HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS CONFERENCE
BY SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2010
OPENING REMARKS BY THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL
Good morning
ladies and gentlemen,
Before we
begin, I want to make a statement on Côte d’Ivoire.
As of this
morning, the situation has taken a dangerous turn.
Let me say
clearly and directly: any attempt to obstruct UN
operations or blockade the Golf Hotel is totally
unacceptable.
Any attack
on UN forces will be an attack on the international
community.
I emphasize:
those responsible for the loss of civilian lives
will be held accountable.
In these
circumstances, it is crucial for both parties to
avoid provocations or a further escalation of
violence.
The response
by ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African
States] and the African Union shows the continent
united in its commitment to respect the
constitutional order and will of the people.
That is our
message, as well: the results of the election are
known. There was a clear winner. There is no other
option.
The efforts
of Laurent Gbagbo and his supporters to retain power
and flout the public will cannot be allowed to
stand.
I call on
him to step down and allow his elected successor to
assume office without further hindrance.
The
international community must send this message --
loud and clear.
Any other
outcome would make a mockery of democracy and the
rule of law.
Ladies and
gentlemen,
Since this
is the final press conference of the year, let me
take a few minutes to reflect with you.
2010 was a
big year for multilateralism -- a big year for the
United Nations.
We adopted a
forward-looking action plan on the Millennium
Development Goals.
We mobilized
$40 billion for the new Global Strategy on Women’s
and Children’s Health. And we just established a
high-level Commission on accountability to ensure
that commitments are tracked and results delivered.
We are
making progress in the malaria fight.
After years
of effort, we created UN Women and hired a dynamic
new head of the agency, Michelle Bachelet.
We made
advances in Nagoya on biodiversity.
In Cancun,
Governments took an important step forward in
building a low-emissions, climate resilient future.
They agreed
on a balanced package of measures that formalizes
mitigation pledges from all countries and ensures
increased accountability for them. They made
progress on forest protection, climate finance,
adaptation and technology. We will build on this
foundation as we look to COP 17 in South Africa.
We completed
the first successful NPT Review Conference in ten
years, and were able to advance my five-point plan
on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
We supported
highly sensitive elections in Afghanistan and Iraq.
We
strengthened the UN’s capacities for preventive
diplomacy and mediation.
All told, we
supported 34 different mediation, facilitation and
dialogue efforts this year.
The
persistent work of UN envoys helped, for example, to
ease the crisis in Kyrgyzstan and keep a transition
to democracy on track in Guinea. Next week, the
Deputy Secretary-General will attend the
inauguration of the newly elected civilian President
of Guinea.
We advanced
the fight against impunity by strengthening the
International Criminal Court.
We have
continued to assist Member States in resolving
difficult issues and undertaking impartial inquiries
on sensitive matters from the Flotilla incident to
the Bhutto Commission to the Special Tribunal on
Lebanon.
We enhanced
efficiency and effectiveness on the ground through a
first-of-its-kind Global Field Support Strategy,
which concentrates support for various peacekeeping
missions in single, more efficient regional hubs.
We responded
to the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile,
as well as the floods in Pakistan. And we helped
amplify the voices of the vulnerable, the billions
around the world facing global economic insecurity.
Looking
ahead, our challenge is to carry our progress
forward.
Resources
are tighter. Demands on the UN are growing. This
requires us to focus more on prevention,
preparedness, being proactive, being persistent -
all within a framework that is transparent and
accountable.
I will have
much more to say next month on our agenda for 2011.
For the
moment, let me say: we will continue to closely
watch the situation in Côte d’Ivoire.
In Sudan, I
am deeply concerned by the recent clashes in
Darfur. And in just a few weeks, the people of
Southern Sudan will exercise their right to vote on
their future.
The United
Nations remains committed to supporting the parties
to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and holding the
referendum on January 9 next year. And we will work
to help the two sides address common challenges in
the aftermath.
We will seek
to advance the Middle East peace process to realize
the two-state solution, despite the absence of
direct talks.
I once again
urge the parties to engage seriously and be
forthcoming on substance.
A meeting of
the Quartet principals is expected early in the new
year.
We will also
continue to focus on improving life in Gaza.
And I
repeat: Israel must meet its obligation to freeze
all settlement activity, including in East
Jerusalem.
With respect
to Myanmar, despite its serious shortcomings, the
elections and the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
were significant developments. Myanmar can and
should build on them.
