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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

THURSDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2014

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SECRETARY-GENERAL PRESENTS NEW REPORT OUTLINING KEY ELEMENTS OF POST-2015 AGENDA

• The Secretary-General presented his Synthesis , entitled “The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet”, to the Member States today. The report aims to support the discussions of Member States.
• The Secretary-General the that we are now poised to take a major step towards ushering in a new era of sustainable development for all - an era of transformation. He detailed the six “essential elements” presented in his Report: dignity, people, prosperity, our planet, justice and partnership.
• The Secretary-General spokes to the media following his briefing to the General Assembly, saying that 2015 is an opportunity to take big steps in the right direction, for people and the planet.

RUSSIA: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACKS IN GROZNY

• In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General strongly the terrorist attacks of 4 December in Grozny, the Russian Federation.�� He reiterated that there can be no justification for acts of terror.����
• The Secretary-General sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of these heinous acts, as well as to the Government and people of the Russian Federation. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

U.N. MISSION PERSONNEL TESTS POSITIVE FOR EBOLA IN LIBERIA

• The United Nations Mission in Liberia () said today that a member of its military personnel has tested positive for the Virus Disease. The patient is receiving treatment at an Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia.
• The Head of the Mission, Karin Landgren, said today that UNMIL had taken immediate steps to prevent further transmission.
• In line with established the World Health Organization () protocols, the Medical team of UNMIL has conducted an immediate and robust contact tracing to ensure that all those who came into contact with the individual while he was symptomatic have been assessed and quarantined. Sixteen contacts have been identified to date. All areas where the individual is known to have been while symptomatic have now been decontaminated.
• This is the third case of Ebola in the mission - one previous confirmed case and another probable case, which could not be confirmed, both resulted in the deaths of the staff members on 13 October and 25 September, respectively.
• The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro, was in Bamako, Mali yesterday. He discussed the current situation and the measures being taken during a series of meetings with the Malian President, Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, and other government representatives, as well as with the head of UNMEER in Mali, Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, representatives of the ��UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (), the WHO, and UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes.
• Dr. Nabarro said that there was a large engagement of the whole population on the Ebola response and that the government was working effectively. He added that a very high level of focus and attention had to be maintained even if there are few cases around and until the last person was under treatment. He said that as long as there is Ebola in any neighboring country, Mali needs to remain on high alert.
• UNMEER has received 400 motorbikes from Germany. Each of the 400 motorbikes are equipped with a cooler box and will be used to bring blood samples to laboratories in the most affected areas of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
• The handover took place at the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Accra and the Head of mission, Tony Banbury, thanked the German people for their donation and said it was an excellent example of international cooperation.

INSECURITY POSES CHALLENGE FOR U.N. MISSION’S WORK IN DARFUR –�� U.N. PEACEKEEPING CHIEF

• The Under-Secretary-General for Operations, Hervé Ladsous, briefed the Security Council this morning to brief on the situation in Darfur.
• He said that insecurity and the persistent movement restrictions imposed by Government forces, armed movements and militia groups continued to challenge the ability of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur () to implement its mandate, particularly in relations to protection of civilians.
• He added that there were deep concerns about the lack of direct access to vulnerable people in need of protection, and urged the Government to allow Mission personnel to full and unhindered freedom of movement throughout Darfur.
• Mr. Ladsous also urged the government to give UNAMID independent and immediate access to Thabit in North Darfur. He said only an independent investigation by the Mission would address the serious concerns of allegations of rapes that may have taken place there.
• He also noted the recent tensions between the Mission and the Government. He underscored the necessity of continued engagement and cooperation between them to resolve these problems and create an environment that will be more favorable to the interest of the Darfur population.
• This afternoon, the Security Council will hold an open debate on Kosovo and will hear a briefing from the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Kosovo and the head of the UN Mission in the country (), Farid Zarif. ��

U.N. MISSION REPORTS FOUR DEATHS FOLLOWING RENEWED FIGHTING IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

• The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic () said that there are reports of renewed violence between Christian and Muslim villagers in downtown Bambari yesterday, resulting in at least four deaths. A dozen people have been and several houses have been burned down.
• MINUSCA is investigating these reports and will send a fact-finding mission to Bambari tomorrow. The mission condemns all inter-communal violence and sends its condolences to the families of the victims.
• It also appeals for calm and reiterates its message to all Central Africans that violence will not bring the solution to the current crisis, only dialogue and reconciliation will.

