The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.  Welcome to the briefing.

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This morning in Davos, the Secretary-General held a press conference at which he said revolution had swept across North Africa and the Middle East, bringing new freedoms and democracy, but new challenges as well.

He said that from North Africa to New York, and Athens to Abidjan — people everywhere are demanding change.  The global debate is focused on economic inequality and social justice, including the discussions at the World Economic Forum.  He said that during the events of the Arab Spring he had consistently called for leaders to listen to their people.  The Secretary-General urged leaders gathered in Davos to do the same.

The Secretary-General has held a number of bilateral meetings, including with the Swedish Foreign Minister and Nigerian Minister for the Economy and Finance.  We have issued readouts on those meetings.

The Secretary-General also spoke at a discussion on sustainable energy and at a meeting on “Catalysing Transformational Partnerships between the United Nations and Business”.  He said that private sector engagement is increasingly recognized as a strategic way to deliver profound change.  More details are available online.

The Secretary-General is also participating in a session on this June’s “Rio+20” sustainable development summit.

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As you know, the annual Holocaust memorial ceremony is taking place in the General Assembly hall.  This year’s observance is dedicated to the children who were victims of the Holocaust.  In a message, the Secretary-General said children are uniquely vulnerable to the worst of humankind and that we must show them the best the world has to offer.  He called on all nations to protect the most vulnerable, regardless of race, colour, gender or religious beliefs.  And his message is available online.

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You will have seen the reports on the release of a UN employee in Yemen.  We can confirm that a UN staff member who had been held since 15 January arrived in a UN safe haven in Sana’a today.  He is in good health and is receiving standard medical examinations and psychological counselling.  The employee is a 34-year-old Norwegian who has worked as a governance team leader with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  He will recuperate in his home country for a short while before resuming his duties with UNDP.

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The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, appealed today for $1.28 billion to fund its humanitarian operations assisting children in more than 25 countries globally this year.  The crisis in Somalia and in other countries in the Horn of Africa accounts for nearly one third of the total amount needed, but UNICEF says it is also important not to forget the other long-standing emergencies around the globe.

The Fund says that while some of these emergencies attract significant attention, others never reach international awareness, and many become “silent emergencies”.  The 2012 Humanitarian Action for Children report is available online.

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The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is looking at new ways to ensure uninterrupted assistance and services at Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camps, despite insecurity and reduced humanitarian access.  The measures include giving a greater role to refugees in the day-to-day running of the camp. 

The agency says that refugees have always had a role in making camps work, but that this role is being expanded in Dadaab.  Hospitals, for example, have remained open, staffed by refugees, nationals and a limited number of international staff.  UNHCR also says that more than 30 camp schools remain open and are run by refugee teachers.  There is more in the UNHCR briefing notes on this.

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As you know, the Security Council will be holding consultations today at 3 p.m. on the Middle East.

That’s what I have.  Questions, please?

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Spokesperson:  Wait a minute, please.  Masood?

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Spokesperson:  Not really, Masood.  I think Gregory Starr, the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Safety and Security, spoke at some length about this subject yesterday evening, and I don’t have anything to add to that.

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Question:  I also want to ask you about this follow-up on this question that I had asked you about Israel picking up the Palestinian legislators from outside the International Red Cross office.  Now what they have done they have even arrested Palestinian Speaker of the Palestinian Assembly, and have also… I mean, have you… do you have any reaction to that? Spokesperson:  No, not directly, Masood.  Again, as I have said before, and as the Secretary-General has said, it is important that during a tense period and when there are efforts to try to move negotiations along, however tentative those steps may be, it is important that there should be as little as possible in the way of provocative actions.  And I think I would leave it at that.  Yes, I am coming to you, then I will come to you, Matthew, yes.

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Question:  Yes, sorry, I apologize.  I don’t know how to pronounce your last name, so I would rather not say it in the precaution of not erring and mispronouncing it.  I am from Telemundo network.  We are trying to see if any update in regards to the investigation of the 16 kilograms of drugs that were delivered last week to the United Nations.  Can you elaborate further on that, sir? Spokesperson:  Not really, no.  As I think I just mentioned to Masood here, the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security here at the United Nations spoke at some length yesterday evening to reporters.  I think the most important aspects here are that there is an investigation under way, that’s with the host country authorities — with the United States authorities, the New York Police Department and the Drug-Enforcement Administration.  As Mr. Starr made clear, the two suspicious bags were not intended for the United Nations and were not UN diplomatic pouches.  And he showed a picture, which is available online, of those bags, which have a UN emblem on them but are not UN bags.  And he also pointed out that the screening that goes on at the United Nations for any packages arriving worked.  And that’s how the suspicious packages were discovered.

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Question:  Are you going to be more on guard now after this happening in terms of the screening?  It was effective, of course, you have proven that that it was effective; are there any other additional measures that will be taken as a result? Spokesperson:  Well, as I just mentioned, the system did indeed work, and Mr. Starr pointed out that UN offices around the world have been alerted to be on the lookout.  But this, as far as we can tell, was a one off.  And as far as we can tell, this was something that was very clearly not intended to arrive here at all.  And that’s where I’d leave it.  Yes, Matthew?

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Question:  I have other questions, but I actually have a follow-up on this, and it’s a follow-up to what Mr. Starr said yesterday.  Since then, a number of security people have asked — and now I will ask you, and maybe you can ask Mr. Starr — why, when the bags were discovered, there was no attempt to wait to see who might show up to try pick them up?  You have said there was, you know, they weren’t intended for the UN, but it seems to many people there is no way to know that.  There is no… what you know is that there is no address on them.  But there is no way to know who might have gone to pick them up, but obviously by taking them out of the building, it eliminates any availability to investigate it.  So I want to know why that was decided; I want you to confirm that DSS [Department of Safety and Security] under Gregory Starr eliminated something called the Special Investigations Unit, which was apart of DSS when he took it over, and the rationale for that, and finally to confirm whether there have been previous arrests of individuals in the UN mail room for the trafficking of drugs in UN bags? Spokesperson:  I’ll check on the last point, I don’t know the answer to that, Matthew, nor on the middle one.  But to come back to the beginning, as Mr. Starr explained, there were no addresses when these packages, these bags arrived in Cincinnati.  There was no address, either addressee or from whom these bags had come — there was nothing; nothing.  So it is rather odd, then to think, well you need to wait for someone, turn up to when the bags were never intended to come here in the first place.