Our strategy
is one of long-term comprehensive engagement. We
will continue to work to help Myanmar meet the
objectives of national reconciliation, democratic
transition and respect for human rights.
And we will
seek progress on many of the longer-term challenges
– including peace and security in the Korean
Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, bringing a
stable government to Somalia, and helping to reunify
Cyprus.
With regard
to Cyprus, we have worked to increase the momentum
in the talks, and I plan to meet leaders next month
in Geneva. Between now and then, I hope they will
continue to build on common ground as I urged them
to do last month here in New York.
Finally, a
few words on Haiti.
I am
concerned about allegations of fraud in the recent
elections. A second round is scheduled for
mid-January.
We will
continue to support free and fair elections that
reflect the will of the Haitian people.
I urge all
candidates and their supporters to remain calm and
refrain from violence.
With respect
to the cholera challenge, our first priority
continues to be saving lives. We are working to
reassure the population that the disease can be
managed through early treatment and some clear and
simple steps.
It is
crucial to get this message out, far and wide.
And we need
more funding. The Cholera Response Strategy that we
launched last month is still only 21 percent
funded. Haiti needs more doctors, nurses, medical
supplies, and it needs them urgently.
As you know,
there are several theories on the origins of the
cholera outbreak in Haiti.
Not all
reports have reached the same conclusion. MINUSTAH
[United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti] and
the Government of Haiti have conducted a number of
tests. All so far have been negative.
But there
remain fair questions and legitimate concerns that
demand the best answer that science can provide.
That is why,
pursuant to close consultation with Dr. Margaret
Chan of WHO [World Health Organization], I am
announcing today the creation of an international
scientific panel to investigate the source of the
cholera epidemic in Haiti.
The panel
will be completely independent and have full access
to all UN premises and personnel. Details on the
panel will be provided when finalized.
We want to
make the best effort to get to the bottom of this
and find answers that the people of Haiti deserve.
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
Looking back
and looking ahead, I want to reiterate a point that
I believe defines today’s complex and connected
world.
Truly global
action requires mobilizing support, creating broad
alliances and building coalitions.
In the
search for solutions, progress does not come with
big bangs, but with steady, determined steps.
It is the
accumulation of these small steps, these steady
elements of progress that set the stage for larger
changes -- the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
We live in a
unique multilateral moment -- a world changing in
the most dramatic ways since the end of World War
II.
The United
Nations must keep pace.
We have made
progress this year. But we can and must continue.
Thank you
for all your support and now I will be happy to take
your questions.
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, on
behalf of the United Nations Correspondents
Association, welcome and congratulations for your
performance last night, the other night, at the UNCA
[United Nations Correspondents Association] Awards.
SG: Thank you very much.
Q: But the question is this:
your statement on Côte d’Ivoire looks like an
ultimatum. What are the UN forces, or the UN in
general, willing to do to implement your request?
SG: Our mandate is in
accordance with the relevant Security Council
resolution recently adopted to protect the civilian
population, and in close coordination with the Côte
d’Ivoire Government, to protect the safety and
security of key Government officials including Mr. [Alassane]
Ouattara and other election commission members.
United Nations forces will continue on this given
mandate. Our priority is to protect the civilian
population.
Q: How can you force him to
step down?
SG: The situation is, as I said
earlier in my statement, very tense. You saw the
violence which took place yesterday, and there were
dozens, more than a dozen people were killed. That
is quite tragic, and it is an unacceptable
situation. I have discussed this matter this morning
with my Special Representative, Mr. Choi [Young-jin],
and his senior staff. Now they are keeping contact
with the two sides, and they have given warning that
they should refrain from taking any action to the
street. I have also spoken with many world leaders,
particularly in Africa. As you know, Mr. Jean Ping,
Chairperson of the African Union, and the President
of ECOWAS, are now in Abidjan. My Special
Representative met with them and I understand that
they have also met Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Ouattara. I
have not been able to get the details of their
discussions, but I hope that, with all the
international community’s support and backing, the
situation will calm down, and the constitutional
order should be restored as soon as possible.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, it’s
about Haiti. You just announced the panel of
experts for trying to study the origin of the
outbreak of cholera, and the other day Alain Le Roy
said that maybe the panel was going to be
constituted before Christmas. I don’t know if you
have more details on when they’re going to start to
work on the field? And, secondly, the UN always
said that there are not going to be conclusive
results; the scientists cannot have final results,
conclusive results, of who, or where, was originated
the outbreak. How do you think this panel is going
to get any conclusive results?
