a reason for not providing the date?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I hear what you are saying on the second point.  On the first, I will check.  Thanks very much.  And I give the floor now to the Permanent Representative of Togo, Ambassador Menan.  Thanks very much, have a good afternoon.  Thank you.</p>
 </p>
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.</p>
Good afternoon and welcome to the briefing.</p>
The Secretary-General arrived in Israel this morning and met with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.</p>
He later travelled to Ramallah, where he has been meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki.</p>
The Secretary-General discussed the Middle East peace process with all leaders, and discussed especially the talks initiated in January by King Abdullah and Foreign Minister [Nasser] Judeh of Jordan.  He noted that negotiations are the only path for a sustainable resolution of all final-status issues.  While in Ramallah, the Secretary-General met with Palestinian civil society organizations.  And he also met with graduates of the United Nations annual media training programme for Palestinian journalists.</p>
We will continue to issue readouts of the various meetings the Secretary-General has had with officials and provide transcripts of the Secretary-General’s various press encounters.</p>
Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, is in Juba today on the first stop of her three-day visit to South Sudan.  She met with representatives of aid agencies to discuss the multiple humanitarian challenges facing the world’s youngest nation, six months after South Sudan gained independence.</p>
Ms. Amos said that South Sudan faces significant humanitarian challenges, including hundreds of thousands of people displaced in 2011, people returning from Sudan and refugees from the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States in Sudan.  She added that conflict, poverty and increasing food insecurity are having a major humanitarian impact.</p>
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that a relatively small number of aid organizations carry out some 30 simultaneous emergency operations in a vast, remote and insecure country, facing tremendous logistical challenges.  Tomorrow, Ms. Amos is expected to travel to Jonglei State.  There is a press release on this visit available from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.</p>
Yesterday, we issued a <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14088.doc.htm">statement</a> on Senegal, in which we said the Secretary-General is concerned about the upsurge of tensions in Senegal ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 26 February 2012.</p>
The statement said that the Secretary-General urges all political parties and national stakeholders to refrain from violence in the pursuit of their objectives, and to pursue peaceful means to resolve all electoral grievances. </p>
The statement said that the Secretary-General calls upon all concerned actors to create enabling conditions for transparent, credible and peaceful elections that reflect the legitimate concerns and aspirations of the people of Senegal.  The full statement attributable to the Spokesperson is available online.</p>
Tomorrow at 11 a.m., Under-Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of UN Women, will hold a press conference to mark the one-year anniversary of UN Women.</p>
And then at 12:30 p.m., there will be a press conference by Ambassador Kodjo Menan, the Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February.  He will be briefing on the programme of work for the month.</p>
I was asked yesterday for an update on Warrap State.  Here’s what I can tell you at this point:</p>
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) says that, on 30 January, it facilitated and accompanied a Government mission to the Bulich area in Makuac Payam/Tonj East County in Warrap State, which confirmed reports of an attack by an unknown number of armed uniformed men from Mayendit County, Unity State.</p>
According to local sources, so far, 78 people were reported killed, 68 wounded, 9 missing and thousands are reported to be displaced.  The team from the UN Mission observed 15 bodies that were still unburied.  The humanitarian community will call an emergency meeting of all humanitarian and protection actors to coordinate a response, while the human rights division of the Mission will investigate the incident.</p>
The UN Mission has also held discussions with senior Government officials at the national and state level, and an integrated mission including Government officials is being planned for today.</p>
That’s what I have.  Questions, please?  Yes, Anita?</p>
Question:  Unrelated subject; there was a… there is a court case in Washington [inaudible], on Friday, a man named Jeffrey Armstrong was tried in federal court; he was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in federal prison on Friday in Washington.  Evidently he was working at the United Nations in a security job, and at the same time he was working at a security job at the National Labour Relations Board.  Has the UN said anything about this?  The Secretary-General’s Office, would you have anything on this?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Not at this point.  I’ll see if there is anything, but not at this point.  We were obviously aware of the case that was going through the courts.  But I don’t have anything at this point.  Let me check.  Yes.  Anything else?  Yes, Matthew, and then Mr. Abbadi.</p>
Question:  Yeah, sure, I want to ask two things on Sudan.  One is, it is said now that the World Food Programme is deploying helicopters to Jonglei; I wanted to know, is that the case and what is the status of the military helicopter situation?  I wanted to also continue to ask for the dates that I had requested when Hilde Johnson was subsequently informed and when the Secretary-General knew that there were no helicopters.  And I have a question about Mr. Gambari, but that would be North Sudan, which I will wait.  So on the South Sudan, can you state, are there still only two military helicopters?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, what we have said is that there are two military helicopters.  And we have also said that there are in excess of 20 commercial helicopters that are being used for different purposes.  I would refer you the World Food Programme for details on the helicopters that they may or may not be using.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?</p>
