Thank you for listening to Depiction's Media Radio. Welcome to Policy Rights to show
about government policy and human rights. Welcome back to Policy Rights here in Depictions
Media Radio. I'm your host Michael Clogs. Well, the government Canadian government
has done that. They have expelled the Chinese diplomats from Canada, and of
course there are some repercussions to go along with that. And among the those
things that um the repercussions to go along with that, there are a number
of MP's according to ceases, which which they are not going to release a
list of that um of MPs that are going to be banned from China,
and there um are lists of lists of MPs that possibly have been threatened.
The big question about the the on the on the threats is in twenty twenty
one, when there was a proposed threat against an MP, why is it
that it wasn't brought the light right away? Why are we hearing about it
two years later? And what if something would have happened to that particular MP,
Michael Chung and his family? What about that? Should there be a
directive that actually says, hey, we found a no matter how viable or
non viable it is, we found a chatter of a threat against a government
official rather that MP is part of the government party or part of the opposition,
or however they if they are seeded in parliament, then they should there
should be a notification, there should be something said, and that is coming
around to be the consensus of all the MPs and being the consensus of anyone
who is actually asked that particular question. So we're gonna hear Justin Shoe's going
to make a couple of brief statements, and at the end of the show
we're going to hear from a number of MPs. They voiced their opinion in
both French and English about the topic of well should we know or should we
know what about transparency on that sort of thing. So we're also going to
hear from the United Nations about issues dealing with Sudan, Ukraine with drone strikes
and how the UN is actually dealing with those things, what their statements are,
and also how humanitarian efforts are going to go continue in Sudan with the
level of violence is happening. There are also some mentions about Afghanistan and Afghan
women, and there are also some some some information about uh continued inspections for
the Black Sea Green initiative, how Russia is progressing along with their inspections so
that the ships can sail across the Black Sea. And with that, there
is also um in Yemen UH some mention about how the safer tanker is progressing
and how they are going to uh what the progression is in removing the oil
from the decaying supertanker so that there isn't a toxic spill of petroleum in the
area. So why don't we listen, And we're going to start with a
statement from Justin Trudeau about Canada expelling a diplomat back to China consul in Shanghai,
and will there be any further response from the government. We will take
whatever action is necessary to continue to protect our democracy and show that we're standing
up for our values and our principles. This is a decision we took seriously,
We took with careful consideration in order to do the right thing and expel
the Chinese diplomat. We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be
intimidated and we will continue to do everything necessary to keep our Canadians, keep
Canadians protected from foreign interference. Do you fear that there could be further retaliation
from China, such as economic retaliation, like when they find safety concerns with
our import These are things that we considered, but we decided that we needed
to move forward in a responsible way to send a very clear message that we
will not accept for an interference and regardless of whatever next choices they make,
we will not be intimidated. And more we will ensure that China continues to
see, along with other countries that are engaging foreign interference, that we take
this extraordinarily seriously. History to the phone on the valpres and I in talassiety
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in best conversation with Michael too. I wonder here if you know many of
your colleagues who are worried, if you've ever had concern to yourself you know,
but I think you know obviously what we're doing with is you know a
legitimate concern of people being able to do their job with other differents. Uh
so I know that they're is a It is a concern I think for everything.
Do you think that the government should tell people how many mpies it beliefs
have been threatened? How'm I gonna go to the rat that I am going
to say what I think? It is a very significant concern for a lot
of ers. How as lay the sorry very critic economic am the actions that
were taken very very yet of China might take some sort of economic tact.
But could this affect Canada's supply chains, labor markets? So what he is
now not very concerned about it or not that which is not very yet.
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by itself is the hassanna slow passer consc did the sales? Did he fires
help from this? You know, shouldn't you just turn injury Holmes? How
many maybe we did? The deject with that questions, I hope can't petition.
