Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights,
the show about the government, Policy and human rights. Welcome back to Policy
and right here in Depictions of Media Radio, I'm your host, Michael Kloggs.
Of almost four hundred and fifty thousand people have been fortunately displaced from Rafa
in the past week, according to you, an agency for Palestine refugees.
A picture released the agency showed empty streets in southern Gaza. Rafa has been
a target of Israeli airstrikes for months and as part of the country's retaliatory attack
on Gaza over the deadly Hamas attacks from October seventh, but the city had
yet to see a ground offensive. Last week, the Israeli government said its
forces would start targeting activity in eastern Rapa, telling thousands of Palestinians to evacuate
the area as Israeli tanks reportedly pushed deeper into Raffa. Fighting has also been
reported close to the European Hospital in southern Gaza. Okay so, and of
course as a result, humanitarian effort and life saving efforts have been blocked.
And we did report yesterday about in Rafa that that there was a UN truck
that was attacked with one fatality. So UH, there is a statement from
the from Lebanon with concerns about what what is actually happening in uh In of
course UH Gaza and how the fighting could cross borders and and UH the Lebanese
foreign minister spoke with the BBC about it and hopefully we have a report on
that. Okay, Lebanon fears that intensification of the Israeli Usal hesbalt offensive and
UH Lebanon is worried about UH Israel Israel might intense sofi It's offensive against Lebanon
based on the Shia Polletin group Hasbela and the country's foreign minister has said as
the conflict between the two sides escalate along the border and Israel and hesbelav have
exchanged nearly daily strikes and counter strikes since October, when the hasbel launched rockets
at Israel in support of the Palestinian Palestinians in Gaza and the day after the
deadly Hamas attack on Israel. Violence has killed civilians, Israeli soldiers, Hesbel
of fighters, led to displace tens of thousands of people on both sides of
the border. Okay, so a speech from Anthony Blincoln, a US lawyer
and diplomat in Ukraine. Blincoln sought to reassure Ukrainians with direct to camera message
you are not alone. We are with you today and we will stay by
your side. Some other quotes. He noted his visit was at a critical
moment amid fresh offensive, which he said had been aided by North Korea,
Iran and China. He described the Ukraine's recent mobilization reforms as a difficult decision,
but necessary one, and he also crediting uh the their ability to deny
Vladimir putin his goal of erasing Ukraine from the map B. Lincoln said the
US would continue to stave off that possibility, including by bringing the Ukraine closer
to two and then into NATO. So B Lincoln trying to give the Ukraine
the Ukrainian people some glimmer of hope in their campaign against Russia. And let's
see in on the Donald Trump front, of course, Michael Cohen, he
had his day in court, was testifying against Donald Trump and describing some of
the things that he did for his former boss, and mister Trump wasn't it
doesn't doesn't seem to be exactly too happy about how the court case is actually
going. Mister Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as he spoke uh immediately
about wiring one hundred and thirty million dollars to adult actress Stormy Daniels. This
is one of the many times he operated at the direct direction of, and
on the behalf of mister Trump, he testified. The President pleaded not guilty
guilty defenity charges against him for the hush money trial that's going on all together.
Mister Trump faces thirty four counts of business fraud for allegedly reimbursing Michael Combe
for the payment through transactions masked as legal expenses. Miss Daniels, in exchange
for the money, agreed to keep quiet about allegedly having sex with mister Trump
while he was still married. He has denied ever having sex with Mss Daniels,
and the prosecutor charged that payment made in the final days of the twenty
sixteen presidential campaign and the subsequent attempt to conceal by falsifying records qualifies as election
interference. Of course, according still to this BBC report, when the personal
fixer met with mister Trump and at his top financial officer Alan Weiselberg between the
presidential election and inauguration. Later talking to Cohen, Weiselberg explain to Cohen in
front of their boss that he would be paid back in twelve astallments of thirty
five thousand, which would be accounted for as a retainer for legal services.
Mister Trump approved it, Cohen said, and this is going to be one
heck of a ride in DC. So some of the latest from the trial
in testimony that has happened in New York with mister Trump being on trial for
business fraud. So we're going to move forward, and we're going to hear
from the United Nations on Libya and what has actually come about from the International
Court of Justice with resolutions, and how things can move forward for Libya and
what has come forward for Libya as in the ways of progress. We're going
to hear a after some you'll hear some clips from the UN Security Council meeting
where they were discussing Libya, and you'll hear a brief statement about from the
Security Council as there is a three minute stakeout as a discussed some of the
victories in the progress. We're also going to hear from the United Nations Press
floor. As they're going to talk one about Libya, they're also going to
talk about eight they're going to talk about and other issues around. Of course,
Palestine is also going to be on that particular thing that they're going to
talk about. So why don't we move forward to the UNANE Security Council as
they discuss what progress in Libya. The ninety thousand, six hundred and the
twenty fourth meeting of the Security Council, it's called toward them. The provision
a legenda for this meeting is the situation in Libya. In accordance with the
Rule thirty seven of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the Representative
of Libya to participate in this meeting. So decided, in accordance with the
Rule thirty nine of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite mister Karim
Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, to participate in this meeting.