SG: As I said, details of
composition [are] not yet made. This will be
announced as soon as possible. There will be
epidemiologist experts and microbiologists who are
all experts. Independent and internationally very
authoritative scholars will be chosen and will lead
this investigation inquiry. We will let you know as
soon as possible.
Q: You’re saying that it’s
impossible, that scientists can’t get a conclusive
result, say in the origin of the cholera, was at
that point, was originated in that way — how do you
expect this panel is going to get a conclusive
result? It’s like, you think the people are going
to get confidence again with MINUSTAH [United
Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti] if you do
this kind of study?
SG: Let us wait until this
investigation is over. It is a little premature for
me to make any prejudgment about the end result and
course of action. We will take, of course,
necessary action, acceptable to all other people —
people of Haiti, first of all — when this
investigation report is made.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General,
you’ve made some statements this past week on the
suicide attacks inside Iran, as well as comments in
terms of the death of their nuclear scientists. I
wonder — the ambassador of Iran has been very clear
that they want this investigated, and the UN is
included — how do you foresee the nuclear
non-proliferation discussions to go forward in 2011
until these various incidents are investigated?
SG: First of all, as you read
my statement, I condemn this terrorist attack, which
is totally unacceptable under any circumstances.
Under any pretext, this terrorist attack is not
justifiable. For negotiation on nuclear issues, it
is encouraging that they had already started the
first round of negotiations between E3+3 and Iran.
They have agreed to meet again in Istanbul sometime
early next year, preferably January. We are hoping
that they will make some substantial progress in
their negotiation. I understand that they had
exchanged initial views and positions through their
first meeting. It was an encouraging first step, and
I’m looking forward to speedy progress of this
negotiation. I have been…
Q: But Iranians already have
been investigating what is happening in their
country at the moment, with the nuclear scientist’s
death, and also with the suicide attacks. Are you
planning to work on an investigation? Is there any
discussion?
SG: At this time, I don’t have
any answer to give you. But I will have to think
about that.
Q: Thank you Mr.
Secretary-General for this opportunity, and best
wishes to you and your family for the holiday
season. Last Tuesday, Assistant Secretary-General
for Policy Planning, Robert Orr, briefed us on the
Cancún meetings and described and analysed for us
your active role in meeting delegations individually
and in groups, urging them to reach an agreement.
It was understood that you made significant
contribution to what was generally viewed as a
relatively successful outcome. You have always
advocated transparency in the house. And the
international community has the right to know: are
you now prepared to tell us whether you intend to
seek a second mandate to continue the work you have
done in Cancún on climate change and other issues?
Thank you.
SG: What is the main point of
your question? Is it the later one, or climate
change?
Q: The later one.
SG: It is true that I have
exerted all my possible energy and time and efforts
to make progress on climate change. In Cancún,
before and after, I have engaged with the many world
leaders, key leaders who would have influence in
making progress in the Cancún Agreement. I am very
encouraged that we were able to have agreement in
Cancún. It is not the perfect agreement; it is not
a sufficient one at this time. But as I told many
delegations, let us not have the perfect be the
enemy of the good. That message was loudly and
clearly heard by the delegations, negotiators; and I
am glad that we have made a reasonable set of
agreements on all the areas, starting from
adaptation, technology, finance and deforestation;
and also, such interim understandings on the future
of the Kyoto Protocol, particularly the second
commitment period of Kyoto Protocol. That, I will
continue until we see the comprehensive, legally
being treaty.
For your second question, I
think I will have something to tell you sometime
early next year. But let me focus at this time on
all urgent matters which require our immediate
attention. I thank you very much.
Q: If I could follow up on
that. So, you say you will have something to
announce, but are you saying that you will want to
run for a second mandate or not?
Q: Why not now, instead of
early next year?
SG: Now we have so many urgent
things which require our attention and my efforts,
including Côte d'Ivoire, and Sudan referenda.
Therefore, a little bit, please be patient. I will
have to squarely address this issue sometime next
year.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, we
would like to hear from you, Mr. Secretary-General,
on your opinion as a champion of the press and the
freedom of the press. Today, the Australian federal
police has said that Mr. Julian Assange has not
committed any crime. Also, many leaders, including
the Russian Prime Minister, said that he did not
commit any crime. WikiLeaks continue to publish
confidential communications. How do you view this,
as a champion of the press and freedom of the press?