You know, he don't can fully absurd the police security should probably back
back on. Okay, we don't know how many, how many MPs it
is, we don't know who? What do you? What's the government studio
transparency? To be honest, I think a lot of that has to do
with the Intelligence Service, and you know comes down to the Intelligence services evaluation
of levels of threat um. I personally don't feel equipped as a number of
followment to make a judgment call on that sort of thing of you know,
no technocratic knowledge of foreign influence or anything like that. I do my briefings
and I read my notes, but I do that really just comes down to
what CSIS evaluates. And I just also want to add the spress solidarity with
mister Chong and his family is my neighbor and my friend, and it's happening
to him, as is absolutely observed in my os on art. The Minister
has not been forthcoming about how many MP's were threatened. I mean, can
you envision any scenario with that information would not be available to the public national
split reasons. I can't call him because I don't know. I don't know
enough without public safety or or you know, the global affairs or the geopolitical
considerations that go into decisions like that. So I'll leave it to the experts.
Oh nice, would you like the government to tell members of Parliament how
many energies have been threatened by or any hours there's anything if he's need to
know the answer to that. Mister Chonga said that based on the information he
got from Caesus, it's multiple MPs who are being threatened. We don't have
any more information than that, should we? I think? So? Yeah?
What what have you yourself our experience any kind of threats? Any talk
to any colleagues who have been through it? And do you think I'm easy
to know them? I think I think we wanted all how prevalent it is,
and what to look forward and who call? I think all those things
would matter had a happened so far. Sorry, why do you think?
Why do you think that information hasn't been to live already to those MPs that
according to this briefing that mister Chong gone. And also just be way aware
of my vay grade. Mister Chong has said, where any many stopping thesis
other folks where the subject of threats foreign interference? I just wonder have you
ever had any experience with that? And what transparency should the government is showing
in terms of who we've affected. I have not myself, but the government
two years ago when they first found out they should have come. They should
have to talk to mister Chong at that time and also talked to the opposition
at that time. But what about right now? According to what mister Chong
is saying, other mp ceasis believed that other MPs where the subject of threats
and we don't really have any information about that. What would you like to
know government would have that information to the government should be taking action on that
information like they did before they sat all that information for two years. That
we expect what they would come for them forth with that commission within the yearbook.
The government should be telling MP's about the threats they face. As Rumple
Garner more transparency do you think the government also because the ray there's happening today
in the House on the motion of privilege is really important and certainly the government
has a way to go to deal with this. So I'm certainly listening to
the debate. But um, I guess I never really expected something like this
would happened. So a lot of thinking, a lot of introspection. I
hope that you know, across the partisan spectrum in Canada, people understand how
serious this is and this is actually a threat to our sovereignty and our democracy.
So you have a personal experience with foreign interference. Um, I wrote
a piece on this last week. My writing has a twenty percent of my
writing on the last cat Canadian census identifies as after Chinese heritage. And there
was a line in the Global Mail story that talked about potential influence on a
Calgray MP and I has a helmet right up? Does that mean right?
I have no way of knowing that we've been contacted. I started going in
through my head, through the conversations I've had, and I realized how dangerous
that is, because I don't think Canadians realize it without tools like a foreign
Agent Registry rules like we have for corporate lobbyists, that we're we're actually we're
actually also causing a threat to our pluralism. Government is causing a threat to
our pluralism, and this needs to be dealt with or really quickly to restore
trust in government institutions, to restore trust in our democracy. And again I
hope that this is a unifying issue for Canadians to read it to me that
our government needs to do better. Given your experience with Enscoup, I would
just like to ask you, I mean I ask you that anything you haven't
you didn't call correct? You are you Are you aware of any reason that
the government couldn't tell Canadians how many mpeas have been through They've been talking a
lot about national security laws limiting what they can say. Is there any good
reason you can think of? I think that MP's have the right to know,
but I think that there's there needs to be a broader framework for like
this needs to be done in a structure, transparent way, and that's why
we need to have things like a foreign Agent Registry. I think that's probably
the easiest way to put a consistent structure around this is transparent not just to
MPs but to all Canadians, and have very clear rules on what that means,
but also importantly have teeth to enforce it. So I will surprise the
government way they gainst emotion. Yesterday I bought it passed, but the government
needs to deliver on that promise in shorter there there's no reason that they can't
given the fresh precedent internationally. Thank you, it's this series is yours.
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We're just wondering. We've been reflecting a bit on the fact that we
know that other MP's, according to the information mister Chong has seen worth threat.