Question:  What about the dates?  What about the dates and also the number of people killed and people who are — I really appreciate that for Warrap now the UN is willing to put forward Government statistics and say, “these are the numbers”.  Whatever were the numbers for Pibor County?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  As we said, this is according to local sources, and the Mission observed 15 bodies in this particular case.  We were able to provide a similar figure for people actually seen, bodies actually seen.  But, as you will also have heard, there is an investigation that has continued, and when we have details of that, I am sure that we will be able to let you know.  It is a complex and rather large area to be covering and I don’t think that that report is completed yet.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?</p>
Question:  Thank you, Martin.  Yesterday, in the Security Council on the Sahel region, issued a statement, in which it called for coordinated approach and for coordination between the Maghreb States and the regional organizations, all of them — European Union, African Union and the United Nations system — and to address the problems of the Sahel, including economic development and terrorism.  The Council also said they will follow up on these efforts with the Secretary-General.  Does the Secretary-General intend to submit any specific recommendations on this question to the Council?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, as you know, there was a recent assessment mission, and in part, the statement from the Security Council is in that framework.  And also, because they, like many people in the international community, are certainly concerned about the knock-on effect of events in Libya and more generally instability in that region, both political and security, and also food insecurity.  That’s one point.  The other is that I would refer you to what the Secretary-General said while he was in Addis Ababa at the African Union Summit.  He did refer to the Sahel and the importance of coordinated efforts to deal with the problems that there are in that part of the world.</p>
Question:  Sure, I wanted to ask on… I had asked you this before, about Ibrahim Gambari attending the wedding reception for Idriss Deby and Musa Hilal’s daughter and embracing or greeting Omer al-Bashir.  There has been a letter… I mean, so I asked the… and I was sent a response that Mr. Gambari thought it was appropriate for a variety of reasons.  But I had wanted to know…
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Is that an exact quote?</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  Yeah…</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Would you like to quote…?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Would you want to precisely quote what Mr. Gambari said?</p>
Question:  What I want to know, does, as I asked before, you provided that quote, does… what is the UN’s policy on dealing with ICC indicted individuals and does Mr. Gambari… I… because I am going to quote from the policy, Human Rights Watch has now written to you, I could quote that, if you want, does… what is the UN’s policy and how does it comply with Mr. Gambari greeting an ICC indicted individual at a wedding reception?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, I would simply say, Matthew, that I can confirm that the Secretary-General received a letter from Human Rights Watch last week.  Mr. Gambari’s attention has been drawn to the letter, and to the need to avoid such encounters in future, however unintentional this particular encounter may have been.  Next question?  Yes, Joe?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Which particular remarks are you referring to?</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well he said some…</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  And we all know who is holding up the international community.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, he said something similar in Amman, and he has spoken in those terms before.  I would not place particular significance on the words said in Jerusalem today compared with the words, similar words, used in Amman yesterday.  I think the key point is that the Secretary-General believes that there should be a coherent and unified voice and message coming from the international community, and in particular the Security Council.  He is concerned about the timing of the need for action simply because people continue to be killed and to die.  And that’s the framework in which I would place them.</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I beg your pardon?</p>
<u>Correspondent</u>:  He is impatient, his remarks…</p>
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  He is concerned that, as time passes, more people are being killed and that the need for action is because of that, because of the need to stop the killing.  Okay?  All right, next question?</p>
Question:  Yeah, Mr… I wanted to ask about the envoy in Sierra Leone, [Michael Von Der Schulenberg], it’s… there are at least two newspapers there reporting the he was persona non grata and removed from the country.  Others say that he has left the country, but that he wasn’t thrown out, but they say it’s the UN, it’s removing him for its own timetable.  Are either of those accurate, does he remain the envoy?  Is his term coming up and was he encouraged, you know, there… the reports have various allegations by Government or opposition parties about him.  Was he told to leave or and has he left separately?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  I’ll check, Matthew.  Thanks very much.  Have a good afternoon.</p>
 </p>
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.</p>
Good afternoon.  Welcome to the briefing.</p>
The Secretary-General arrived in Jordan this morning.  He has held talks with King Abdullah, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.  You will have seen we issued readouts on all of those encounters.  The Secretary-General thanked the King and Government for Jordan’s efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian talks.  They also discussed the crisis in Syria. </p>