SG: As for that decision about
his case -- that, I leave it to judiciary process.
As for this, the fact that there were leaks of many
confidential diplomatic documents, I think there
needs to be a balance, fair balance, between the
right to know and between freedom of expression,
right to know as well as to preserve the necessary
and confidential conduct of diplomacy, which
requires confidentiality. Many countries take
different measures. In some countries, normally
this kind of confidential document should be
preserved at least 30 years before they can be
released. It’s unfortunate that these confidential
documents have been leaked. But whatever the
motivations of this leakage might be on the part of
the leakers, this will make very difficult for the
normal and reasonable conduct of business,
particularly in the diplomatic world.
Q: As a follow-up sir, did
they cause you, in particular any embarrassments and
any difficulties in dealing with other diplomats and
countries?
SG: For me, I made my position
clear. And I heard the explanation from the
Secretary of State and I told, publicly and also
through the Secretary of State, that my job as
Secretary-General is open and transparent. And
normally, the United Nations, the Secretariat and
the Secretary-General and any other senior advisors
— they meet quite often with Member States. And all
the conduct of their business has been done in a
very transparent way on the basis of mutual trust
and confidence. And that’s what I am going to
continue.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, just
as another quick follow-up to Talal’s questions, I
think the one thing we are all interested in knowing
is your reaction to that particular memo seeking
your credit card numbers, your frequent flyer
numbers, your bank account PIN numbers and your
biometrics. But my question is really that North
Korea has issued another very serious warning today
to South Korea not to stage artillery drills on the
island which they attacked last month, threatening
an even higher escalation of violence. I wonder
whether you’ve been in contact with the parties and
what your advice would be.
SG: I am increasingly and
deeply concerned about the situation in the Korean
Peninsular, as I am one of the citizens of the
Republic of Korea, while serving as
Secretary-General. You may know that it is quite
natural that I’m more concerned than maybe anybody
else. Therefore I would hope, first of all, that
tension should be reduced in the Korean peninsula.
We have been working during the last six decades to
establish peace and stability on the Korean
peninsula, through dialogue, through exchanges and
cooperation, by building trust and confidence
between the two parties. Now that the DPRK
[Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] has attacked
on South Korean territory, that is one of the
gravest provocations since the end of the Korean
war. We hope that, first of all, the situation will
calm down and try to find out ways to establish
peace and security through dialogue, through
exchanges and cooperation. But first and foremost,
I have urged restraint on the part of DPRK.
Q: You didn’t answer my first
follow-up, about your reaction to the memo about
trying to get all of this information, not just from
you, but from your senior team and special
representatives.
SG: I think I have already
answered many times through my Spokesperson’s
statement, through my answer this morning. I’m
quite transparent, but there needs to be a decent
and reasonable way of respecting the privacy and
confidential way of conducting business as
Secretary-General or any other senior positions.
This is what is required and what has been practiced
in the international community.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, just
following up on Edie’s questions a little bit. You
have expressed frustration in the past about your
lack of ability to establish lines of communication
with the regime in Pyongyang and, I believe, sent
Mr. [B. Lynn] Pascoe there to get that started. As
you look back on your first term, how frustrated are
you about your progress there, or lack of it? How
would you describe your progress in being able to
communicate – get your message across, the kind of
message you said here? And also, what would you say
to them regarding the revelation recently that
they’ve constructed, potentially, a uranium
enrichment plant not previously known, and may be
moving forward in a dramatic way on their nuclear
programme?
SG: Again, I have been dealing
with all Members States of the United Nations, but
depending upon to whom you talk, there are certain
countries [where] my communication channel has not
been much easier. I have been trying to establish my
own channel of communication with the DPRK
authorities, in a reasonable way. As you know, in
February this year I dispatched my special envoy,
led by Mr. Lynn Pascoe, and I had been meeting often
with senior representatives of the DPRK Government
on the occasion of the General Assembly, and I have
been meeting with the Permanent Representative of
the DPRK here in New York. Therefore, my
communication has been reasonably good, except that
I have not been able to meet at the highest level of
leadership; that, I will continue to try to
establish. About this uranium issue, again, this is
quite alarming that the DPRK has not been fully
implementing, first of all, the Joint Statement of
the Six Parties and the Joint Declaration between
South and North Korea on denuclearization of the
Korean peninsular which were agreed between the two
parties.