[The Spokesperson later said the Special Investigations Unit still existed and indeed was the lead investigative entity on this case.  The Security and Safety Service is not aware of any drugs arrests in the mail room.]

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Question:  But if DHL has a policy, or obviously a practice, of delivering to the UN things that are simply marked with the UN logo, then clearly if somebody wanted to traffic drugs into the UN this would be a perfect way to do it, people wouldn’t write their names on it, because it if was read, they would be caught.  But if it is delivered this way, so can you say, I guess, it is a DHL, but it is also a UN question.  Is the UN aware of any other deliveries to the UN of items that don’t have a named addressee on them? Spokesperson:  As I have just said, the system of intercepting things that were not intended for the United Nations worked.  Next question, please?

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Spokesperson:  I didn’t quite catch, because there was [inaudible].

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Spokesperson:  What about it?

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Spokesperson:  I think that the point here is that we need simply to remember what the Secretary-General has repeatedly said, including today in Davos — that the violence needs to stop and that it is important to support the diplomatic initiatives that are under way.  I don’t have anything further for you on that point.  Yes, please, and it is better not to speak over other people, I think.

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Spokesperson:  Well, I am sorry, I can’t…

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Question:  You were saying that, any specific measures — just this one question — any specific measures that you are planning to take for the screening, you obviously worried about anything… I… additionally, you are going to [inaudible], if you can summarize it please, I apologize. Spokesperson:  As I simply already said, the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security made clear that United Nations offices around the world have been alerted to be on the lookout, but this is considered to be a one off and it is clear that these packages were not intended — and that’s what Mr. Starr said — for the United Nations and did not come from within the UN system.  Other questions, please?  Yes?  It is difficult to see you if you are under the spotlight, but please I’ll come to you in just one second, okay?

Correspondent:  Thanks, no problem.

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Question:  Sure, I wanted to ask you a couple of things.  In Sudan, there have been arrests of, I mean, a number of people, but it’s specifically people, part of this group called Girifna, which is… it is a youth… they align themselves with the Arab Spring and are calling for democracy and they have said that five of their members have been “kidnapped” by Sudanese officials.  Amnesty International has asked for the release of another one of their officials and I wanted to know, given the UN’s involvement in Sudan, various involvements, has… does the UN system have anything to say about the kidnapping or arrest without charge of these democracy activists in Sudan? Spokesperson:  I’d have to look into that.  I don’t have any details on that, Matthew.  I’m just going to come to your colleague and then I will return to you, Matthew.  Yes?

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Question:  Going back to the issue with this package situation, I understand that they didn’t have an address where it was addressed to or sent from.  But how positive then were you guys that it came from Mexico? Spokesperson:  We haven't said that.  Yes, Masood?

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Question:  In Egypt yesterday, as you know, some… I mean the report was also in The New York Times — maybe it happened day before yesterday — that some NGOs [non-governmental organizations] were stopped and some people have been put on, I mean, no-fly list and so on and so forth.  Has anything been done about that?  Has the Secretary-General said anything to the Egyptian Government to let these people go?  That they are being detained, I mean, these people over there performing some social functions?  Spokesperson:  We are aware of the reports and I think that is being handled bilaterally as far as I can tell.  If I have anything further on that, I’d let you know.

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Question:  About this Davos thing where the Secretary-General is, on this economic… I mean basically they are talking about economics and so on and so forth, but the Secretary-General has in the past talked about developing countries and the need to help them.  Is there going to be anything else on this agenda, on his agenda, where he can again appeal to the so-called rich nations who are attending this summit? Spokesperson:  He has done it very clearly, and I just mentioned one part of what he said.  He has made it very clear in his remarks today about the need to listen to what people have been saying, and not just leaders in the Middle East and North Africa, but all those leaders who are there gathered in Davos.  They need to listen, and not only listen, but to do a lot more.  That is what the Secretary-General said.

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Question:  I’m sorry, Martin, I didn’t make myself clear before, I [inaudible], I think that we realize he has been making this appeal again and again, but nothing happens.  Like when he went to the G-20 summit and he asked for some sort of a funding for the developing countries, all promises were made, it has been there, nothing happened.  What happens?  I mean in the sense, why is there no action? Spokesperson:  Well, I think that is a rather sweeping statement, Masood.  There is quite a lot that has been happening.  If you look at the progress that has been made on women’s and children’s health, just to give one example, it is really quite encouraging in that area.  It doesn’t mean that there isn’t more to do, of course, there is a great deal to do.  And that’s why the Secretary-General has made sustainable development the top priority for the coming five years, because that is pulling together all those different strands, including food security and energy security — all of those different areas that can and should make a difference to the people who really need assistance.  You will have heard me also mention that UNICEF is appealing for funding today to help children in countries in need.  So as you can see, this is a big picture, and I don’t think sweeping statements really cover it.  And I don’t think that I can also give enough detail to really satisfy you here, but that is just a quick snapshot.  Yes, Matthew?  Then Richard.

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Question:  Yeah, I wanted to ask you, the Sri Lankan Government is, I call it bragging, but has, is announcing that Shavendra Silva, their deputy PR whose battalion is listed in the Panel of Experts report about crimes in Sri Lanka, has been, quote, “selected” to be on this Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations.  I wanted to know, one, if that is true of the status, I mean, if it has actually been confirmed?  And two, if the Secretary-General has any ability to block or speak about such a selection, given that some people say to put a person accused of war crimes on an advisory group about peacekeeping would send the wrong messages? Spokesperson:  Well, as I understand it, Major General Shavendra Silva was selected by the Group of Asian States as their representative.  He was not selected by the Secretary-General.  As to your other question, I may have something further on that a little later.

