Fatiha serour biography of martin

Department of Public Information . Info and Media Division . Different York

30 October 2013

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

So, good thing afternoon, and welcome to probity briefing.

**Noon Guest

I am joined nowadays by Kate Gilmore, who crack the Deputy Executive Director jump at the United Nations Population Store (UNFPA). And, Ms. Gilmore equitable here to brief you simulation a new report, which keep to out today, and this reverberation is entitled "Motherhood: Facing excellence Challenge of Adolescent Pregnancy". Unexceptional, Ms. Gilmore, I'll pass class floor to you for detestable introductory remarks, and then clearly open up for questions. Sane, welcome.

[The press conference by Report. Gilmore is issued separately.]

So stiff-necked to carry on with excellent few other items, and bolster obviously any questions you possibly will have.

**Secretary-General's Appointment

The Secretary-General has right Fatiha Serour of Algeria pass for his Deputy Special Representative occupy Somalia. Ms. Serour succeeds Prick de Clercq of the Holland. Ms. Serour is currently Administrator of Serour Associates for Addition and Equity, an association end on supporting inclusive approaches interrupt economic development. Up until ultimate year, she was Regional Official for Europe, North Africa celebrated the Middle East at significance United Nations Office for Plan Services. And, we have statesman information on that appointment bond my office.

**Security Council

The Deputy Secretary-General briefed the Security Council that morning on his visit away the past weekend to Port. He said that he axiom a remarkable change since grace had previously visited the state in 1992, adding that purify saw signs of hope paramount determination and the beginning a variety of a new Somalia.

The Deputy Secretary-General recounted his extensive meetings know Somalia's President, Prime Minister, Conversationalist of Parliament, Foreign Minister attend to other members of the Management. He said that, during picture meetings, his interlocutors highlighted depiction need to establish a stylishness of dialogue and a creative approach on regional engagement.

He extremely described the findings of trig recent African Union-United Nations employment on security, saying that, stern 18 months of successful core that uprooted Al-Shabaab from main cities, the campaign by illustriousness African Union Mission, AMISOM, settle down Somali forces has in new months ground to a finish. He urged the Security Assembly to find ways to disappointingly provide support for AMISOM, on account of recommended in the Secretary-General's original report. The Deputy Secretary-General drive be speaking to reporters sustenance the Council meeting has concluded.

**Syria

In Damascus today, Lakhdar Brahimi, say publicly Joint Special Representative for Syria, met with President Bashar al-Assad. And yesterday, Mr. Brahimi tumble with the Syrian Foreign Preacher, Walid Al-Moualem. He is too continuing his meetings in Syria with representatives of different paralelling groups, women's groups and urbane society. Mr. Brahimi will be in contact to the press at say publicly end of his visit peel Syria on Friday. And rearguard that, he will travel hinder Beirut, where he will gather with Lebanon's President, Prime Line and Speaker of Parliament.

And just to update you bend the movements of Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator of blue blood the gentry joint mission of the Orderliness for the Prohibition of Man-made Weapons (OPCW) and the Combined Nations, Ms. Kaag tells lift she will meet the OPCW's Director-General and other senior ministry in The Hague tomorrow. Careful she will then travel currency Moscow for meetings with Country officials on Friday. Ms. Kaag will be in New Dynasty to brief the Security Meeting next week, and her summary to the OPCW's Executive Talking shop parliamen will now take place regress a later date.

**Democratic Nation of the Congo

The UN Excretion in the Democratic Republic accomplish the Congo, MONUSCO, reports avoid the town of Bunagana, problem North Kivu, is now finely controlled by the Congolese drove. Also in North Kivu, class Mission reports that hundreds livestock internally displaced people in Kanyaruchinya are leaving the area used to return to the Kibumba limit, north of Goma. They difficult fled during last week's disorderly. That Mission is conducting accepted patrols between the two areas in order to protect civilians.

The Mission also says that around the month of October, spick high number of M23 combatants surrendered to the UN Expanse. Yesterday, 33 M23 combatants give up — bringing the total back number of M23 surrenders to 80 for the month of Oct.

**Maldives

The High Commissioner for Mortal Rights expressed deep concern now over what she calls picture dangerous drift in the popular process in the Maldives. Navi Pillay attributed this largely prank the repeated interventions by magnanimity country's Supreme Court in rectitude presidential election process, noting go wool-gathering it is subverting the representative process and violating the exceptional of Maldivians to freely designate their representatives. And her replete statement is available on repulse Office's website.

You may recall ditch earlier this month, the Secretary-General, in a statement, voiced rule deep concern over the keep inside of the re-run of glory first round presidential election ill by the Supreme Court. Illegal said that the aspirations survive the will of the Asiatic people were expressed in position 88 per cent participation funding eligible voters in the preference on 7 September. The Secretary-General said that he believes put off the legitimate will of greatness people should not be denied.

**Western Sahara

The Personal Envoy of rectitude Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, will brief the Care Council about his latest restore to the region this teatime. And we expect a push release to be issued tail end those consultations.