The so decided the Security Council will now begin its consideration of Item two of
the agenda. I now give the floor to Prosecutor Karim Khan, Mister President,
Distinguished Delegates, it's a great privilege to have the opportunity once again to
brief the Security Council this morning. I would like to express my thanks to
my brother, who's excellency the Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations,
for his attendance, Mister President, excellencies, it was two and a half
years ago when I first had the opportunity to brief the Council in relation to
the Libya situation and the remarks through the lens of Libya. I called for
what in effect was a paradigm shift, for a new and constructive, new
dynamic with this Council. I emphasized to all members of the Council on that
day that I would prioritize referrals to the Court made by the Security Council.
I would do my utmost to ensure more resources were given to Security Council referred
situation. And I also expressed the view that, in my respectful opinion,
for too long the situation in Libya and also Darfore had been allowed to drift,
and I was committed to use my best efforts with the excellent colleagues that
work in the office to change things, to bring a new dynamic and to
give impactful, credible results that we could show to the people of Libya,
the victims in Libya, and also to the Security Council. And it was
six months after that initial briefing that I outlined and presented a renewed strategy in
relation to Libya. I detailed four key lines of inquiry that we would take
forward in order to deliver meaningfully, and I set out publicly benchmarks that would
be applied to our work so we could collectively measure progress being made towards justice
and accountability and the rule of law, and we could also candidly discuss challenges
that we could address together. It's my respectful view that over the last eighteen
months we have indeed reinvigorated this work and we have set a basis for the
successful realization of the objectives I set out in the strategic vision I detailed in
April to twenty twenty two. And whilst as an office of the Court,
I can't I am constrained in detailing all the progress that's been made, I
can say that we have made strong progress in line with this renewed strategy in
the last six months alone, as reflected in the report that we've lodged with
the Secretariat. The Libya Unified Team has completed eighteen missions in three geographic areas.
They have collected more than eight hundred pieces of evidence, including video and
audio material. They've taken more than thirty statements, interview statements, screening statements,
and we've made significant progress in relation to the twenty fourteen twenty twenty period
in terms of alleged crimes in detention centers. In that period, we've continued
to provide concrete, tangible and meaningful support in relation to national proceedings involving crimes
against migrants, and only in March. At the end of March, I
hosted members of the Joint Investigative Team at headquarters in the Hague, in which
we and the team further detailed how we could achieve synergies to make sure the
crimes against these most vulnerable individuals are properly investigated and prosecuted. Our work is
moving forward with increased speed and with a focus on trying to deliver on the
legitimate expectations of the Council and on civilians, on the people of Libya.
And today, in this my sixth report to the Council, the twenty seventh.
In total, I think that we have a landmark moment by announcing a
roadmap relation to what could be the completion of the investigative stage in terms of
Resolution nineteen seventy. In presenting this roadmap that's detailed with greater specificity in the
report, I want to be clear. We're not cutting and running. We're
not finding a way to exit stage left. We're not gradually foreshadowing a curtailing
of our work, a lack of focus, energy or vigor. We're not
saying that we can't deliver. That's something I professionally cannot accept. It's something
I think the Council should not and would not accept, because you have referred
a very serious matter to the International Criminal Court under Chapter seven, realizing that
justice was essential for the people of Libya. Rather, the roadmap I have
detailed in the report represents, I think, a genuine, a dynamic vision
for the fulfillment of the mandate that you've intrusted to us. It details a
focus set of activities that will implement God Willing in the next eighteen months and
beyond to significantly expand the impact of our action in the Libya situation. And
the roadmap is a collective work. We are not the only operator on the
international level. We have to work shoulder to shoulder with the authorities in Libya,
with the Council, with all state parties, and there are positives.
Only last month, my Deputy Prosecutor Nazad Shamim, the Deputy Prosecute of the
Court with responsibility for the Libya situation, had a successful mission to TRIPI had
a productive meeting with the Attorney General and also met with different civil society actors
in Tripoli and also in Tunis. In the last reporting period, more than
twenty five search engaged between my office and civil sidey organization, a Libyan civil
society in particular, have taken place. And we've also continued dialogue with the
Council through working level briefings last month outlining and trying to flesh out and give
more details as to the proposed roadmap. And based upon that I present,
respectfully two key phases that are detailed in the written document. The first is
the intention, the hope, the target to complete the investigative stage from now
and by the end of twenty twenty five. That's the investigative stage of the
situation. Of course, it's not going to be easy. It's going to
require cooperation. Candor, I can do attitude from my office but also from
the authorities in Libya. But that period hopefully will give rise to even more
additional applications for warrants of arrest and also greater support by my office to national
proceedings in Libya. Complementarity is a foundation of the Rome Statute, but burden
sharing is linked to that principle of complementarity. Trying to understand from the Libyan
colleagues, the Libyan Attorney General where their problems are and trying to forge ahead
with this principle that the rule of law can be effective and must be applied
equally. In addition and linked to that, we hope and again it requires
work, it requires focus, but we have trying to improve and reinvigorate our
approach to fugitive tracking to arrests, and with the help of Registry colleagues,
the aim would be to give effect to arrest warrants and to have at least
the initial proceedings start before the court in relation to at least one warrant by
the end of next year. The second part is judicial and complementarity because following
if that goes to plan following the end of twenty twenty five. We want
to move posture and try to help and support Libya. That can start now
technical assistance, burden sharing trainings, know how, use of artificial intelligence technology
and technical skills of building these types of cases, and focus again with Libyan
colleagues on arrest and tracking. And in parallel to all of that, we
want to deepen on every level our relationship with the Libyan authorities under complementarity.