Are you aware of any other folks in your party or elsewhere in Parliament
who have dealt with these threats? And what are you thinking about a year
at this information? Yeah, I mean I am a member of the International
Human Rights Subcommittee that was one of the one of the entities listed by the
by the Chinese government. So I have been banned from China according to what
we've been told. So yeah, I mean I I have a lot of
concerns. I've concerns. Peter Julian asked that question in the House Estory.
We didn't get a question from the government. I'd like to know whether their
MPs or implicated. I think it's really important for our safety, but also
for our democracy and so that Canadians feel confident in in our democratic structures.
What will you be able to like to ask, like, were you targeted?
Were you what kind of information do you think the mp should get about
the possible intimidation of this I think that's a good start. I mean,
first of all, which MP's have been targeted? Have those MP's been informed?
Do they have the information they need to make the right decisions? You
know? Are there things that we can do to make sure that our democratic
institutions are better protected? I think this conversation entirely take over the House of
Commons with the exception of question period right now. Do you think that that
is where the focus should be or is it time to move those questions over
a committee? As the government has suggested. You know, I think I
think there is work that needs to be on a committee. My worry is
that we are politicizing this at a time when we actually should be working together
to find solutions. So I think I think we can all say that the
government has not acted as fast as we would like to have seen them act.
We don't have the answer to all the questions we need. But I
also think going forward, we should be working together to make sure that we
are protecting our democracy because Canadians expect that of us, and Canadians deserve a
democratic system that is robust and that they can Trust's not giving the information about
if they've been targets. All right, Good afternoon everyone. This morning,
the Secretary General received the Carlos the Fifth European Award at just at a ceremony
at the Monastery of USTe Have presided over by the King of Spain, Philippe
sixth. In his remarks, the Secretary General said that he was receiving the
ward also on behalf of the entire un and for that reason he felt even
prouder. The Secretary General said that as we consider the complex legacy of Carlos
the Fifth and the global nature of his empire. We can find inspiration to
rediscover the universal values, principles and ideas that unite us as a human family.
He noted that the UN as well as the European Union, were created
in the name of peace after the horror of two World wars. Mister Goods
said that peace remains our north star and our most precious goal. Yet the
struggle for peace may seem at times like a Sccipian task. He emphasized that
we must work to make peace and to keep it every day tirelessly. Instead
of bullets, he added, we need diplomatic arsenals. His full remarks have
been shared with you. The Secretary General will be back of the office in
New York tomorrow. Turning to Sedan, the number of people internally displaced by
fighting has more than doubled in the past week. The International Organization for Migration
says that more than seven hundred thousand people are now internally displaced by the violence,
thus compared to three hundred and forty thousand people as of last Tuesday.
Before the fighting began, some three point seven million people were already internally displaced
at Sudan, mainly in our four Meanwhile, the World Food Program says it
will need nearly thirteen thousand tons of food to eat some three hundred and eighty
four thousand people across the states of Ghedif, Jizia, Cassala and White Nile.
WF currently has some eight thousand tons of food stocks in Port Sudan.
In the coming days, the agency is expecting the rival of two ships carrying
food and supplies to treat moderate acute malnutrition. Since restarting food distributions last week,
a WFP says that more than thirty five thousand people have been reached across
Gediff and Cassala, with distributions also underway in White Nile. This morning,
the Security Council held a briefing on the UN Intra Security Force for Abbia otherwise
known as YUNISFA. Assistant Secretary General for Africa, Martha Pobi warned that the
outbreak of violence in Sudan may deeply impact the chances for political progress on Abbia
and border issues. She said YUNISFA continues to support efforts led by Sausudan to
reduce tensions between the ngok Dinka and Twiktinka communities. Her full remarks were shared
with you towards Venisland, the Unspecial Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,
said today that he was deeply alarmed by developments in Gaza after Israel launched a
military operation this morning targeting members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. The Israeli
airstrikes inside Gaza resulted in the killing of thirteen Palestinians and more than twenty injured.