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Question:  Okay, and thanks.  And I just wanted, because I wanted to know and you would, I am sure, know this, there was a big fight here for example of keeping Syria off the Human Rights Council and there was, it was initially a nominee of a regional group, I mean there seems to be some ability certainly of Member States, but I believe at times the Secretary-General to…  Spokesperson:  Matthew…

Correspondent:  …not accept…

Spokesperson:  Matthew, sometimes it seems you don’t listen to what I am saying.  I just said I may have something further for you later, okay?

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Question:  I know, I did hear you say that, I just want to make sure.  I am writing about it today, so I don’t… I want… is it going to be before 5 p.m., what do you have say, or…?  That’s why I am asking a follow-up Spokesperson:  Don’t push your luck, Matthew.  Right, Richard?

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Question:  I don’t have a problem using your last name but Martin, two questions.  One — and I may have missed it in the elevator — for broadcast purposes, what does Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General, look for in the meeting next of the Arab League coming here?  What would he like to see coming out of that, the momentum or direction? Spokesperson:  What the Secretary-General has said in Davos today on camera, I think, Richard, is that he hopes that the international community can speak with one voice and that there should be unity on this matter.  That it is an important topic and the people need help.  That is what he said personally today in Davos.

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Question:  Speaking of on camera, and again, we unfortunately can’t always be here, but there wasn’t that much notification, I think, on the Gregory Starr briefing.  I am asking what happened to UNTV?  Just procedurally, if there was a warning or knowing that that was going to happen, was there any chance of telling them?  I am just curious what happened. Spokesperson:  It was done at very short notice and that is why it wasn’t possible.  That is as simple as that.  We tried our best to make this happen and to make Mr. Starr available for journalists to ask questions, which is what we did.  It was simply not possible in the time that we had to put in place what ordinarily would have been possible earlier in the day or with more notice.  It is as simple as that.  Sorry.  Yes, Nizar?

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Question:  Martin, 12 people died in the recent couple of weeks from military gas in Bahrain.  I understand that there were four people from the Human Rights Council who went to Bahrain to look, to see over the implementation of the [inaudible] report.  Until now, and I asked Navi Pillay a few days ago about that, she kept just saying that they are there.  We don’t have any update what they are doing.  Also there are threats to arrest the chief cleric in Bahrain, and there are threats to kill him by some [inaudible] group affiliated with the Government.  What is the latest on Bahrain, I mean update, and why don’t we find any kind of announcement or condemnation to these practices? Spokesperson:  Well, first of all, you are absolutely right, Ms. Pillay did speak on that subject.  I don’t have anything further on that at the moment.  Should that change, I’ll let you know.  Okay, Nizar?  Yes, Matthew.

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Question:  Sure, and at the risk of pressing my luck, I wanted to ask again what day it was that Ban Ki-moon, in December, which is a long month, as we know, that he became aware that there were no military helicopters available to protect civilians in South Sudan? Spokesperson:  I think the best thing there, Matthew, is if you speak to our colleagues from DPKO/DFS — from Peacekeeping and Field Support — and I think they would be happy to help to provide a briefing to you on the details.

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Spokesperson:  As I said, Matthew, if you get in touch with my colleagues, I think they would be able to brief you a little further.

Okay, thanks.  Have a good afternoon and a good weekend everybody.  Thank you.

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The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

So good afternoon everyone, and welcome to the briefing.

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I have a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Secretary-General being killed.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the killing yesterday of Dr. Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro, Secretary-General of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and extends his condolences to his family and colleagues.  The Secretary-General condemns the attack that killed him, which targeted a vehicle clearly marked with the Red Crescent emblem.  He calls on the Syrian Government to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.  The Secretary-General reminds all of their obligation to respect and protect humanitarian workers as they perform their duties and impartially serve all those who are in need.

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The Secretary-General arrived in Davos today to attend the World Economic Forum.  At a luncheon with the Elders, the Secretary-General spoke about efforts to deliver a better life for women and girls around the world.  The Elders is an independent group of global leaders initially brought together by Nelson Mandela to work for peace and human rights.

The Secretary-General said the “Every Woman, Every Child” campaign is uniting a vast array of partners who are improving the health of women and children, and bringing us closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  He also said the Elders’ own “Girls, Not Brides” campaign was also important in this context.  He said that the private sector was uniquely positioned to help in these international efforts.

The Secretary-General met with the President of Switzerland, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter.  We issued a readout on the meeting with the President.

The Secretary-General will also meet Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya.  And later on this afternoon, he will have meetings with the Danish Prime Minister and Brazilian Foreign Minister.  We’ll issue readouts as we get them.  This evening, the Secretary-General will co-host a dinner with Bill Gates to mark the tenth anniversary of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

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The Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Bert Koenders, briefed the Security Council this morning.  He said that Côte d’Ivoire had made significant progress towards restoring normalcy.  He added that the holding of legislative elections was a major step forward in restoring constitutional order and completing the peace process.

Mr. Koenders added that it was now important to focus attention on other priorities, including national reconciliation, disarmament and security sector reform.  Equally important, he said, was the need to address the root causes of the Ivorian crisis, as well as the question of impunity.  The Security Council is now holding consultations on Côte d’Ivoire.

And then this afternoon the Council will hear a briefing on the assessment mission about the impact of the Libyan crisis on the Sahel region.

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All this week the United Nations has been holding events to remember victims of the Holocaust.  Tomorrow, the annual Holocaust memorial ceremony takes place in the General Assembly Hall, starting at 11 a.m.  And tonight, two photo exhibits on the theme “Children and the Holocaust” will open in the Visitor’s Lobby of the United Nations Headquarters at 6 p.m.  All events are open to the media.

