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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2015

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SECRETARY-GENERAL KICKS OFF MIDDLE EAST VISIT IN BID TO DEFUSE TENSIONS, SPEAKS OUT AGAINST STEPPED UP VIOLENCE

• The Secretary-General has repeatedly expressed his anguish and deep concern at the escalating violence in Israel and Palestine. In an effort to help defuse the current tensions, he has begun a visit to the region today to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, and other senior officials. He with Israeli President Reuben Rivlin shortly after his arrival and said his visit is intended to encourage and support all efforts to lower tensions and prevent the situation from spinning out of control.
• The Secretary-General is also expected to meet with Israeli and Palestinian victims of the recent hostilities and terror attacks.
• In a video message issued before his departure to the region, the Secretary-General to the peoples of Israel and Palestine about the dangerous escalation in violence across the occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, especially in Jerusalem. He voiced his dismay at seeing young people, children, picking up weapons and seeking to kill.
• The Secretary-General told the Palestinian people and leadership that violence will only undermine the legitimate Palestinian aspirations for statehood and the longing of Israelis for security. He said that Palestinians have the right to live a decent life in dignity, respect and freedom.�� But it can only be reached by establishing a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel, not through the violent acts we have been witnessing.
• The Secretary-General told the Israeli people and leadership that he appreciates their genuine concern about peace and security and also understands the anger many Israelis feel. But he said that walls, checkpoints, harsh responses by the security forces and house demolitions cannot sustain the peace and safety that Israel needs and must have, adding that there is no so-called “security” solution.
• He asked Palestinian and Israeli leaders alike to stand firm against terror, violence and incitement. He called on them to demonstrate in both words and deeds that the historic status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem will be preserved, and to reaffirm their commitment to end the occupation and pursue a two-state solution by making changes on the ground.

IRAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED THAT JUVENILE EXECUTIONS REFLECT ‘WORRYING’ TREND

• In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General that he is deeply saddened by the news of the execution of two juvenile offenders last week in Iran. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child – both ratified by Iran – prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age.
• The Secretary-General is concerned that these two executions reflect a worrying trend in Iran. Over 700 executions are reported to have taken place so far this year, including at least 40 public, marking the highest total recorded in the past 12 years. The majority of executions were imposed for drug-related offences, which are crimes that do not meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes,” as required by international law.
  The Secretary-General reaffirms the opposition of the United Nations to the imposition of the death penalty and calls on the Government of Iran to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES ITS WORKING METHODS

• The began an open meeting this morning on its working methods, on which it heard from the Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson. The Deputy Secretary-General noted that while the Council decides on its own procedures, the Secretariat stands ready to provide institutional memory and advice to the rotating Council Presidencies and to its other members.��
• The Security Council also adopted a Presidential Statement on the Central African Republic earlier this morning.

SENIOR U.N. POLITICAL OFFICIAL TO VISIT SRI LANKA

• Assistant Secretary-General for Miroslav Jenca will begin a visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow.
• His five-day visit follows recent discussions between the Secretary-General and President Sirisena on the margins of the General Assembly.
• Mr. Jenca’s visit will provide an opportunity for continued dialogue with Sri Lankan authorities and stakeholders, and will inform the longer-term �山����peacebuilding programme to support Sri Lanka.
• He will also participate in the event in Colombo on 24 October to celebrate the twin milestones of the UN’s 70th anniversary and Sri Lanka’s 60th anniversary as a Member State.

SOME 50,000 PEOPLE FORCED TO FLEE AFTER CLASHES AROUND SYRIA’S ALEPPO – U.N. RELIEF WING

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs () says that the number of people displaced following military offensives around Aleppo in Syria is now estimated to be around 50,000. People need tents, water services, basic household kits and cooked meals. Our local humanitarian partners are helping to meet the needs of displaced people.
• Three convoys of 31 trucks with medical and humanitarian supplies for 30,000 people were delivered simultaneously on Sunday to Fouah and Kefrayah in Idlib governorate, and Zabadani and Madaya in Rural Damascus governorate. The number of people reached is expected to rise to 40,000 in the next couple of days.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME DELIVERS AID TO NON-GOVERNMENT HELD PARTS OF UKRAINE’S DONETSK FOR FIRST TIME IN THREE MONTHS

• The World Food Programme () is to the non-government-controlled area in the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine for the first time since all humanitarian activities were suspended there three months ago.
• Two truck convoys, carrying enough food for nearly 16,000 people for one month, reached Donetsk in the past five days.
• More convoys bringing food are being planned so that the total number of vulnerable people to receive assistance will be 20,000.
• As another winter approaches, the humanitarian community is concerned about the needs of the most vulnerable people, especially those who had to flee their homes.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARRIVING BY SEA TO GREECE SO FAR IN 2015 TOPS 500,000 – U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY

• The �山����Refugee Agency, or , today that the number of people who have arrived by sea to Greece so far this year has topped half a million, with 8,000 people arriving yesterday.
• It said that many refugees and migrants are desperate to move quickly onwards to Western Europe, fearing that borders ahead of them will close.
• The spike in the number of arrivals is sharply increasing reception pressures on Greece, and the Agency said that it is important that reception conditions be adequate to the task.
• Without this essential element, the relocation programme agreed by Europe in September is in serious peril and may fail, UNHCR warned.
• The total number of refugees and migrants to reach Europe so far this year via the Mediterranean is now over 643,000.

OMAN BECOMES 133^RD MEMBER STATE TO PAY U.N. DUES IN FULL

• Oman has become the 133^rd Member State to pay its �山����regular budget dues in full.

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