Q: Secretary-General, there
has been increased frustration amongst the
Palestinians with the work of the Quartet, and some
countries are calling for dissolving the Quartet
because of it inability to deliver. Do you oppose
or do you support those countries who are now
recognizing the Palestinian State on the [19]67
borders and do you think that this is a wise
decision at this point, or do you oppose it? And,
on another front, how worried are you about what’s
going on in Lebanon, due to the conflict over the
Tribunal?
SG: On the Quartet, we will
try to have a Quartet meeting as early as possible
in the New Year. Our envoys have been discussing
this matter. We have been trying to have a Quartet
meeting since our last meeting in September in the
United Nations. Somehow, the situation has not been
favourably developing. As you know, these direct
peace talks have been stalled over the settlement
freeze issue, and I regret it deeply that this
settlement issue has not been resolved. I sincerely
hope that all these issues should be resolved as
soon as possible for the inalienable rights of
Palestinian people and also peace and security in
the Middle East, and also considering its
implications for peace and security of the
international community. I will give my best
efforts to be a part of this process. The
Palestinians have an inalienable right for their
independence and establishing such an independent
state – that should be discussed as we see the peace
negotiations evolve.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, how
worried are you about the consequences of the
Tribunal on the stability of Lebanon, and is there
any regional effort that can get out of this crisis,
particularly the Syrian/Saudi effort?
SG: Again, on that Special
Tribunal on Lebanon issues, I have made my position
loud and clear, that this is an international
independent judicial system. Nobody can interfere
and nobody can prejudge the outcome of judiciary
proceedings. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary
that the international community must respect the
integrity of the Special Tribunal on Lebanon. And,
at the same time, I am concerned about all this
rhetoric over the Special Tribunal on Lebanon. It
is not desirable, and I have been discussing this
matter with many leaders, not only in the region,
but other key leaders, including Quartet members.
They are all supporting the work of the Special
Tribunal on Lebanon. It is important that the
international community should support it, so that
the judges and prosecutor of the Special Tribunal
will be able to discharge their responsibilities as
mandated by the Security Council resolutions.
Q: Returning to Côte
d’Ivoire. What is going to happen to the diplomats
at the United Nations? I realize that the
Credentials Committee has to eventually decide, but
they also come to see you and present credentials.
How are you going to handle that?
SG: For that specific case - I
have not encountered any such case yet. But when
any specific case arises, I will have to discuss
with Member States, particularly the Credentials
Committee on that. First and foremost, the
constitutional order should be restored in Côte
d’Ivoire. There was a winner declared and certified
- declared by the Independent Electoral Commission
and certified by the Special Representative of the
United Nations Secretary-General.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, my
question is on Sri Lanka and just about when your
Panel of Experts plans to release its report on the
LLRC [Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission]
and will it be made public? And do you have any
comment on independent media reports that the
conduct of the LLRC has been way below standard, and
the testimony has only come from a fairly small
fraction of the population, and is there anything
that can be done about that at this late stage?
SG: After long consultations
between myself and President [Mahinda] Rajapaksa of
Sri Lanka, I am pleased that the Panel of Experts is
now able to visit Sri Lanka and meet with the
Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation,
and I sincerely hope that the Panel of Experts will
be able to have good cooperation, to have an
accountability process and make progress as soon as
possible. This is a result of long consultations,
and I appreciate the flexibility of the President
Rajapaksa on this issue.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, you
said at the beginning that this is a time to
reflect. I was wondering whether you might reflect
on the question of the independence of your office.
It seems often that the Secretary-General’s a
captive of the P-5. You went to China; you did not
raise Mr. Liu [Xiaobo] with Mr. Hu [Jintao]. On the
issue of the US spying on you, we’re making a joke
about it but it is quite serious. There’s a huge
difference between government secrecy to protect
genuine national security interests and secrecy to
cover up misuse of authority, misuse of power – I
don’t see where the national security of the United
States is threatened by not knowing your frequent
flyer number. So I was wondering, do you feel you
have to choose between maintaining the support of
the P-5 and speaking out on human rights and
openness in government, that billions of people
around the world look to you to speak about? And I
have to follow up on Korea; the Russians have asked
the Koreans not to go ahead with this test – do you
agree with that?