It can't just be with the Attorney General and the Deputy Prosecute or with myself
and other individuals. It needs to penetrate all strata of Libyan authorities and they
should know that they have in the Office of Prosecutor men and women that are
not driven by any political imperative or interest, but are really trying to give
life and give purpose to the principle of equality before the law and the value
of the lives that have been lost in Libya to date. Crucially, the
roadmap, I think is something that the victims of Libya can look to as
not hot air, not spin, but something impactful and meaningful to advance their
right to justice. And I think it presents an opportunity to meaning meaningfully deliver
on Resolution nineteen seventy that you passed in twenty eleven, but that is not
a given because we need continued increased support from Libya. We need to walk
shoulder to shoulder together, not for our own individual interest or the interests of
the ICC or for a government, but for the interests of humanity and the
people of Libya. And I think recently we've had very positive news. Multiple
entry visas have been issued by the Libyan authorities that allowed my Deputy prosecutor to
go last month. There was missions also in December last year. Forensic experts
also went last year. The meeting between Deputy Prosecutor and ASA Shamim Khan and
his Excellency are subdecal sword the Attorney General, I think was extremely important,
particularly with regard to burdens sharing and being candid in terms of what we can
do and the mutual roles of the authorities and the ICC, and starting and
deepening a dialogue that will strengthen not only the rule of law, but hopefully
we can work and help strengthen together the Attorney General's office as well, if
that is something the Libyan authority wish to avail themselves of that cooperation and technical
assistance. We anticipate in the next period there will be further missions between my
members of my office to Tripoli. I think there's enthusiasm. I don't think
that's pitching it too high of our opening and office in Tripoli. I think
that will help. Complementarity, will help the investigations, it will help the
discharge of Resolution nineteen seventy and the Roman Statute obligations, and so plenty of
positive news given what I said previously on the difficulties caused by the lack of
visas. In addition to the meeting with the Attorney General, it's only right,
mister President, if I can also applaud and thank positively his Excellency desired
Es s Dam, the Ambassador of Libya to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
I think his arrival has assually in also increased candor, partnership and dialogue that
he's being felt in terms of the cooperation, and I wish to applaud him
and the Libyan authorities for that change. But to march forward, it does
require solutions, not problems. To every solution that is presented, this is
a choice. It's a mindset also from my office and from the Libyans.
The world is very imperfect. The law has some fundamental requirements that can't be
air brushed away or diluted, but it can be a solution to problems that
exist. And in my first briefing to the Council on this situation, I
hoped, I prayed, I intimated that there was an opportunity that if a
cause could unite this Council naively, perhaps, but I believed and hoped it
would be the cause of international criminal justice. Which Date is in favor of
genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity, which Date doesn't want to be
a protector of the vulnerable, which Date does not want to be on the
side of legality and against the kinds of violations that we see in so many
parts of the world. And notwithstanding all the difficulties that surround us in a
very often dysfunctional world, a world in which too many people feel exposed to
the elements, I still think this presents an opportunity if we work together,
if we realize that continuing business as usual will lead us to the abyss and
beyond to do the right thing and look at people that have little shelter that
have suffered enormously for many different reasons, and that the rule of law must
count for them. So a paradigm shift is still needed. It's not going
to be achieved by words or a strategy or a road map. It's something
that we all individually estates, as the Council and as Libya and my office,
we have to really try to be servants of something bigger than ourselves.
If we can allow the law to breathe at this moment, if we can
recognize that different states and different interests have certain situations that are politically difficult for
them, but realize that there's value in an international criminal court that is not
part of the political discourse, but is trying and endeavoring to be blind to
the noise, deaf to the noise, but applying something that should be pristine
and valuable, which the yards of human conduct, that should bind us all
to keep us away from that abyss that I mentioned. It could yet be
a moment of reawakening to change direction, because otherwise, when one looks at
Libya, when one looks at other situations in the world, whether it's Ukraine
or whether it's Palestine, or whether it's the Rhinga or whether it's any other
place one wishes to look at. We see issues and so this is the
time, I think for the law to be allowed to breathe, as the
councilors found as a precondition for stability and international peace and security, which are
direct responsibilities of the Council. To do that, Mister President, we need
to understand that the Roman Statute, the Geneva Conventions, customary international law,
and the UN Charter a part of the tapestry of civilization that will allow us
to survive this present inclement weather, this present perilous moment that we're facing.
If we are real and sincere that every human life matters equally, the rule
of law must apply in Libya as it must in every other situation. We
can only do that with your help, your support, your solidarity. For
something otherwise that can be rendered irrelevant, but something that can't, and that
is the law. So, mister President, thank you so much for the
opportunity. I always remain ready and willing to engage with the Libyan authorities and
also this Council. Thank you. I thank Prosecutor Can for his important briefing.