At a press conference with the Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General said the Security Council meeting on Syria was crucially important.  He said he sincerely hoped Council Members would be really united this time, and speak and act in a coherent manner reflecting the wishes of the international community and the Syrian people.  The Secretary-General again appealed for the killing and bloodshed in Syria to stop immediately.</p>
And I don’t think I need to tell you that the Security Council is meeting on the situation in Syria this afternoon at 3 p.m.  And that’s an open session.</p>
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) says that further steps have been achieved in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United Nations and the Government of Iraq on 25 December last year on the situation of the residents of Camp New Iraq — formerly Camp Ashraf.</p>
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Human Rights Office of the Mission in the country have now confirmed that the infrastructure and facilities at the new site, Camp Liberty, are in accordance with the international humanitarian standards stipulated in the Memorandum.</p>
The Mission also says that UN monitors are ready to start round-the-clock human rights monitoring during the transport of residents from Camp New Iraq as well as upon their arrival at Camp Liberty.  The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Martin Kobler, welcomed this further step to ensure that the proper conditions are in place for voluntary relocation.</p>
The Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says it is extremely disappointed at reports that former Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier may face charges only of financial corruption rather than ones relating to serious human rights violations.</p>
The High Commissioner has consistently reminded Haiti of its absolute obligation to investigate well-documented serious human rights violations and to prosecute those responsible for them.  The Office of the High Commissioner is urging the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is, belatedly, delivered to the many victims of human rights abuses committed under the government of Mr. Duvalier.</p>
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that more than 1,500 people drowned or went missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe in 2011.  This makes 2011 the deadliest year for this region since UNHCR started to record these statistics in 2006.  The agency adds that last year was also a record for the number of arrivals in Europe via the Mediterranean — with more than 58,000 people arriving.</p>
The majority of last year’s arrivals by sea landed in Italy.  Most were migrants, not asylum-seekers, according to the agency.  And there is more in the briefing notes from UNHCR.</p>
Immediately following this briefing, at 12:30, there will be an end-of-term press conference by Ambassador Baso Sangqu, who is the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of January. </p>
And then at 5 p.m. here, there will be a press conference by Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, along with Mr. Nabil el-Araby, Secretary General of the Arab League.</p>
Questions, please?  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?</p>
Question:  Thank you, Martin.  As you have just said, the Secretary-General on Syria called on President Assad to stop immediately the killing and the bloodshed.  And as you know, the Secretary-General has been doing this for weeks now.  Should he use a different language at this stage, like other Governments have done and speak about humanitarian crimes and about threats to peace and security?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Well, in fact, the Secretary-General did speak about the threat to peace and security that is actually already visible and tangible in the crisis in Syria.  And indeed he said it was a threat to the three pillars of the United Nations since they were including development and human rights, as well as peace and security.  So, I think the Secretary-General has repeatedly said what needs to happen, and as I just mentioned that it needs to happen immediately, it is a sign of the significance that many Member States attach to this matter that it is being discussed in the Council this afternoon.  And it is for the Member States there to decide on their course of action.  But the Secretary-General has been clear in his view that he believes that it is time for coherent and united action in the Council.  Right, other questions, please?</p>
Question:  Sure, Martin, I wanted to ask you several questions about Sudan and something in-house.  But first I wanted to ask you about this Sri Lanka issue that I was asking you about yesterday — Mr. Silva.  You, at least if I understood you correctly, you said that the Secretary-General and the Secretariat had no role, no, you know, no part in the selection and to ask the Asia group, so I did.  And what I have learned from that is that Under-Secretary-General Malcorra met with a number of Member States and provided them recommendations or suggestions on, on what basis to appoint people, that they be senior, for example, but apparently didn’t say don’t appoint an alleged war criminal.  So it seemed inconsistent to me with what you had said about the lack of any role from the Secretariat and I wonder if you would like to now say does the Secretariat have any problem with the person alleged to be a war criminal being a senior adviser on peacekeeping operations to the UN?
<u>Spokesperson</u>:  Matthew, not for the first time, you are mixing things up.  It is simply a fact — and I mentioned it yesterday and I am not going to read out the whole list again — it is a fact that the General Assembly mandated — and you can shake your head if you wish on camera — but it’s simply a fact that the General Assembly instructed the Secretary-General to appoint this group, and as you know, five eminent persons were to be selected by the Secretary-General, and the others within that group were to be selected by the various different groups, including the Asia group.  It was for them to select someone, and they did.</p>
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