SG: There are 192 Member
States in the United Nations and each and every
Member State has equal right and status. Of course,
in accordance with the provisions of the Charter,
the Security Council has special responsibility to
maintain international peace and security. And
among them, again, by provision of the Charter, the
five permanent members of the Security Council have
their own unique and distinct responsibility and
status – that is true. Even admitting that, in my
conduct of business with Members States, I have
tried to be very objective and fair and balanced on
all matters. I think that my record makes it quite
clear. It is true that I have been keeping a very
close, cooperative relationship with Security
Council members and also the P-5 – that is important
to facilitate and to address many important
security-related issues. That, I think, is normal
for any Secretary-General in conducting his or her
business.
Q: Why didn’t you raise Mr.
Liu, the Nobel Prize winner, when you were with
President Mr. Hu in China?
SG: I made it quite clear
about that position in my statement, in my press
conference, that I raised this issue. In addressing
a certain issue, there are many ways of addressing
and discussing this issue – human rights or security
issues or any other sensitive issues. I raised this
issue with Chinese leaders while visiting China.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General,
today in the London Guardian, citing WikiLeaks,
there was a report that the Indian Government in
occupied Kashmir is conducting torture
continuously. Do you have any comment on this
particular report, which is public in the
Guardian? And in case that you refrain from that,
I would like to ask you about Pakistan’s response
fund to the emergency – that it is very poor, and
that it is now stalled, literally, and that there is
no aid getting there – can you please respond to
this one?
SG: I think that for that
issue, my Spokesperson has been answering many times
and I think I also gave my answer to that. I
understand that there have been discussions between
India and Pakistan on all matters, including this
Kashmir issue. And leaders of the Indian Government
have also been discussing among themselves and
taking necessary measures, first of all, to ensure
the stability and prevent violence there and also
protect human rights.
Q: But this is a report talks
about tortured in Indian jails, this particular
report that is published today. This is a report
about people who are tortured in Indian jails,
consistently.
SG: I would like to find out
about specific cases – I am not aware but maybe I’ll
have my Spokesperson let you know.
Q: I wanted to ask a
question on Iran. You met with Mr. [Mohammed Javed
Ardishir] Larijani just last month, he was here and
you discussed human rights. Eighty Iranian
intellectuals wrote you an email letter asking you
to get involved in the human right situation in
Iran. Dr. [Ebrahim] Yazdi is a foreign minister of
Iran, 80 years old, very ill; he’s in jail, so many
others as well. Any comments or position on so many
Iranians in jail, especially Dr. Yazdi, 80 years,
old, foreign minister? Is there anything you can say
about that?
SG: I had very long
discussions, a very candid exchange of views on how
the UN and Iran can work together to promote and
protect human rights in Iran. And I raised all the
issues pertaining to Iranian human rights issues
with him and he answered. Whatever he was not able
to give me a full explanation, he promised me that
he would send me answers in writing, and I am
waiting for that. It was quite a good meeting for me
to discuss in depth the human rights situation in
Iran. We touched on all the cases, even some
specific cases, and I will continue to work to
promote and protect human rights in Iran. You may
not know that during the last four years, I have
been consistently and persistently working with
Iranian on nuclear issues and human rights issues.
Thank you very much.
Q: Thank you very much.
Secretary-General, you asked the two leaders in
Cyprus, when you met last month, to intensify the
talks and to come up with a practical plan to bridge
their differences. What if they cannot do it in the
Geneva talks? What are your expectations, and are
you considering withdrawing your goodwill mission
from Cyprus if they cannot reach any compromise?
SG: As you know, I had a
very good talk on 18 November in my office with the
two leaders of both communities. We were not able to
make a significant breakthrough. We know that, while
they had been discussing these core issues, they
were stuck in property issues. And we were talking
about how we can overcome these issues which had
been stopped and whether we can change certain
approaches in addressing all these core issues. And
I have given them and asked them, for the coming
nine weeks, they should meet and expedite their
process, negotiations, and meet me in Geneva in late
January. The date has been not been fixed yet, and I
am going to visit Geneva.
I am encouraged that,
since the last week of November, they have been
accelerating their negotiations bilaterally and I
hope that by the time we meet again trilaterally in
Geneva, we will be able to have much more
substantive progress on core issues. I will spare no
efforts. I have been speaking with key stakeholders
like Turkey, European Union and Greece. They are all
supporting my good offices role and they are also
all supporting to see progress in this negotiation.