Questions, please?  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?

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Question:  Thank you, Martin.  On Libya, the situation continues to deteriorate in the prisons, especially in Misrata.  Doctors without Borders have, they have now withdrawn from the area because of the situation and a lot of people have been injured as a result of beating and torturing, and Navi Pillay, the Commissioner, has referred to appalling, to grave reports on the situation.  Does the Secretary-General condemn this violence by the militia? Spokesperson:  Well, the Secretary-General spoke at some length about what has been unfolding in Libya, including just in the last few days.  And he expressed his concern about the internal fighting that has been seen.  That’s the first thing.  And he also mentioned, as you did, that Navi Pillay addressed the Security Council yesterday, as did his Special Representative, Ian Martin.  They both expressed their concern about the fact that the protests had gone beyond exuberant democratic spirit and spilled over into violence, and that is something that clearly is not acceptable.  And secondly, they also talked about these reports of torture and both of them condemned those alleged activities and it is obvious that the Secretary-General would share those concerns about those allegations.  Okay, other questions?  Matthew?

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Question:  I wanted, this is… I want to ask something that I had wanted to ask yesterday, which is a simple factual question.  The Secretary-General again yesterday spoke about this issue of lack of helicopters in South Sudan, and you know, and I wanted to, I have asked Hilde Johnson, I have asked you, I am going to ask, now I think it should be pretty straight forward: when did the Secretary-General know that the UN system did not have helicopters in Sudan, in South Sudan?  And I am asking because there are credible allegations that, if the UN knew and didn’t act until it was too late, that there is some degree of kind of negligence, or a need to reform something so that there is an ability to protect civilians which didn’t take place in Pibor.  So, when did he know?  I just… it’s a very simple question. Spokesperson:  Well, after the Russian utility helicopters were attacked by South Sudanese forces last autumn, Russia decided in December to withdraw four of its helicopters and ground the remaining four.  That’s what I can tell you at the moment.  If I have any further information on that, I will let you know.

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Question:  Just… and thanks, I really… that’s at least… just if we could know when in December, and also how this related to what Russia says, as they said it, they said this in mid-November.  So, I just… Spokesperson:  Well, I am telling you…

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Spokesperson:  Indeed, and as I say, I don’t have the exact date now, but I am trying to help you.

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Question:  I appreciate that, and I wanted, if you don’t mind, I wanted to ask, there is, I have heard now from multiple sources within Security and elsewhere that a suspicious package containing cocaine was found in the UN scanner recently and was… the host country was called.  They are saying that it was up to 40 pounds of cocaine, and people have asked me within Security, why wasn’t the FBI called?  Why wasn’t the package actually picked up so they could find out who was getting it?  I’d like to know if either now or as soon as possible today, can you, will you confirm this find of cocaine in the scanner and why were… why was only the NYPD apparently called and what’s OIOS doing about the possibility of drug trafficking inside the United Nations? Spokesperson:  Well, first of all, I will need to come back to you with some more details.  But the most important thing here is that this was not connected to the United Nations, and that’s why the host Government, the city authorities in the shape of the NYPD were brought in to assist and they have taken over.  Once I have a few more details, I will let you know.

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Spokesperson:  Because it was not a diplomatic pouch.  That I can say categorically, it was not a diplomatic pouch.

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Spokesperson:  Matthew, I said I am going to get, give you more details, and you can play 20 questions with me now or you can let me get some details for you later.  Okay?

[The Spokesperson later issued the following note to correspondents:

Last week, two suspicious mail bags were intercepted by the Security and Safety Service at United Nations Headquarters in New York.  Neither the United Nations nor anyone located in the United Nations was the intended recipient of this delivery and the bags were not UN bags, diplomatic or other.

The relevant host country authorities — the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) — were notified about the discovery of the suspicious bags and the material handed over to their custody.  The United States Mission to the United Nations was also kept informed.

As the host country authorities are investigating, we would refer you to the DEA or NYPD for any further details.]

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Spokesperson:  Yeah.

Correspondent:  Okay.

Spokesperson:  Other questions?  Anne, I saw your hand tentatively going into the air.

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Question:  I wanted to know if there has been any reaction by the Secretary-General to the fact that, on 19 January, Iraq executed 34 people in one day, keeping in mind of course the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, considered this shocking. Spokesperson:  Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights did indeed speak out about that, and the United Nations position on the death penalty is well known.  Mr. Abbadi?

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Spokesperson:  A number of messages.  I think the overall theme of the meeting this year, or the meetings this year, is clear to everybody and it is primarily focused on the economic crisis and the need to look at what is going on in the world through that particular prism — the difficulties that people are evidently facing.  So it is partly that as a key message.  In other words, the importance of social justice and social equality and the need to look at particularly the difficulties faced by young people, by youth.  So that is one part of the message.  And the other is, of course, that he will be seeking to provide some details, as he did here yesterday and to the Member States earlier in the day, about his action agenda for the coming five years.  So, in addition to that, of course, as I just mentioned, it is a venue that brings together a rather extraordinary mix of Heads of State and Government, business leaders and other notable, and therefore it stands to reason that the Secretary-General would be able to meet with some of them in different formats to talk about some of these topics and other bilateral matters that come up.  Yes?

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Question:  Yeah, thanks.  I wanted to… one is a repeat question I think you may have an answer to it, and one is a new question, both related to the ICC.  One is about Mr. Gambari attending this wedding ceremony in Khartoum and being photographed with Omar al-Bashir.  He has now said, Gambari has, that he has no apologies, that he attended the ceremony, he has no apologies.  So I just wanted to ask again, what is the UN’s policy on interacting with ICC indicted individuals and does this policy apply to, and is implemented by, Mr. Gambari? Spokesperson:  I think that you should have received already some information on that.  And if not, then I will make sure that you have it.

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Spokesperson:  Prime Minister.

Correspondent:  Yeah.

Spokesperson:  Prime Minister.