I now give you the flow to those Council members wish to make statements,
will give it the floor to the representative of Switzerland, Mister the President.
Last, Mister President Switzerland would like to thank the Prosecutor for his briefing
and for presenting his twenty seventh report on the situation in Libya per student,
pursued to the mandate included in Security Council Resolution nineteen seventy. This report is
of particular importance as it addresses not only the progress made in recent months,
but also future prospects, notably by proposing a roadmap for the completion of the
Office's investigative activities on the situation in Libya. Allow me to highlight three points.
First, the steady and significant progress made in implementing the renewed Action Strategy
are important milestones on the route to accountability in Libya. Switzerland notes with interest
the progress made in the four lines of inquiry. The progress made in the
collection and analysis of evidence concerning crimes committed in detention centers, as well as
the assistants provided to third party states and their national trime trials relating to crimes
against migrants deserve particular mention. We also appreciate the emphasis placed on Psycho's social
support for victims and medical and security assistance for witnesses in collaboration with local authorities.
Secondly, the development of a roadmap to complete the investigation phase testifies to
the bureaus to the office's commitment to pursuing its activities with clear and precise objectives.
It is nevertheless essential that the implementation of any completion strategy be closely consulted
on with all stakeholders, including victims and survivors. We note that planning for
the completion of investigations does not mean a reduction in the office's activities, but
rather an intensification of investigative efforts. In this regard, we welcome and encourage
the efforts undertaken by the Office to strengthen collaboration with the Libyan authorities according to
the principle of complementarity, including beyond the investigation period. Thirdly, cooperation is
key to enabling the Court to fulfill its mandate. We take note of the
granting of visas and the various visits and substantive exchanges that took place during the
period under consideration with the Libyan authorities, and in particular with the Libyan Prosecutor
General. We hope to see a continuation of efforts in this direction to Resolution
nineteen seventy. We welcome the Office's extensive cooperation with third party states, particularly
with regard to crimes against migrants. We also stress the importance of effective and
useful collaboration with civil society, affected communities and victims. We reiterate our grave
concern about the restrictions imposed on civil society and Libya. Mister President, The
Court can only fulfill the mandate we have entrusted to it if it enjoys strong
support. We reaffirm our unconditional support for the Court as an independent and impartial
judicial institution and pledge that we will continue to implement our cooperation obligations under the
Rome Statute. We reiterate our commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values
enshrined in the Realm Statute, and to preserve the integrity of the Court undeterred
by any express threats or measures taken against it, its officials, and those
who cooperate with it. We call on states to refrain from exerting any form
of pressure and insist that all attempts to obstruct, intimidate or unduly influenced Court
officials must cease immediately. We recall that such attacks on the administration of justice
are prohibited by the Statute. By fulfilling its mandate, the Court makes an
important contribution to lasting peace and reconciliation. It is our common responsibility to ensure
that it can effectively deliver justice. Thank you, I think the Representative of
Switzerland for the statement. I now give you the flow to the Representative of
Japan. Thank you, mister President. I thank Prosecutor Khan for briefing us
on his sixth and the twenty seventh in total report on the situation in Libya.
I also welcome Ambassador Elsny, Permanent Representative of Libya, to today's meeting.
It has been thirteen years since this Council referred this case to the ICC.
The Court has engaged in investigations not only with regard to the twenty eleven
violence, but also on issues with detention facilities, crimes related to the twenty
fourteen twenty twenty operations, and crimes against migrants under the mandate of Resolution nineteen
seventy. Japan appreciates these investigative efforts by the ICC and supports the Prosecutor's belief
that these efforts should not be viewed as never ending stories. The objectives of
the mandate set by the Security Council is critically important in the current international political
landscape. In this regard, Japan welcomes the roadmap towards completion of the investigative
phase in relation to the situation in Libya. We take note that the roadmap
includes a significant activity plan for the next eighteen months, including the ISC's intensified
support for multiple prosecutions in domestic courts. We would also like to highlight that
this roadmap also covers the Court's continuing role in the judicial and complementary phases even
after the completion of the investigation at the end of twenty twenty five. At
the same time, we like to recall that the humanitarian and human rights situation
in Libya remain distressing amid rising instability in the region. The Security Council press
statement issued earlier this month emphasized the importance of providing a safe environment for civil
society organizations. In this context, it is important to ensure that the ICC
works closely with affected communities and deepens partnership with state civil society and regional and
international organizations during the process of completing the investigative phase in order to achieve accountability
for the people in Libya. We also stress the critical importance of continued and
substantial engagement with these groups, including victims, during the next phases of the
judicial and complementary processes to realize justice, even given the political stalemate with regard
to procedure. Since this is the very first case in which the Security Council
we'll see the completion of the ICC investigative phase under the mandate given by the
Council through a resolution, we recognize the need for the Council to consider appropriate
action to reflect this transition. This may include consideration of the reporting requirements of
the Prosecutor's Office after twenty twenty five. Before concluding, we would like to
welcome the improved corporation of the Libyan authorities as highlighted in the report, including
the issuance of multiple entry visus and direct engagement with Libyan legal authorities. We
also take note that the roadmap for completion was developed in consultation with the Libyan
authorities and express our hope that cooperation and efforts for complementarity will improve as laid
out in the roadmap. Successful completion of the investigative faith should serve to improve
justice under the rule of law and push forward the fight against impunity. As
Prosecutor concluded his briefings, rule of law must apply in Libya as well as
elsewhere in the world. Japan always stands ready to support the Court to fulfill
its critical rule. I thank you, I think the representatives of Japan for
their statement. Yes, dear representatives of the Press one welcome. We would
like to make this statement on behalf of the members of the Security Council that
are states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The I
see Ecuador, France, Guyana, Malta, the Republic of Korea, Chiera
Leone, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and our own trees Japan and Switzerland.