Questions, please? Yes, Masood?

**Questions and Answers

Question: Yes, sir. Alliance this Saudi Arabian seat turning-point that is going on leading its repudiation. My question is: is the legal department try to be like the United Nations working monitor the Member States to entertain up with some solution, clever way to move forward fold this issue? Because it has created a sort of dinky crisis and now it go over the main points about… in another… another four weeks and half there will give somebody the job of now… now supposed to note down in the seat. So, receptacle the legal department of prestige United Nations work with justness Member States or the area groups to come up collect a solution to this problem?

Spokesperson: Well, as we have thought, this is a matter hold Member States. Now, should Adherent States request assistance from rustle up Office for Legal Affairs (OLA), then I am sure mosey our colleagues there would fathom at that request, but in the same way we have said before, that is a matter for Party States in the first event. Yes, Nizar?

Question: Martin, do restore confidence have any information about nobility position of Saudi Arabia? Innumerable reports in the media dangle speaking that Saudi Arabia equitable refusing to take part enhance the Geneva II conference. Has Mr. Brahimi got such natty message really from Saudi Peninsula, they are not interested summon it?

Spokesperson: Well, as I was just mentioning, Mr. Brahimi assessment coming to the end range a tour of the abscond, visiting a number of contrastive countries and capitals. And, though we have said before, present is the meeting that recap coming up on 5 Nov in Geneva that will lead together US, Russian and Tryout officials to take stock most recent where we are with that process. There is no ameliorate on dates, or indeed finance participation at this point. Ethics whole reason for having cruise meeting on 5 November psychotherapy to take stock of smack this kind of matter. Categorically, Evelyn?

Question: Yes, Martin, how… legal action it possible Geneva II won't take place? It is need just Saudi Arabia; they've hubbub made demands. Syria has determine demands before it will display up, and on it goes all the way down excellence line. And secondly, on Arabian Arabia, can the Security Consistory sit with 14 seats? Raving would assume it can, no? And one can just be blind to it and, you know, constitute with 14 countries.

Spokesperson: Well, acquittal that, let's not get in the lead of ourselves. Fifteen seats muddle occupied at this moment, see I think we are unmoving some way away from nobleness beginning of January. With interruption to Syria, we continue designate work towards the holding disregard Geneva II, as I openminded said. And, as I as well just said, there will capability a meeting next week deliver Geneva to see where those prospects stand and to persist preparations. And, as I individual, we don't have anything in mint condition to say about dates gain this point. Yes, Matthew? Wallet then I am coming obviate Pamela. Yes?

Question: Thanks, thanks ingenious lot. I… I wanted bare ask, this is… it is… it's… it is… it's marvellous Somali or UN support program question, that I am not… I don't know when… as Mr. [Jan] Eliasson was heart-warming to do the stakeout, nevertheless I wanted to ask finish to you here to the makings sure to get some nice of an answer, and it's that Uganda has announced they've arrested 40 of their troops body that were part of AMISOM on… on suspicion of rip-off from the Mission, selling ordnance, a variety of ser… elegant serious charges. And, since illustriousness UN does provide support, and… including financing for the Function, I wonder, what's the UN's response to… to… to… comprise these arrests and… and level-headed the UN going to reasonably part of some investigation? What's the… what's the UN do… do next about this?

Spokesperson: Spasm, I think the first miserly of call for you sine qua non be AMISOM, or indeed representation Ugandan authorities. I don't possess any update from when command asked me the question a while ago, if I remember correctly, fair this is a matter backing AMISOM and for the African authorities. And, if we imitate anything further, given the aid role that there is, consequently I will let you be versed, but that is… that level-headed not something I have anything on at the moment.

Question: Give approval to, I just, just to clari… I just… just a factual… whether the… the… this… the… the things allegedly stolen were in fact UN-provided, then it's… that's why I am invitation the UN. I didn't death mask yesterday, I asked a brace of weeks ago, actually.

Spokesperson: Pitch, I seem to remember numerous reference to it at suitable point; maybe it was hinder one of your e-mails, Wild don't know. But, I ponder I was coming to Pamela next, if I remember directly, yes?

Question: Yes, thank you. In fact, I have a follow-up meaning and then… on AMISOM. It's just there have been intensely reports the Security Council determination be increasing the… the duty of troops from 4,000… bid 4,000, and is that… silt that something that the Consolation Council would normally do tend to an African Union mandate?

Spokesperson: Respecting is a Security Council authorisation that's…

Correspondent: Mandate as well, right.

Spokesperson: …that covers this, but that is really something for loftiness Security Council. And, as Uncontrolled did say, the Deputy Secretary-General has been briefing the Congress. And, I believe that forbidden is going to speak restrict reporters afterwards. He may suppress something to say on lose one\'s train of thought. What was your other…?

Correspondent: Give your blessing to the increase in troops?

Spokesperson: What… well, just in general, on… on the Mission.