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Question:  Prime Minister.  Four people, including the Deputy Prime Minister and former Finance Minister resigned today, Mr. Kenyatta, have four individuals of the six charged have been… had charges confirmed and therefore been sort of indicted by the ICC for post-electoral violence.  And I just wondered, one, does the UN have any comment on that, and two, maybe you will say it is hypothetical, but I am left puzzled by this Gambari thing.  Would the Secretary-General meet with the Deputy Prime Minister now that he is invited by… indicted by the ICC or is it just the policy, what is the UN policy? Spokesperson:  Well, first of all, I think the ICC is an independent judicial institution.  And it needs to be able to carry out its work in an independent fashion.  And so I don’t think that it is appropriate to comment further on cases that are being looked at and in the judicial process already.  And you are right — I don’t see that it is appropriate to respond to a hypothetical question.

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Question:  But can you see why the Gambari photo creates some confusion, of I mean, I am told they are willing to see what is written, but there, almost no matter what is written, it seems to some that attending a wedding ceremony is hard to describe as a humanitarian gesture or as a… I mean, I don’t know what you are going to say, so I will wait to see it. Spokesperson:  Well, that’s probably…

Correspondent:  But, I have been asking for a while, that’s why I am asking today.

Spokesperson:  You will get it, Matthew.

Correspondent:  Okay, great.

Spokesperson:  Have a good afternoon.

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The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

So good afternoon everyone and welcome to the briefing.

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I am pleased to have here today as my guest Catherine Bragg, who as you know is Assistant Secretary-General in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.  And Ms. Bragg is here to brief you on her recent mission to Côte d’Ivoire.  A few introductory remarks, I believe, and then time for questions.  And I will then have a few other items after that and will be happy to take questions, of course.  Please, Ms. Bragg, welcome back, and the floor is yours.

[Press conference by Assistant Secretary-General Bragg is issued separately.]

So just a few more items and happy to take some questions.

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This morning, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, who is the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.  Mr. Fernandez-Taranco reported that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators started meeting 3 January in Amman, under the auspices of King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Judeh.

He noted the Secretary-General commended Palestinian and Israeli leaders on these important first steps, and remains hopeful that these negotiations will continue and lead to serious negotiations based on comprehensive proposals on territory and security.  However, actions on the ground continue to contribute to tensions.  Mr. Fernandez-Taranco said the United Nations continues to call for the lifting of the closure of the Gaza border, and believes this can be done with due consideration for Israel’s legitimate security concerns.

Turning to Syria, Mr. Fernandez-Taranco noted time is pressing for violence and human rights violations to stop and for a credible, inclusive, and Syrian-led political process to start in Syria.  He hoped the international community will act in a concerted and coherent manner in support of efforts for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

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The Secretary-General is on his way at the moment to the Greentree Estate, in Long Island, where he will spend the afternoon meeting with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities for a second day.

Last night, as you will have seen, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, described the first day of talks as intensive.  He added that the discussions focused on the core issues.  Downer noted that the Secretary-General had made his expectations clear and that it was for the leaders to make decisive moves.

And a reminder that tomorrow morning, the Secretary-General will make remarks to the press here at Headquarters following his two-day meeting with those leaders.

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The Secretary-General appealed today to the members of the Conference on Disarmament to support the immediate start of negotiations on agreed issues.  In a message to the first meeting of the Conference for its 2012 session, the Secretary-General said that the Conference on Disarmament was no longer living up to expectations.  He urged them to seize this moment, when the world is focused intently on advancing disarmament goals.  And the Secretary-General’s full message is available online.

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The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has condemned an air raid in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State yesterday which hit a refugee transit site, located less than 10 kilometres from the border with Sudan.  It says that one refugee was injured and 14 others are missing.  According to the agency, about 5,000 refugees were at this site at the time of the incident.

The agency says it is alarmed by this attack on refugees already fleeing violence in Sudan’s Blue Nile State.  It also notes that there have been previous attacks on refugees in border areas — at the end of last year in New Gufa, an entry point for refugees also in Upper Nile State, and at the Yida refugee settlement, in Unity state.

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The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, has arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a four-day visit.  He will meet in Kinshasa with Government officials, and representatives of the UN Mission in the country, MONUSCO.  Mr. Ladsous will then travel to the eastern town of Goma for further meetings and to see first hand the work of Mission.

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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said today that she was shocked at reports that 34 individuals, including two women, were executed in Iraq on 19 January following their conviction for various crimes.  Ms. Pillay said that given the lack of transparency in court proceedings, major concerns about due process and fairness of trials, and the very wide range of offences for which the death penalty can be imposed in Iraq, this was a shocking figure.  She called on the Government of Iraq to implement an immediate moratorium on the death penalty.

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Tomorrow at 12 p.m., here in this auditorium, there will be a press conference by the Secretary-General.  Needless to say, the regular noon briefing will therefore resume on Thursday.

Questions, please?  Yes, Erol?

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Question:  Martin, two questions.  First of all, regarding these talks on Cyprus, the Special Representative of Mr. Secretary-General said yesterday that the Secretary-General had made his expectations clear.  Are those expectations of the Secretary-General that he had are met by the negotiators?  Is he satisfied?  And also, can you remind us for sort of institutional memory or so whether the Secretary-General involved himself more than several hours in negotiations in some other issues in two consecutive days?  Just for remind us [inaudible]. Spokesperson:  Well, it is certainly an indication of the United Nations commitment to help in facilitating this Cypriot-led process.  It is indeed unusual for any Secretary-General to devote so much time to one particular topic in a concentrated period.  That’s an indication of how important the Secretary-General believes it is to be able to move this process forward.  And I would simply encourage you to listen to what the Secretary-General has to say tomorrow morning by way of an assessment of how those meetings over these two days have been going.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi, then Tim?