He condemned the deaths of civilians in the Israeli air strikes. This is
unacceptable, he said. Mister Venisland urged all concern to exercise max some restraint
and avoid an escalation. He remains fully engaged with all sides in an attempt
to avoid a broader conflict with devastating consequences for all. Last night, our
colleagues of the Office for the Black Sea Grain Initiative reported that the Joint Coordination
Center had conducted no inspections on Sunday and Monday. That JCC has confirmed that
inspections have resumed today on outbound vessels. Since the first of May, the
JCC inspection rate has dropped significantly to an average of two point nine completed inspections
daily. There are currently twenty six vessels in Turkish waters loaded with one thousand,
one hundred and fifty seven thousand, one million, one hundred and fifty
seven, nine hundred and seventy four metric tons of grain and foodstuffs. According
to information shared by the Ukrainian delegation with the parties of the JAYCC, there
are sixty two vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports. Out of these,
eight applications have been sent to the JCC for registration. The UN, the
Office of the UN coord Nader and the Delegation of their Cay are working closely
with all sides with the aim to facilitate movements and inspections of inbound and outbound
vessels within the framework of the initiative and agreed procedures. Wild Discussions for the
future of the initiative continue. Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary
General for Children Conflict, will be in Ukraine from tomorrow until May thirteenth to
engage with the government to discuss the impact of the conflict on children, including
how to enhance the protection of boys and girls in Ukraine and prevent gray violations.
This follows the Secretary General's request and his last annual report on Children Armed
conflict, to engage with all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to urgently address
child protection issues, including the prevention of violations against children. During her visit,
Miss Gamba will meet with government officials and with the UN Country Team in
Kiev. According to our colleagues in Haiti, in the month of April,
more than six hundred people have been killed in a new wave of violence that
is at several districts across the capital, port A Prance. This follows the
killing of at least eight hundred and forty six people in the first three months
of this year, in addition to close to four hundred people injured and three
hundred and ninety five kidnapped during that period. These numbers represent a twenty eight
percent increase in violence compared to the previous quarter. The report, launched by
the UN Human Rights Office in our mission in Haiti Binu, also highlights the
emergence of vigilante groups following calls by some political figures and journalists for citizens to
form self defense organizations to fight gang violence. The report says that Haiti is
seeing a worrying increase in mob killings and lynchings of alleged gang members, with
at least one hundred and sixty four of these murders documented in April. The
report also underscores that the violence is not only becoming more extreme and more frequent,
but spreading relentlessly as gangs seek to extend their control. The head of
the UN Mission in Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador, renewed her call for the
deployment authorized by the Security Council of a specialized International forces International Force. Haiti
needs immediate assistance to counter the increase in armed gang violence and develop its police
force, she said in a statement. In Nigeria, we and our partners
are appealing for three hundred ninety six million dollars to stave off hunger and acute
malnutrition among children in the northeast of the country and to help people get through
the upcoming lean season. As we alerted last week, four point three million
people in the Bornou, Adamaua and Yobe states risk severe hunger from June to
August, and child malnutrition is expected to rise, with some seven hundred thousand
children at risk of severe wasting. Without additional funding, humanitarian organizations will only
be able to reach about three hundred thousand of the people at risk. As
we have seen in previous years, early funding can help pull food insecure households
back from the brink. Turning to Syria, a new UN report has estimated
that fifteen billion dollars will be needed for the country to recover three months after
the damaging earthquake. The Syria Earthquake Recovery Needs Assessment, stemming from a collaborative
effort among eleven UN agencies, funds and programs, also puts the total damages
and losses at August nine billion dollars. Adapting. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator
for Syria, Almustova Ben Lamley, who led the effort alongside the UN country
team, called on partners to let the earthquakes strengthen our collective resolve to scale
up strategic and meaningful early recovery interventions across the country and not just an earthquake
affected areas. And At around one pm, the President of the General Assembly,
Shabakuroshi, along with five of the sixth General Assembly co Facilitators on Health,
will brief reporters on the ongoing multi stakeholder briefings and preparations for the UN
General Assembly High level week. This stakeout will take place at the General Assembly
stakeout area between the Trustee and ECOSOC chambers. And before that, are there
any questions? Yes, thank you for a couple of questions. First,
on the follow up on what you just announced to blout the Black Sea Grain
initiative and no inspections Sunday and Monday, you didn't give any reason. Can
we assume that this is the same issue that has held up previous inspections,
which is the Russians not approving the inspection of ships. I believe that the
JAYCC has pointed out some of the hurdles that they faced, including in their
update from last Friday, so I don't have anything new to say on that.