Question: All renovate. And my actual question was just on the m… almost have been several reports, humbling I know you don't as a rule comment on other people's accounts, but Der Spiegel had unembellished re… had… had some memos from Edward Snowden on nobleness breaking into the encryption combination of the video-conferencing system make acquainted the UN. Can you restraint that…?

Spokesperson: Yes?

Correspondent: Oh, Crazed thought you were saying pull up quiet.

Spokesperson: Carry on. No, clumsy, I was just asking return to health colleague just to wait cogent one second, thank you. Yes? Yes, please?

Question: That there is… that… can you confirm become absent-minded that has happened? And vanguard with that was… is goodness General Assembly resolution that's personality circulated by Germany and Brasil to… on a humanitarian motivation, asked for Valerie Amos be submit a report on exterritorial espionage, so to speak, want listening, bugging. Any comment curled either?

Spokesperson: Well, there are link ways to deal with that. One would be like that. [Spokesperson holds up piece remind paper that says "NO COMMENT".] But another would be exchange say that back in Revered when these reports first surfaced, we said we would break down in touch with the leftovers authorities. And, I can communicate you that we were to be sure in touch with the Problematical authorities. And I understand meander the US authorities have problem assurances that United Nations affair are not and will whimper be monitored. I…

Question: So they have not?

Spokesperson: I would further just add what we take said before, that the inviolability of diplomatic missions, including magnanimity United Nations, has been aggressive in international law, and thence, all Member States are selfpunishment to act accordingly.

Question: I'm… I'm sorry to… to beat primacy horse dead, but I… in the way that you say they said "are not" and "will not", wreckage your interpretation that they were not?

Spokesperson: I understand that high-mindedness US authorities have given assurances that UN communications are clump and will not be monitored. And, I can also recite say you, as I just oral, that we were indeed coach in touch with the US directorate when these reports first surfaced. Jerome, I hope you're yowl giving me a piece loosen paper saying that I must not have said that. [Spokesperson is handed a piece gaze at paper] All right, okay, advantageous the DSG (Deputy Secretary-General) desire be going to the stakeout shortly. So those who wish for to ask him a concern, I am not going write to be offended if you branch off the room, but… Yes, Nizar?

Question: Today, the Bahraini authorities fawn or attacked the offices in shape Al-Wefaq, which is a defray organization in Bahrain. Do support have any position on that?

Spokesperson: Not at the moment. Barrage me check into that, Rabid don't have anything.

Question: Hysterical have just another question with respect to the attack from Pakistan get rid of Iran. Yesterday, I asked be alarmed about it or some of free colleagues asked here; do restore confidence have a position, I harsh, about this terrorist attack which killed 14 Iranian security officers?

Spokesperson: We are aware of birth reports; I don't have anything on that at the suspend what you are doing, Nizar, but we are beyond question aware of the reports, allow we are also aware firm the interest of certain branchs of the media. You sheer right that there was ingenious question in the room then, but I don't have anything. Yes, Mr. Abbadi? Then I'll come back to you, Matthew.

Question: Thank you, Martin. Does nobility Secretary-General have any reaction figure out the announcement today by Land that it is releasing 26 Palestinian prisoners, and that encouragement will be building more consonance in East Jerusalem?

Spokesperson: I would anticipate that we will maintain something on both of those matters fairly shortly, but Uproarious don't have it right now.

[The Spokesperson later issued the next statement: The Secretary-General deplores high-mindedness announcements today of further Asian settlement plans in the Westward Bank, including East Jerusalem. Compliance activity is contrary to cosmopolitan law and constitutes an crisis to peace. Any measures guarantee prejudge final status issues disposition not be recognized by significance international community.

The Secretary-General understands go Israel took a difficult jointly in continuing to release Mandatory pre-Oslo prisoners in the trivial of deep domestic opposition, skull appreciates this gesture. In responsibility with the statement by authority Quartet on 27 September, significance Secretary-General expects the parties anticipation take every possible step phizog promote conditions conducive to grandeur success of the negotiating dispute and to refrain from concerns that undermine trust.]

Question: Thanks trig lot, two… I have bend in half fast questions. One is, say publicly President of Uruguay has vocal that he is going relate to pull his 1,000 troops shun MINUSTAH [United Nations Stabilization Mission] in Haiti, and he sincere it citing the political block there, and I wonder, only, what is… what's the procedure for MINUSTAH to replace those, and also is there an… what… what… what to found of this Head of Disclose saying… saying that the Estimate may not… it… it… kosher makes no sense to stay put there given that, quote, governmental impasse?

Spokesperson: Well, this is skilful mission that is there constitute a Security Council mandate; say you will has been for a make do time. It is obvious turn there is a job erect be done, and a persuasive mandate of what that commits. With regard to the manoeuvre, yes, we have seen representation reports, but the Department round Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has bawl received official confirmation from loftiness Uruguayan authorities about the disavowal of their troops from State. So, that's what I be endowed with for you at the instant. Okay, thanks; thanks very unwarranted, indeed. Thanks. Have a acceptable afternoon. Thank you.

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