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Question:  Yes, for question of memory, the Secretary-General spends as you know a lot more time dealing with environmental issues during the conference on the subject.  My question is about Syria.  As you know, the Arab League adopted some kind of stabilization plan proposing elections in the country, and handing of power by President Assad to the Vice-President.  The Arab League in that context is seeking support from United Nations.  Has the Secretary-General received such a request, and when is he planning to meet with Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby? Spokesperson:  Well, what I can tell you is that the Secretary-General spoke by telephone yesterday with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, and they discussed that most recent meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab States.  And they also discussed the decisions that were taken there.  Needless to say, they also spoke about the situation in Syria, and the Secretary-General reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to provide technical support in the form of training for observers.  And that’s what I have for you on that.  Yes, Tim?

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Spokesperson:  If you are referring to the media reports about a letter, it doesn’t mean that a letter is not on its way.  But as I sit here now, I do not have confirmation that that letter has been received.  As I say, it doest mean that it is not on its way.  But as I have just mentioned, the United Nations Secretary-General did speak with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States yesterday by telephone.  Yes, Masood?

[The Spokesperson later confirmed that a letter from the League of Arab States had been received.]

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Spokesperson:  Well, as I recall, Mr. Benomar did speak at some length yesterday, rather, I beg your pardon, on the 21^st, on Saturday, before he left Sana’a on his way back to New York.  And he will be briefing the Council, as I understand it, tomorrow here in New York.  His remarks were rather lengthy, so I won’t read all of them out.  But, just to underscore two points.  He did stress the need to ensure that everything is done so that the elections can take place on time.  He also noted, with regard to the question of amnesty and transitional justice, that a law had been passed by the cabinet last week, and that parliament had made significant improvements to that legislation.  As I say, he was pleased to see that there had been modifications to that initial submission.  But, he believes it doesn’t go far enough, and the UN’s position on amnesty is firmly anchored in international law, that applies to all countries.  And so we obviously can’t endorse or condone amnesties that could also cover certain categories of international crimes.

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Spokesperson:  Well, as I say, he will be, he was there to obviously get the most up to date snapshot possible of this transition.  The Security Council, needless to say, is extremely interested in that transition, and that’s why Mr. Benomar went there to be able to monitor progress on the implementation of the agreement that was signed in November, and that’s why he is coming to report to the Council tomorrow.  I am sure at that point there will be more that will be evident to you.  Matthew?

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Question:  Yes, sure.  I wanted to ask again about this issue of the helicopters in South Sudan, now that it has been announced today in Russia that the entire Russian helicopter fleet is leaving.  So, I guess the negotiations around the letter of intent failed.  Can you, I guess confirm, because the last I heard, even including from Ms. Malcorra, there were still discussions on trying to get it signed.  Was an offer made to the Russians to proceed as they prefer, without the machine gun mounts on the helicopters?  And also, Hilde Johnson yesterday said, you know, a couple of times that she would return with this date of when she was subsequently informed by the Russians that they would fly.  And I have yet to hear it.  I am just wondering, what was the date, in the sense of the UN’s foreknowledge that it had no helicopters before the violence broke out in Pibor? Spokesperson:  Well, I am sure my colleagues either in the Mission or in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations will be able to help on that latter point, but the decision to withdraw the Russian helicopters and the peacekeepers that go with them is obviously a decision by the Russian Government.  And the Department of Peacekeeping has thanked the Russian Government for the critical assistance that it has provided, and at the moment the Mission is using existing helicopters.  That includes 24 civilian helicopters.  And the UN is also in discussion with the Member States to determine how they can support the ongoing needs of the Mission.  And as we already said, military helicopters are critical.  So, the UN has been redeploying helicopters from its missions in the region to help with the immediate needs.  They really are critical for the Mission to be able to fulfil its mandate, in particular when it comes to protecting civilians.

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Question:  She also, because I mean I went back over what she… she said yesterday that somehow neighbouring missions had assisted during the conflict in Pibor, which is not, at least I haven't, I mean, in what way?  It seems like now they have arranged to have two Bangladeshi helicopters from MONUSCO assisting.  Did any other helicopters help during that time, or what was Ms. Johnson referring to when she said that? Spokesperson:  Well, I guess you could have asked her that…

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Spokesperson:  Yeah, you did, you did indeed.  You had ample opportunity to do so, and let me just reiterate that I’ll ask the Mission, I am sure my colleagues in DPKO are listening right now, and to see if we can give you any more details on that.

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Question:  Will it be possible maybe because it is really a DFS [Department of Field Support] issue, I mean I don’t know really what the breakdown is between UNMISS and DFS on this.  Maybe to get either Under-Secretary-General Malcorra, somebody from DFS just to describe in detail, you know, when they knew what they knew; who is helping, and you know, the various questions that remain unanswered. Spokesperson:  Sure.  Yes, Anne, and then Erol?

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Question:  The New York Times ran an article on 21 January entitled “Self-immolation is on the rise in the Arab world”, which mentioned that more than a year ago a young Tunisian set himself on fire and touched off revolutions throughout the Arab world.  Do you expect the Secretary-General to make any statement on this issue, now that five young Moroccans set themselves on fire a few days ago as acts of desperation, and other similar acts have taken place in Jordan, Bahrain and Tunisia recently? Spokesperson:  Well, I don’t have anything for you right now.  The Secretary-General did speak not so long ago in Beirut about the incident that involved Mr. Bouazizi.  But, I don’t have anything further for you at the moment; simply to underscore that the depth of frustration and despair and the desire for dignity in many parts of the world is extremely deep rooted.  Yes, Erol, and then Masood, sorry?