Of course, like I said, inspections did resume today, so there
have been at least two inspections carried out so far today. Yes, but
there is still a very significant decrease in the number of ships being approved.
Yes, exactly, and that's and that's what the JCC has also UH pointed
out. UM. Can you update us on what's happening with the meetings UM
that are scheduled this week? UM on trying between the top officials um on
trying to extend the initiative. I don't have any particular details to share at
this stage. Those are still to be determined. We do expect some high
level meeting to happen this week. You'll recalled that on Friday there was an
expert level meeting in Istanbul and hopefully that will be followed up in the coming
days with a senior level meeting, Yes, Btul. And then for how
will there be anyone from the URN in Russia when the ministers for ministers of
Russia, Syria, Iran and Turkey meet, anybody represented from the UN side.
That's that's not a meeting that we are involved in at firsthand. We
will of course do our best to monitor though that meeting, Yes, Visa
And then tak just a couple of questions about the situation in Gaza. Should
we expect a statement from the SG regarding what has developed there overnight? And
also there has been some reporting that the US, the UN, Egypt have
might try to reach a ceasefire. Can you specify what the UN's role exactly
would be in that regard? Well, certainly, mister Veneland has also been
working, including with different nations, trying to do what he can to restore
peace on the ground, and so he will be involved with the parties and
with the concern nations on that. And regarding the Secretary General's views of worse,
those are conveyed by his Special coordinator in mister Veneisland. So mister Venezeland
speaks with the UN system in what he said today, it's just a quick
haul. Well. Regarding the closing of the border crossings, UH, Israel
closed the border crossings going into Gaza. Um, are there there any UN
efforts actually to try and get in you know, goods and any humanitarian aid.
Yes, whenever there's issues with the border crossings are our office on the
ground. The Special Coordinator's office works with the relevant parties to try to get
that opened up, and we will be doing that in this case. Daddy,
thank you. Um you just search something from missus whistland. You just
say to a restaurant about Gaza. Yes. And then the wording was that
he condemned the death of civilian in Israelish strike. This is what we just
yeah, yeah, he condemned the death of civilians in the Israeli as the
Israeli strike. He just condemned the death of civilian. That's a very strange
semantic distinction to make. Obviously the death. No, No, it's it's
very strange because the death occurred as a result of the strikes. Yea.
But so it would not have died had there been no strikes. There is
no civilian die, only the militants. So he would not condemn the strike
which which destroy your house. Is something we as a as a rule,
and this is the case with mister venice Land in this case, condemn all
attacks on civilians, including all attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilian buildings. Didn't
I say that? He said, I couldn'temn that death of civilians in Israeli
a strike. So why did he choose this kind of sentence? I mean,
I feel like this is a semantic dispute. But as I pointed out
to you just seconds ago, had there been no strikes, there would have
been no death. So the condemnation is the same. No, I have
to follow up. Sorry, thus then condem the israel last night. Yes,
I will just refer you back to what I said. Obviously, the
strikes are condemned. They had they had uh and they resulted in the death
of civilians and that we condemn. Yes, Okay, First, I got
some fall ups of my yesterday's question from our viewers on the alloted uh WFP
eight. First, I'm aware that most of the most of the things got
looted happened in the first couple of days of this uh this this confrontation.
Do you know how many warehouses has been have been looted? I don't have
the precise numbers, you'll need to get that from the World Food Program.
But but as as we pointed out, it was it was several different warehouses
containing seventeen thousand metric tons of food. Yeah, exactly because of this number
seventeen thousand metric towns. If you really want to looted that by man power,
it will will take like seventeen thousand people. One people carry a town
of things. That will take quite some time. And you don't exactly know
who did this. We we don't know who was in command of these forces.
Obviously there are certain areas that are in control of one faction or another,
but since we didn't have any firsthand evidence there of the looting, we
don't know whether these were regular forces or others who were not so in the
control. So when the when when the looting happened, there were no U
and staff or they just instructed not you, not your stop the looting.