We thank the ICIC Prosecutor, Mister Karen Khan, as well as his team
for presenting the twenty seventh report of his office to the United Nations Security Council
on the situations in Libya in accordance with the mandate provided by Security Council Resolution
nineteen seventy. We welcome the efforts undertaken by the Prosecutor's Office and the progress
achieved in all lines of inquiry identified in the renewed Strategy for Action on the
situation in Libya. In continuation of this strategy, we welcome the development of
a roadmap for completion of the investigative phase, and in this respect we stress
the importance of taking into account the views of all stakeholders, including victims and
survivors. We positively note that the cooperation between the Libyan government and the Prosecutor's
Office has increased, and we encourage further progress in the regard. Such cooperation
is indispensable not only for the conclusion of the investigative phase, but also throughout
the prose, prosecutorial and judicial faces. We thus welcome the recent issues of
multiple entry visas, as well as the constructive and substantive exchanges, including on
efforts to improve complementarity, which took place during recent visits, and express our
hope for continued corporation. We also welcome and encourage the offices efforts to further
intensify contact with victims, victims associations, civil society and women's organizations. Moreover,
we recorganize the support provided to the Prosecutor's Office by the United Nations Support
Mission in Libya name lee ANSMIL and welcome and welcome the coordinated investigative activities and
international cooperation with the Third States and international agencies. We reiterate that we will
continue to comply with our cooperation obligations under the Rome Statue and urge all states
to fully support the Court in carrying out its important mandate of ensuring justice for
the victims of the most serious crimes under international law. Finally, we reconfirm
our own wavering support for the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution.
We reiterate our firm commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in
the Rome Statue, and to preserve its integrity, undetermined by any threats or
measures against the Court, its officials, and those cooperating with it. To
conclude, we renew our resolved to stunt united against impunity. I thank you,
Thank you. Will deliver remarks to the summit, and he's expected to
have several bilateral meetings with leaders attending the summit. Discussions will mainly focus on
the situation in Gaza and the wider region. We'll keep updating you on the
Secretary General schedule along the way and just for the record, we issued a
statement last night in which the Secretary General expressed his grave concerns by the outbreak
of fighting in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. He urged the
parties to immediately stop the fighting and resume ceasefire negotiations without further delay. The
Secretary General is alarmed by reports of the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated
areas, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties, significant displacement and the destruction of
civilian infrastructure. He recalls that civilians the area are already facing a looming famine
and the consequences of over a year of war. This fighting puts over eight
hundred thousand civilians at risk. The Secretary General reminds all parties of their obligation
under international humanitarian law to protect civilians. He also requested all parties facilitate safe,
rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need in El Fashire,
across darfour and Sudan, and tomorrow I will be joined in this room by
the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine and quite Slami. She will
provide you with more details on the human scharian situation in the country. Turning
now to sau Sudan, the Office where the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that
more than an estimated seven million people in the country are likely to experience high
levels of food insecurity through July. According to oja's latest report, at least
seventy nine thousand people are at risk of catastrophic levels of hunger, mostly in
locations affected by conflict, economic crisis, and climate related shocks. Our humanitarian
partners are also mobilizing support for people displaced by intercompal fighting in Tambuest County in
Western Equatoria. An estimate of twenty six thousand people have fled so far and
most residential areas around Tambua Town are deserted. For their part, our peacekeeping
colleagues are closely monitoring the situation in Tambarra to deter further violence. The UN
Mission in Sausudan had immediately deployed additional peacekeepers to reinforce the site. The mission
reports that they have also tripled the number of daily patrols. Currently about two
hundred Blue Helmets are conducting daily patrols to provide security to the local population.
Our colleagues at Sau Sudan also continued to engage with community leaders and political parties
at the national and local levels to peacefully resolve any issues and resolve and reduce
intercommunal tensions. Meanwhile, the influx of attorneys and refugees from the conflict in
Sudan continues to strain already limited services at border points and in host communities.
Since the war in Sudan began in April of last year, at least six
hundred and seventy thousand new arrivals have been registered in Sau Sudan. Eighty percent
of them wereturnees and just a flag that this year's humanitarian appeal for the country
remains severely underfunded, which is challenging response efforts. Just eleven percent of the
one point eight billion dollars required has been received to date, some one hundred
and ninety five million dollars from Haiti. The Office for the Coordination of Humanache
in Affairs has an update about the impact of the attack by armed groups that
we mentioned yesterday. It took place in Grecier, south of the capital Portu
Prince. According to the first assessments conducted by humanitarian organizations. The May tenth
attacks in Grecier have displaced some four thousand, four hundred people, Nearly three
quarters of them are now sheltering with host families, with others seeking refuge in
seven makeshift displacement sites. This springs the total number of people newly displaced in
Poortu Prince in the past two weeks to nearly ten thousand. More assessments are
being carried out and Ocha's liaising with its partners to coordinate the ongoing response.