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Question:  Thank you, Martin.  I have to ask you this.  Just few hours ago, Mr. Vuk Jeremić, Foreign Minister of Serbia, in Brussels confirmed that indeed his Government, the Government of Serbia, proposed him as the President of the sixty-seventh General Assembly session.  I know that it is not exactly your portfolio, but do you have any comment on that, since we don’t have Nihal here, and can you confirm that, have you heard about that?  And also, to follow up to that, is, I have to proceed with this, is anybody from Serbia proposed, anybody from Serbia to the new cabinet of the Secretary-General? Spokesperson:  Well Erol, we have already gone over that topic, so I am not going to revisit that, except to say perhaps that you are not on the short list.  The other point related to the Foreign Minister of Serbia, as you rightly point out, this is a matter for Member States.  I would defer to Nihal Saad, the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, she may have some more information on the technicalities involved, not necessarily the personalities, but the technicalities.

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Spokesperson:  [laughter] Masood, then Mr. Abbadi.

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Question:  Martin, yesterday I had asked you about these Palestinian legislators and being incarcerated and deportation of the Palestinians from East Jerusalem.  You said at that time that you had no comment.  Do you have any further update and comment on that? Spokesperson:  I don’t have any further update on that, no.

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Spokesperson:  Masood, no, I don’t.  Except to underscore what Assistant Secretary-General Fernandez-Taranco said in the Council this morning about the tensions still being there and visible and evident in the region.  Mr. Abbadi and then Matthew?

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Question:  Thank you, Martin.  In his message to the Conference on Disarmament, the Secretary-General said the Conference is in danger of sinking because it has not resolved any issues since 1996.  Regarding the nuclear issues in the Middle East, does he think that it might help if anybody, everybody subscribed to the idea of a nuclear-free zone in the region? Spokesperson:  Well, as you know, that that particular initiative is continuing, and there will be meetings related to that.  I think you are aware of that.  With regard to the Conference on Disarmament itself, it is obvious that it needs to regain the central role that it could and should be playing in these developments.  And, as I just said to you, in addition to the quote that you mentioned, the Secretary-General has said — not for the first time — that the Conference is not living up to expectations.  And as you know, he has also said that there may be other mechanisms that would be brought into play, if that Conference on Disarmament cannot deliver in line with the expectations that there are.  Yes?

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Question:  Sure.  I want to ask you this.  I noticed that Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mahiga has moved to Mogadishu, that there was this announcement that that happened.  There is also… there was a… there has been I guess a gaining of ground by AMISOM in the outskirts of Mogadishu, but this has included Mogadishu University, whose leadership has put out a press release saying that it was inappropriate that this independent non-State and, also you know, they say non-Al-Shabaab institution of higher learning has now been occupied by the AMISOM and Transitional Federal Government soldiers and their leadership.  According to them, all employees, security staff and educators were thrown off the campus.  So, I am wondering, since AMISOM is funded by and given logistical assistance by the UN, does the UN have any position on whether UN-funded peacekeepers should, in fact, take over a university, or is there some plan to remove them from the university at some point or what is the response to this statement by the Mogadishu University? Spokesperson:  I would refer you to AMISOM.  If we have anything further, I will let you know.  Other questions, please? 

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Question:  I had asked you yesterday about this photograph, or more than, I mean it was an event but there are photographs of Mr. Gambari with Omer al-Bashir in Khartoum and I spoke this morning with the Sudan Mission representative who confirmed that this reception took place at the Rotana Hotel in Khartoum.  So I wanted to ask you, what is the UN’s position about contacts with an ICC [International Criminal Court] indicted individual like Omer al-Bashir, and does a wedding reception comply with UN policy? Spokesperson:  Well, you mentioned it yesterday and I said I would check.  I am still checking, okay?

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Spokesperson:  No, I haven't.  But I also said that I would look into it.

Correspondent:  Okay.

Spokesperson:  And I don’t have anything at the moment, okay.  All right, have a good afternoon.  Thank you.

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The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

So good afternoon everybody.  Welcome to the briefing.

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I am joined today by videolink from Juba by Ms. Hilde Johnson, who as you know is the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan.

So I am going to turn over to Ms. Johnson, who I am sure will have a few introductory remarks and then be ready to take questions.  And after that, I have a few other items, and will also be happy to take questions.  So please Ms. Johnson, welcome to the briefing.  And the floor is yours.

[Press conference by Ms. Johnson is issued separately.]

So, I have a couple of other items, and then of course I am happy to take some questions.

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First of all, the Secretary-General is at the Greentree Estate in Long Island, New York, where he has been meeting since this morning with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities.  As you know, the talks — hosted by the Secretary-General — will last until tomorrow evening.  And tonight, at around 7:20 p.m., the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, will speak to the media following the conclusion of the first day of meetings.

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The UN Secretariat regrets to confirm that, on 16 January 2012, the UN Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, alerted Headquarters about two allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving minors in Haiti.  The first case involves UN police officers based in Port-au-Prince.  The accused officers have been removed from their duties to reduce any contact with the local population while the investigation is under way.  The second case involves one or more members of the Formed Police Unit in Gonaives.

The United Nations is outraged by these allegations and takes its responsibility to deal with them extremely seriously.  The police-contributing countries concerned have been informed.  However, unlike cases involving UN military contingent personnel, investigations into allegations involving UN police fall under the responsibility of the United Nations.  For this reason, a team was dispatched to Haiti, on 21 January 2012, to investigate these allegations with the utmost determination.  MINUSTAH is emphasizing the responsibility and accountability of the chain of command in both preventing and taking prompt action when such allegations arise.  The Mission will take action to support the alleged victims.

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The Secretary-General has appointed Major General Paolo Serra of Italy as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).  Major General Serra will succeed Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas of Spain, who will relinquish his post on 28 January 2012.  We have more on that appointment in my office.

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The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressed her disappointment that the Government of the United States has failed to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.  While fully recognizing the right and duty of states to protect their people and territory from terrorist acts, Ms. Pillay also reminded all branches of the United States Government of their obligation under international human rights law to ensure that individuals can have the lawfulness of their detention reviewed before a court.

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Tomorrow I will have as my guest here at the briefing Catherine Bragg, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

That’s what I have.  Questions, please?  Stefano, and then Matthew?