I mean for their safety, given given, given the fighting. Yes,
so we have no firsthand evidence of of who was behind this were they're you
and stuff? We have no eye witness evidence. Okay, happened. Okay.
My question today the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, mynstery morn Khan got
arrest it and sparked um sparkled protests across Pakistan. What's what's the reaction from
the Secretary General on this incident. Well, regarding that you're you're aware of
our concerns of making sure that all of the political figures in Pakistan are are
treated fairly and and of course that that you process is followed. So we
will monitor this process as it as as it goes on to make sure that
our concerns are being addressed. One last question, I'm sorry, shureing Uh
when, when accepting an interview with Albais, mister Garish Secretary General Rose said,
unfortunately, talking when talking about the Ukrainian crisis, unfortunately I believe the
peace negotiations are not possible at this time, and he said. He said
that Russian seems unwillingly at the moment w draw from the territories, yet Ukraine
is hoping to retake them by force. I mean, it seems he's not
very optimistic on the on the you know, the short future of the Ukrainian
situation. Does that mean that the UN is not going to seeking any political
dialogue before the so called offensive started. We will always try to support any
peace efforts if there's a genuine opening for that, and that Secretary journal has
made clear to you both that he will do that, and he will pursue
any genuine options for peace. And at the same time he's been very honest
and forthright with you about what he thinks the attitudes of the parties are and
whether there's a climate that is conducive for peace efforts and so and so.
His positions are are unchanged. So he believes there's so far there's no climate
yet. What he said in Albays today is what he believes. Yes,
today, Russia for twenty five crazy missiles, that's Ukraine. At the same
time, Poutine set this parody parade in Moscow. The tour has been unleashed
against Russia. Who would you react to these words of the Russian President.
I wouldn't I wouldn't comment on the Russian president speech. But but again I
would again reiterate our concerns about air strikes as that that hit at any civilian
facilities shown far. Are you able to give us an update on Martin Griffith's
efforts at the Jedda Talks on Sudan, particularly his efforts to get safe passage
for you man arian efforts in the country. Uh, yeah, I mean,
he was of course in Jedda, as we pointed out, to engage
on humanitarian issues in Sudan, and he and his team will remain in close
contacts with the with the parties after this to in efforts to ensure that aid
goes to who needs it. He mister Griffiths proposed a declaration of commitments for
the two parties to guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian relief. Mister Griffiths is
encouraged that this declaration has also been consulted upon at the Jeddah talk, so
that was a step forward and he hopes that the declaration can be endorsed as
soon as possible so that the relief operation can scale up swiftly and safely to
meet the needs of millions of people in Sudan. Who seeking these peace talks?
Right? Initially it was IGAD, the African Union. We saw efforts
from South Sudan in terms of a seven day five which is not holding.
Now we see Saudi Arabia and the United States hosting these talks. Who's in
charge of these peace talks? Who's leading this process? Is the UN involved
at all? Because the parthis is going to be briefing the Security Council.
What is he briefing the Council on if he's not in Jedda. Well,
he has also been in contact with various parties and he will brief on his
efforts. And certainly mister Griffiths was in Jedda and mister Griffiths and mister Pears
are dealing with a wide range of actors. There are a lot of players,
I will admit, but those players, as you know, have been
coordinating their efforts from the start. You'll recall that the Secretary General two weeks
ago convened both the delegations of the African Union, the European Union, the
League of Arab States and the inter Governmental Authority on Development so that all of
our efforts with the various parties can be coordinated for maximum effect. Different groups
have different amounts of leverage over various parties. We want to make sure that
all of us are working together to get this violence halted as soon as possible.