Q: When you came into
this office, you said that Darfur, and Sudan
generally, was one of your main topics. As the year
ends, the Government is now fighting the one rebel
group it had signed a deal with, Minni Manawi’s
faction; there is no access to Jebel Marra in Darfur;
and even Mr. [Luis Moreno] Ocampo of the ICC
[International Criminal Court] said that UNAMID
[United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur] is
not reporting on the killing of civilians because it
has been threatened by the Government. You summoned
Mr. [Ibrahim] Gambari once to a meeting somewhere in
Europe about this Tabarat killing where peacekeepers
didn’t even leave their base to go to where people
have been killed. I am just wondering: what are you
going to do differently in 2011? Is the report on
this Tabarat massacre going to be made public? Also,
just a follow up on to the question on Sri Lanka:
are you make that report public or at least will the
reports that you are given on the killing of the
civilians be made public? Thank you very much.
SG: The situation in
Sudan will be, I am sure, one of the top concerns
and top interests of the international community,
starting with the 9 January referenda. The
preparation for the referenda has been so far
progressing well, without much incident. But there
is still sticking issues, like the establishment of
an electoral commission in Abyei. Again, the
security situation in Darfur, that is of serious
concern. The recent bombing by the Sudanese
Government in the northern boundaries of Southern
Sudan -- that is again very much alarming and very
much a concern. We have been making strong démarches
that the Sudan Government should fully cooperate
with this matter. And I will spare no effort. This
afternoon I am going to meet the Minister of Peace
and CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement] for Southern
Sudan and we will discuss this matter. The peace
negotiation has not been progressing well, except
that the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and
Justice Movement, LJM, have agreed to negotiate a
text – that can be done, but without the
participation of all other rebel movements like JEM
[Justice and Equality Movement], SLA {Sudanese
Liberation Army], Abdul Wahid, without their
participation, this negotiation for peace will not
be sustainable. So we are really trying our best
efforts. My Joint Special Envoy, [Djibril] Bassolé,
has been exerting his best efforts.
Mr. Gambari also has been
working very hard with the Sudanese Government to
have freedom of movement of UN peacekeepers as well
as humanitarian workers. That is our top priority
concern these days, and we will continue.
Q: What about Tabarat and
Sri Lanka? Are the two reports going to be made
public? It’s in your power to do so.
SG: That we will have to
discuss with the Group of Experts when they finish
their consultations. Thank you very much. I wish you
all the best for a happy New York. Thank you.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
IVORIAN
REFUGEES IN LIBERIA TO REACH 5,000 MARK:
The UN Refugee Agency says that, as of now, 4,241
people from the Ivory Coast have been recorded in
Liberia.
UNHCR says it believes that the 5,000 mark will
be reached early next week if not before, as people
are still arriving from western Côte d’Ivoire. UNHCR
also says that although no further arrivals have
been recorded in Guinea and there have been no
refugee movements in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali,
the Agency is ready if these countries see mass
movements of Ivorians.
SECURITY
COUNCIL WARN IVORIAN STAKEHOLDERS THAT THEY WILL BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS:
The President of the
Security Council, Ambassador Susan Rice of the
United States, read out a
press statement on Côte d’Ivoire Thursday
afternoon, condemning in the strongest terms acts of
violence in the country. The Security Council warned
all stakeholders that they will be held accountable
for attacks against civilians and will be brought to
justice, in accordance with international law and
international humanitarian law. The members of the
Security Council urge all Ivorian stakeholders to
exercise maximum restraint, remain calm, resist
provocative actions, refrain from violence, and work
together to restore sustainable peace.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TO LIST SUSPECTS OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE IN CONFLICTS:
The
Security Council wrapped up a meeting this
morning on sexual violence in conflicts. On
Thursday, it adopted a resolution that enables the
Secretary-General to list parties who commit sexual
violence in his reports on this question. This
afternoon, the Security Council is meeting on the
situation in Liberia. It will hear a briefing by the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West
Africa, Said Djinnit, on the activities of his
Office. The Security Council is also scheduled to
hold consultations on the UN Office for West Africa
(UNOWA)
as well as on Iraq/Kuwait.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED
NATIONS[1]
18-24 December 2010
Saturday,
18 December
Today is
International Migrants Day.
Sunday,
19 December
Today is the
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.
Monday,
20 December
Today, the
Security Council is expected to adopt resolutions on
the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
and the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI).
It will also hear a briefing on its subsidiary
bodies.
The guest at
the Noon Briefing will be the
Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field
Support, Susana Malcorra.
Today is
International Human Solidarity Day.
Tuesday, 21 December
There are no
major events scheduled today.