UNICEF and its partners have reached more than fifty thousand displaced children and families impacted
by attacks since ley February through their mobile clinics. In Porto Frons, Karim
Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, brief the Security Council on
the Court's work concerning Libya. He told the Council there was enthusiasm for the
prosecution to open an office in Tripoli. He added, however, that a
paradigm shift is still needed and the rule of law must apply in Libya,
and this afternoon the Security Council will hold a meeting on Ukraine. Lisa Dowton
the Director of the Financing and Partnership's Division of the Office for the Coordination of
Humangeian Affairs, is expected to brief Council members thank you. The Undersecretary General
for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, is in Qatar, where he engaged
today with government officials to discuss peacekeeping related matters as well as mine action.
Tomorrow, mister Lacroix will arrive in Afghanistan where he will raise awareness on the
impact of explosive ordinance, including on Afghan communities. He will be in the
country until the seventeenth of May and will be accompanied by the Director of the
United Nations Mine Action Service, Eileen Khne. Mister Lacroix also aims to explore
avenues for effective strategies to clear explosive ordinance from Afghan communities. Afganissan's people are
threatened by mines. In eighty one percent of the eight hundred and twenty one
explosive ordinance casualties reported in Afganaissan between January twenty twenty three and March twenty twenty
four were children. The Personal Envoy of the Secretary General on Cyprus, Maria
Anhala Holgin, has this week concluded her third visit to the island, as
well as visits to Ankara and Athens. As she informed the media on Cypress
on the thirteenth of May, she will soon begin to prepare her report to
the Secretary General with her findings and will discuss with him the way forward.
In the meantime, she continues her efforts to search for common ground. This
morning, the Secretary General addressed by video message the annual meeting of the Economic
and Social Council Operational Activities for Development Segment. He said that we stand at
a pivotal moment in our journey towards the twenty thirty deadline for the Sustainable Development
Goals, adding to the UN Development System, led by resident Coordinators, is
critical to getting us there. Last year's SDG summit called for a rescue plan,
and the UN is shifting gears to accelerate action. We are supporting the
capacity development of countries, including efforts to strengthen policy and regulatory environments. At
the same time, the Secretary General told Member states that he is deeply concerned
about the system's funding, adding that securing sustainable and predictable funding is his main
priority for the system. This year and last, we're getting regular budget use
today from two of the world's landlocked nations. We're fortunate to have two checks.
One from the smallest landlocked country, one of the smallest locked countries in
Europe at approximately four hundred and sixty eight square kilometers. And he guesses what
you're right? Who said? And you are going to get the first question
today, and now we'll battle for the second question. The second payment is
from a landlocked country in East Asia bordered by Russia to the north and China
to the south. That was that was an easy question. Who said that
one? All right, all right, I'll I'll give I'll give you second
and third respectively. Then okay, yes, you're you're absolutely right that that
is Mongolia. We thank our friends in Villa and Uar for taking us to
one hundred and ten fully paid up member states. And as I promised,
Ali, thank you quite a community of corresponding being a true gentleman. Farhan,
yesterday you said that three hundred and sixty thousand Palestinians had fled Rafa.
I believe you said just now that it was four hundred and fifty thousand.
Yes, though those are the figures from the Relief and Works Agency UNRA.
It's nearly four hundred fifty thousand, although I expect to get to that number
sometime over the course of this And this is all since since the offense,
the latest defense, exactly since the latest defenses. Okay, So yesterday you
said that one hundred thousand people had fled the north. Is there any update
on how many people have fled the north by today? I don't have a
new figures for the North. We expect that there's more going on in terms
of departures from the North given the increased fighting, which is why we issued
the statement that the Secretary General has just put out. But I'll see whether
we can get some figures over the next day or so in terms of departures
from the North as well as from the South. Okay, and a second
question on the US peer, can you tell us whether the United Nations is
going to be involved in any way in the distribution of the aid that's being
brought in by C Well, this is this is something we're certainly discussing with
the relevant authorities, so we'll see what role we have. We we do
intend to play a role, and we're determining how to do that in a
way that fully respects the integrity and neutrality of our operations. And is there
any indication of when this decision might be made. We're in constant talks,
so as soon as we can do it, we will Abdelamie and then Deshi
and thank you for Hahn. This morning the settlers stormed a Axam mosque.
They raised the Israeli flag inside the mosque. Are you aware of that?
And what do you say to this? Yes, oh, we're aware of
these reports, which are very disturbing. As you know, we always have
called for and continue to call for respect for the status quo at all of
the holy sites in Jerusalem, and we do so again today. My second
question for Hahnah you keep repeating the same thing we call on Israel to do,
to respect civilians, to prosecute those who violate international law, to do
this, to do this, but you know, and the whole world knows
that Israel will not do that. What is other than just appealing to Israel
to respect international humanitarian law or international law, and you know they don't.