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Question:  Yes, it is again on the speech on responsibility to protect that the Secretary-General did last week.  I read the speech and I understood that he said that 2011 was a great year for the United Nations for the responsibility to protect, apart… and then he said but something didn’t work, and he mentioned South Sudan, and he was mentioning exactly the situation of the last month and last weeks.  Now, this last report that we had from there he looks instead — at least I understood like this — that a lot of things actually worked, that thousands of people were protected and it doesn’t seem that the problems, at least the feeling comes out of that.  So, I would like to know, the question is, who is… is… maybe the Secretary-General didn’t have the right information last week yet, or there is some yet something that is not clear in between that communication, between the two. Spokesperson:  I disagree with that assessment or that description, Stefano.  First of all, the speech was indeed very wide ranging, and it did indeed point to the evident progress that was made in implementing the responsibility to protect last year.  When the Secretary-General spoke about the lessons that were also learnt, he was not simply referring to South Sudan, there were lessons to be drawn from all of the activities, even in places where there was evidently success.  With regard to what we have heard now and what you are referring to, I do not see a difference here.  It is obvious that there were difficulties and Ms. Johnson has said that it would have been easier with those helicopters.  I don’t think that that is in dispute.  It is very easy, with hindsight, to try to point to differences between a speech made and remarks simply made right now.  There is no difference here.  The key point is that in any operation you will always be able to learn something from it.  And when you do not have critical assets, as they are known in peacekeeping — in other words, helicopters — it can make a difference.  That’s really where I would want leave that.  Matthew?

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Question:  Sure, could I, one follow-up on that and then another question on Sudan.  Just, she’d… as you know, and you heard Ms. Johnson say, that it is not her task to outline, you know, who or to whom the Secretary-General spoke when he said that he’s pleaded with, it wasn’t clear if it was a member of the Security Council or members — is there some way, can you say who… did he ask anyone beyond the Russians to… and then ultimately the Bangladeshis and… and [inaudible]? Spokesperson:  Well, I am not going to get into precisely with whom the Secretary-General may or may not have spoken, simply to say that I know that he worked extremely hard in contacting various players with the aim of trying to secure helicopters to help with that operation.

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Question:  And who, I mean, I understand, it is just that the speech was viewed as being critical, you know, obviously critical of those he asked for.  He said, South… you know, I wasn’t provided with assistance by a member or maybe members of the Security Council, so it seems like it has been read as a criticism only of Russia.  And so I just wanted to know, is there anything that you want to add to that?  Is that a correct reading of the speech? Spokesperson:  I am not going to parse the remarks.  I am simply saying that the Secretary-General has made clear that he worked hard to try to secure the helicopters that were needed, and are still needed in fact, as you just heard.

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Question:  Okay.  And this other Sudan question is, and it is… it came out over the weekend that there was a wedding reception in Khartoum, the wedding of Idriss Deby to the daughter of Musa Hilal, who is the… one of the main leaders of the Janjaweed militia.  And unless it is a fabrication, there are photographs, wire service of Ibrahim Gambari, UN-African Union envoy, greeting and smiling and laughing with Omer al-Bashir.  So, I wanted to know, since he is indicted by the ICC [International Criminal Court], and the UN has said that they only deal with the ICC indictees on a necessary or as necessary basis, how is it necessary to attend this wedding ceremony and be, you know, be dealing in this way with Omer al-Bashir? Spokesperson:  I’ll have to check on that, I haven’t seen those pictures, Matthew.  Yeah, other questions, please?  Masood?

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Question:  Yes, on this race incarceration in… I mean, removal by the Israeli authorities of three Palestinian legislators from the International Red Cross offices in East Jerusalem… I mean, and so I understand article 49 of [inaudible] Geneva Convention prohibits Israel, the occupying Power, to remove these people from there and take them away.  Do you have any comment?  Has the Secretary-General any comment on that? Spokesperson:  I don’t have any specific comment on that, Masood, at the moment, no.  No, I don’t.  Yes?

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Spokesperson:  Yes, aware, but I don’t have any specific comment at the moment.  I am going right to the back here.

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Question:  Thank you.  In less than a year, there is a second Cuban dissident, Villar Mendoza, who started a hunger strike protesting his alleged brutality by the regime.  Are there any comments, please? Spokesperson:  Well, we don’t have full details on this case, but any death that might be the result of a hunger strike is of course regrettable.  Okay, yes?

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Question:  Good morning, Martin.  Thank you.  Not one, but two drone strikes last night, one in Somalia, one in Pakistan.  The Somalia one killed one person, the Pakistani one four or five depending on which report you read.  Both of the drones belong to the United States.  What is the Secretary-General’s reaction? Spokesperson:  I don’t have anything for you on that, really, no.

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Spokesperson:  And with respect, I don’t have a comment, and that’s it.  Right, yeah.

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Question:  I want to ask you again, in Côte d'Ivoire, I believe it is on Saturday, there was a rally of supporters of the former President or leader Laurent Gbagbo, and they are saying that they were rallying and that they were abused by police in full view of UN peacekeepers and that the peacekeepers did nothing and in fact attacked them when they tried to defend themselves.  Is, has UNOCI [United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire] sent you any information on this incident and what is their mandate in terms of whatever you call it, reconciliation and this seemed to be a peacefully rally, at least according to those who participated in it? Spokesperson:  Well, I’d have to check on that, Matthew.  I don’t have anything on that.

[The Spokesperson later said that according to UNOCI, Formed Police Units assisted Ivorian police officers and gendarmes who have the primary responsibility for maintaining order.  The Operation said it continues to work with the authorities to avoid similar incidents.  Nesirky also noted that the Operation had issued a statement condemning Saturday’s incidents and calling on the Government to take the appropriate measures to determine their circumstances.]

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Question:  And have you seen that there is a comment by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania saying that Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has confirmed that her time at the UN is done?  Is that an accurate statement by him, and I mean, I guess I will put it that way? Spokesperson:  I haven’t seen that statement, Matthew.

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