You are the inexpectations from the Secretary in terms of what the Security Council
can do in terms of pushing those talks. Yeah, and we've made clear
our expectations about the Security Council in that regard. We welcomed the Security Council's
quick reaction when they issued a statement to the press within the first two days
of the conflict, and we're continuing to keep them posted and we want them
to have a strong, unified voice calling on the Sudanese parties to cease their
conflict. And of course that will be part of what mister Perth's next briefing
to the Security Council will concern. Emily. Thanks for Han Jesseph open photo
open Martin Griffith. Do I understand currently that he left data and if so,
easy going somewhere or else related to the student crisis. He he has
left JETA. You're correct, and he will now be in Istanbul. Uh
presumably on a different topic, yestuh tam, So can you tell us anything
about Martin Griffith's work in Istanbul? And uh not not at disappoint no,
okay, okay, But my question is about the Taliban. Is there any
follow up with the UN on UM meetings? Is the status quo still the
same that UN workers are being paid but staying home? What's been the impact
and where's it going? Thanks? I mean the position. The position is
the same as what I reported to you on Friday. One thing I would
like to point out is that that working from home doesn't mean that staff,
whether female or male, are not working. They'll be doing different sorts of
work to provide our services. And there's different programs in effect. For example,
the delivery of essential programs and health services such as nutrition is proceeding and
supported. The education sector is in place, often from different types of locations.
And you know and you know that we have had a few key exemptions
to allow us to provide health and education on a non discriminatory basis, so
that that is continuing. And meanwhile, the operational posture of the UN entities
in Afghanistan is under constant review. And no one I'm sorry, no one
going back. I mean no one from your staff from the un going back
to Taliman. The way that we're going about it is is is as i've
as I've pointed out that that national staff in the case of UNAMA, for
example, national staff will continue to not report to the office, say for
those individuals who are performing critical functions. Any follow up to I mean Mohammed,
the DSG staff visit, any other visits planned. I don't have senior
level visits to report at this stage. Okay, um Michelle, Oh good,
Sorry, okay, Abdelhamd, thank you for harm. I have noticed
when you read the statement by Paul Winsland, you skipped an important segment.
He said thirteen people were killed three PRJ that mean Palostina and Islamic. You
had five women and four children. Yeah, when you were the statement,
could you explain why you skip mentioning five women and four children. That's my
first question when I when I read a statements, I don't read all statements
and verbatim, Otherwise this briefing would be much longer. That was the factual
information, but certainly it's part of the full statement, and you can refer
to the full statement. Yeah, but don't you see that this is a
key issue, killing five for women and four children, which is unveiled,
the real nature of the rate into us killing five women and four children.
It's a key issue. How can you skip it? Like I said,
I show itened all the notes that we get, but certainly that's there and
that's part of the record. And yes, you're quite right, that's exactly
what he said. Okay, My second question, do the Palestinians have their
right to protect themselves? Do they have their right to self defense as any
other people in the world. Of course, thank you. If the sun
my questions were already asked. Thank you, Oh great, Alan, thank
you. A short question. Please, could you please disclose who will represent
that you were in at the high level at the senior level meeting in Istanbul
tomorrow on the day after tomorrow. I cannot I cannot say that at this
point, but I feel like there have been clues dropped here and there,
um stepping up, Hold on, hold on, please, is there any
progress regarding the ammonia fertilizer pipeline. We're continuing with our contacts and as you
know, Rebecca Greenspan has been working on this issue and did indeed visit Moscow
last week to take up these concerns further, Stephanelle, and then then we'll
go back to round two here. Thank you for my question was asked by
I have a follow up. It's about the interviewed the Secretary generality to help
by ease. So we understand that he says that he doesn't see a peace
process in this moment because that both parts are convinced that they can win this
war. Now, isn't the role of the Secretary jenneral doesn't matter how war
is going, isn't it the one they should pursue the peace and find any
try any way to find a solution. The way it was described also by
you today, it looks like the Secretary General is that waiting for an opening
the kind of a passive way and doesn't give a list as impression, doesn't
give the active role that the Secretary General should have two in search for peace.
So my quessing he's getting this is a follow up, my quessing he's
in a next interview, maybe well the Secretary General geevels this kind of active
you know, active position. Well, I don't want to create the impression
that he has been doing this in any sort of passiveway. That's not our
intention, and that's certainly not what he's been doing. He has been active
and he has been working with the parties. As you know. That has
resulted in the past a year in several advances, whether it is involving the
evacuation of people from the ASO Stalls steel plant, or whether it's involving the
Black Sea Green initiative or the agreement on Russian exports. There have been little
inroads where he can them, and he's been in constant contact with the party,
so it's an active process. At the same time, the whole point
of diplomacy is to work to find places where you can make progress between the
parties. The Secretary General is not going to be dishonest about where opportunities exist
and where they do not exist, and he's been very clear about that.