I don't think it's as simple as that. Different countries are ones in which
we sometimes have difficulties in dealing with them as as we strive to make sure
that all international norms are respected over time, we do deal with all of
the countries in the system. And the reason the international norms are in places
that countries do understand the need to respect and uphold them, and we believe
that the efforts we make are ultimately ones that will be productive. DESHI.
Yeah, First, they follow up on the US peer. You said,
the UN is in constant communication and talks with the contrapart relative part parties.
But the thing is the news told us it will be operating in days.
Do you do you do you believe you can finish this talk within days on
the role of the U e U N. I don't want to the timeline
on the talks. We've been conducting them. We've been conducting them very seriously
and at very senior levels. And uh and certainly if if all the parties
are willing to meet each other, as this can be done in fairly short
order. So so you will, let me put it this way, so
you could play its role on that peer, but not necessarily in the very
beginning. Once the of the operation of that peer. Right, Let's not
like I said, let's not pre judge. The talks aren't going and we'll
see once they can come to a result. Okay, another follow up,
Another follow up? Do you have more? Maybe maybe I missed this part?
Do you have more information on the the international casualty in Gaza on that?
Uh? Which nationality can you tell us? And and what what is
the what is the situation there? Who? Who did the attack? Uh?
At this stage regarding who did the tech, I can't you know.
I don't. I can't really say that. What I can tell you about
in terms of determining responsibility is that the UN has established a fact finding panel.
It's very early in the in the investigation, and details of the incident
are still being verified with the Israeli Defense Force. What we know so far
indicate that a weapon appears to have impacted the back of a white UN vehicle
carrying two UN staff members, killing one and injuring another. The staff The
deceased staff member has been identified. He is with above Annalkale of India,
and we send our condolences to his family the wounded one. The wounded one
is from Jordan, where we're awaiting her recovery. How many do you know
how many international staff still are there in Gaza. Yes, I have that,
I have that figure. And can you confirm this is the first international
casualty. This is as I pointed out yesterday, it is the first international
casualty. International staff in Gaza is currently at seventy one. Seventy one.
Okay, one last question. Okay, but really, let's pug it around.
Actually, let's move it around now we can come back to you,
Tatic. Yes, oh sorry, Jordan, good afternoon. We just said
something about settlers. You just said that does the SG condemn the settler attack
on human Italian convoys going to Gaza yesterday? This is what you were just
said. Yes, of course we're opposed to all of the attacks on humanitarian
convoys, whether by settlers or anyone else. But I want to underscore to
everyone how serious it is that at a time when people are danger of starving
to death, there's no excuse for blocking or or attacking different convoys to get
food to those in need. Yeah, me, can you tell me like
the situation of the Georgian and international staff. It's like, how it's moderate,
it's that's the lie. How that that person was insured, she is
receiving hospital care. We hope the she's in ICU or she just fine.
Do you know, I wouldn't give that detail on your status. She's receiving
medical attention. We believe that she will make it through. Gabriel, Thank
you for han. Some of my questions have already been answered, but I'll
have a couple of follow ups. So the UN is in contact with Israeli
officials about the incident, correct, yes, And does that mean that Israel
has Does that mean that Israel has the shots fired were from Israel and it's
just a matter of the circumstances or are you still trying to determine if the
shots came from israel An Israeli personnel or not. I think the point is
we are in discussion with Israel too determine exactly how this incident happened. In
the nature of what happened, I don't think. I don't think at this
stage we are in doubt about where the shots came from as much as what
the circumstances were. Where did they come from? We believe it came from
a tank in the area, okay, And what were the was when they
were going to the European hospital, What was the purpose of that convoy to
go to the hospital. Do you know any more detail on that. There's
regular work that's going on in terms of bringing people to different sites and this
was part of that last fallow up if I may, going to the settler
attacks on the AID convoys that you spoke about already, are you also in
contact with Israeli officials about using their security personnel to stop such attacks, because
there were reports that Israeli security personnel watched it take place without intervening. We
want to make sure that everyone in a position of responsibility take up their responsibilities
to make sure that humans and aid can go to those who need it.
Yes, Maggie, and then Velo Demer, thanks for Hahn continuing on the
attack yesterday on the two UN staffers. This fact finding panel that you mentioned,
who's on it? Like who? Is it a dssess thing or like
who? How many people? Where are they from about the details of this,
But yes, it's basically something that being set up by the Department of
Safety and Security. And the Jordanian staffer who was injured, is she in
hospital in Gaza or they were able to evacuate her to Jordan. She's not
in Gaza right now. No, but she she does. She is receiving
her hospital care. Yeah, okay, hold on, I have you listened
Vladimir first, and then Benno think of her? Quite a different question in
the Caucuses. The Georgian Parliament today adopted in its final version a law and
so called foreign agents similar to Russian Russia's. Tens of thousands of people in
the capital of Tbilisi are protesting and the police have resorted to violence. What
can the Secretary General say about that? Yes? What I can say on
that is that the Secretary General is following with concern developments in Georgia, particularly
the violent clashes and reports of disproportionate use of force by law enforce personnel against
demonstrators protesting against the draft law and transparency of foreign influence. The Secretary General
echoes the concerns of the UN Country Team in Georgia and the High Commissioner for
Human Rights on the negative impact the law may have on the freedom of expression
and the media, and on civil society in general. He calls for restraint
and dialogue between the authorities and civil society, as well as prompt investigation of
all allegations of ill treatment during or after protests or in detention. Beno,
thank you. Another follow up to the incident in Gaza. You said,
um, you think that the shots were fired from the direction of a tank?