U.N. RECOMMITS TO SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN AT LONDON CONFERENCE

• In London today, Jeffrey Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Affairs, attended the Conference on , co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Afghanistan.
• Mr. Feltman called the conference an opportunity to forge a strong, sustainable and accountable partnership between nations and organisations, committed to help the Afghan leadership and people lay the foundation for a more secure and more prosperous country.
• He added that the United Nations remains a committed partner with Afghanistan and the rest of the international community in building that foundation.

U.N. OFFICIAL CONCERNED OVER RESUMPTION OF WEST BANK DEMOLITIONS

• The United Nations Resident and Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, James Rawley, today expressed serious concern over the Israeli authorities’ resumption of punitive demolitions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
• He said that punitive demolitions are a form of collective penalty that punishes people for acts they did not commit.
• Between 1 June and 30 November, the Israeli authorities demolished or sealed five homes in this context, displacing 34 Palestinians, including 16 children. Another six families, including four in East Jerusalem and two in other parts of the West Bank, are at imminent risk of displacement.
• Mr. Rawley noted that punitive demolitions run counter to a range of rights and protections outlined in various international legal instruments that Israel has accepted.

HEAD OF U.N.E.S.C.O. CALLS FOR PROTECTED CULTURAL ZONES IN IRAQ, SYRIA

• The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (), Irina Bokova, yesterday for the creation of “protected cultural zones” around heritage sites in Syria and Iraq at the opening of an international conference on threats to cultural heritage and diversity, that took place in Paris, France.
• His video message to the Conference, the Secretary-General that the protection of cultural heritage is a political and security imperative, and should be a central component to peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts, and humanitarian and development policies.

U.N. ENVOY VISITS CYPRUS TO MEET LEADERS

• In response to a question, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on , Espen Barth Eide, visited the country from 24-28 November.
• Mr. Eide met with the leaders of the two communities, as well as with members of political parties, religious leaders, diplomats and academics.

U.N. MISSION MARKS 15 YEARS IN D.R. CONGO

• Earlier today, the head of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo () held a live social media broadcast to mark the 15th anniversary of the presence of this UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
• In his exchanges with internet users, Martin Kobler, the head of the Mission, stressed the need to completely restore peace and stability in the country and said this meant combatting armed groups, in North Kivu and elsewhere.
• He added that the priority of MONUSCO is to fight against the Allied Democratic Forces and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda 2 January. He also deplored the security situation in Beni and said that more joint actions with the Congolese army were needed to improve the security there.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW CHIEF OF PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

• The Secretary-General has appointed Cristina Gallach of Spain as Under-Secretary-General for Communications and . She succeeds Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal of Austria, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.
• The Secretary-General would also like to thank Maher Nasser for his professional and effective work as the acting head of the Department of Public Information in recent months.��
• Ms. Gallach brings to the position a wealth of experience in communication, information, public diplomacy, international affairs and other spheres as well as hands-on management expertise. She is also an experienced newspaper, radio and television journalist.
• She is currently Head of the Public Relations Unit in the Council of the European Union, Directorate General for Information and Communication, a post she has held since July 2010.

U.N. CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

• The Spokesman congratulated the newly-elected members of the United Nations Correspondents Association’s () executive board for next year, including its incoming President, Giampaolo Pioli.
• He also thanked Pamela Falk, the outgoing President, for her leadership of UNCA over the past years.

MEMBER STATES TO COMMEMORATE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 AT U.N.

• Tomorrow, the Permanent Missions of the United Kingdom and Germany will host an event to commemorate the centenary of the Christmas Truce of 1914. The event was characterised by a series of spontaneous ceasefires during which soldiers on opposing sides exchanged gifts, sang carols and played an iconic game of football.
• Friday's event will include readings from letters recording the events of 1914, carol singing, remarks by the Secretary-General and a football penalty shoot-out between Permanent Representatives, refereed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
  It will take place at 12:30 by the Riverwalk at the North Lawn.

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***The guest at the noon briefing was the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Kyung-wha Kang, who briefed on her recent trip to Ethiopia and South Sudan