He's trying to create as many opportunities for himself and for the UN to achieve
peace as as is possible. But he's also honestly giving you his evaluations of
what kind of climate we're dealing with. Just QUI just a quickfellow hop but
we appreciate the realitiesment also the way you discribe it, but just the whole
the peace proposal, the work present that right now that we know, for
example, the most famous is the China China, China presented a peace proposal.
What is the opinion that the Secretary Genera had or maybe lulas and so
on. We're supportive of any and all efforts by healthful countries to move forward,
but the Secretary's General's evaluation of the climate between the parties is what he
said. Yes, Edie. Going back to Sudan and this declaration that Martin
Griffith's presented to the parties in Jetta, can you give us any more details
on what this declaration says and is there any time frame that he's hoping for
a response from the parties. Well, one of the things we want is
for the declaration to be endorsed as soon as possible, but we also want
guarantee from the parties to allow humanitarian operations in Sudan to continue. It's clear
that because of the needs on the ground, we're going to proceed with humanitarian
operations whether there's a ceasefire or not, as we do in conflict situations all
around the world. But in order to make sure that a safe passage is
guaranteed. We want the parties to adhere to a declaration of commitments that ultimately
we'll see what can be endorsed. But we're working on that effort. Does
the declaration include on the establishment of humanitarian corridors? I don't have the full
details of what's been worked out. We'll see what can be agreed to between
the parties. And one last question on Haiti. With this serious surge in
killings and deterioration of the situation, is there anything else that the Secretary Gary
General can do or is planning to do to try and find a league country
for this force to go into Haiti. Well, we've we've been in touch
with Member States and we'll continue to be in touch both through the Secretary General
and through Maria Isabel Salvador, trying to see what can be done. But
as you know, at the end of the day, it's up to Member
States themselves to come to the four and take up the responsibility of ensuring that
the people of Haiti can be secure enough to go about their daily lives without
fear. Yes, a bittle forgot on any update on the first phase of
oufloating software will tanker off the coast of your man after the fund phrasing by
the UK and the Netherlands. I know that the un steel needs around twenty
four million dollars, but can you just not start Yes, yes we can,
and the ships are coming into the area. We do hope to begin
the activities of offloading from the Safare tanker, possibly as soon as the end
of this month. Michelle, Sorry, just another question on the grain deal?
How would the Secretary General you know I sort of nine days out now
from the MAINTAIN deadline, how would he describe the prospects for getting the black
say grind deal renewed and for how long? I think we're doing as much
as we can to have this grain deal extended as often as needs to happen,
and so he's working assiduously with different leaderators on that, as you know,
Martin Griffiths and Rebecca Greenspan are also dealing with various parties and we'll see
what can be done. And has he received any kind of um response from
President Pution there's no formal response so far down. Yes, okay, I
have another question. Please, I don't want my question to be misunderstood again.
The world looking at Syrian now and with the hope that the crisis will
be over soon, because the Arab countries have successful dialogue with the Syrian government.
Also in Yemen, after Saudia Arabia and irund they have they come to
restore their diplomatic relationship. Also people look at him and as there is hope
today injured the Sudanese parties meeting in Saudia Arabia. This means that the United
National role is shrinking. I'm networking about secretariet but like what the rule of
the United Nations for the past than twenty years when they were unable to solve
issues or this is like comes from cooperation with the UN. Issues in any
region of the world. There are times when different political events change the situation
on the ground, and we are prepared as an organization to respond to those
to see what we can do to strengthen peace efforts. As you know,
there have been different opportunities arising among the Middle Eastern nations because of different signs
of cooperation with each other. And what we're trying to do is build on
that to make sure that all of our various peace efforts, whether they are
in Syria, whether they are in Yemen, or for that matter, whether
they are in Libya or Sudan or elsewhere that they can be furthered and that's
what we're working on. The show has been produced by Depictions Media. Please
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