Am I right? That only the IDF have tanks in the regent?
I think that's a safe assumption to me, Yeah, but I had to
ask it. I think. Secondly, can you confirm that one of the
victims had a double nationality. I don't have a confirmation of that. The
person who died is an Indian national. That's as much as I can establish.
And oh, I forgot my third one. Sorry, we can come
back around to you, Tarek and Daney. I'm sorry, Jordan, I'm
sorry. Sorry, I misnamed you twice. Okay, I know you since
nineteen ninety three and you still forget my name. That's okay. Do you
know how many I mean fairst of all, is there any Uman presence in
El Fasher? And how many international staff there and how safe are they?
I do not believe that we have a presence in El Fasher itself, but
I'll check and see whether that's the case. And the second fellow up,
if you alarm me, you said mister lacrew in Katar, and he's going
to Afghanistan. That's correct, That is correct. And can you tell us
how he's going to Afghanistan? Is this commercial flight or how he's going there?
We don't give out detailed travel arrangements, but yes, we expect by
plane. Yesdi, thank you. On the issue of fuel getting into Gaza,
is there any update on how much is left and whether any fuel trucks
have managed to get in today? As far as I'm aware, there's been
no there's been no transit of fuel trucks today. We've had a small amount
of fuel, but we've been rationing it. Hopefully I'll try to provide an
update for you by tomorrow in terms of whether we can get more fuel in
Deji. Just a quick fall up with the Edi question, do you have
any trucks today entering Gaza from the UN I didn't receive any information on new
fuel trucks going in. Other and deliveries put it this way, As far
as I know, rafa as An opening has closed. There's been problems getting
aid through in Karam Shalom in a way that we can transit it outwards.
So right now things are the standstill. There may be some activity the areas,
but I'm not aware of it. Abdlamite. And then Maggie, thank
you. I have a question on Karim Ham's Karim Han's speech, you don't
have to answer, but I have to ask. The two points were missing.
He didn't mention anything about the threats he received from the US. That
in his speech and his right of reply he mentioned that because he was asked
about it. And second he did not mention whatsoever, what's going on in
Kacer? What do you think of that? Well, the topic at hand
was Libya, but beyond that, I wouldn't I don't speak for Karam Kahan,
who is part of the International Criminal Court, which is independent of the
United Nations. Why he didn't meet with the press. I know that he
was contacted and he denied. He turned down the offer. Well, that's
his choice. As as they say in parts of America, you can take
a horse to water, but you can't make him drink Maggie. And then
and then Jordan again, I know there was a briefing in Geneva, so
sorry if this might have been covered there. But the two UN staffers involved
in the accident or incident yesterday in Gaza, what were their actual job titles
like what were they? I mean they were part of the Department of Safety
and Security. So they both work with DSS in security jobs and they have
security jobs. Yes, yeah, Jordan, the office in Gaza, who
are their boss? Who they're reporting to? Well, DSS obviously reports to
the head of DSS here in New York. But in terms of who they
report to in Gaza, as you know, there's the Humanitarian Coordinator who deals
with Gaza. Yes, thank you Fron. A lot of flow questions about
the incident yesterday have been asked in which the Indian colonel passed away was killed.
Would you have any other numbers as to how many personnel from India or
are stationed there or are part of the DSS or other UN agencies. I
don't have a breakdown by nationality of staff. Like I said, there's seventy
one international staff in Gaza, but we don't you know, we don't have
nationality breakdowns that fluctuates from time to time. Obviously, we appreciate the contribution
that in has made and we were and we also express our our apologies and
our condolences to the government and people of India. Gabriel and then Beno thank
you for han has Israel apologized to the UN. Like I said, this
case is still under review. Yes, now it came to my mind what
I wanted to ask, do you see this attack as a deliberate attack on
the u N. The point I'm making is that this case is still under
review. We'll see what the review results in. Okay, and you mentioned
how these costs were marked. Is there like any reason to believe that could
they could have been mistaken or anything. It's hard to say. Again,
as the review proceeds, will need to see what the precise nature of the
circumstances were. And with that, I wish you all a good afternoon and
we'll see you tomorrow. No, no, no, America. What about
question online? What I did you online? Sorry? Who's that? Okay?
This is stephano Oh oh yeah yeah. Someone someone just said the question.
Yeah, what's your what's your question? Say? Well, I'm thank
you. I'm here outside the Trump trials. Here happened something extraordinary. Wait
wait, wait stuff stuff. No, Steph no, please let me stop
you right there. If this is a question about the Trump trials, I've
got nothing to say. No, no, no, it's not about the
Trump trials. It's above the Speaker of Congress that just spoke here to journalists
and he said that all the justice system is corrupt and the democracy is in
danger. Then live them with with with respect, with respect. This is,
this is, This is a line of questioning that has an opinion of
what's happening, not the trials. Stephanie, please please please please with with
respect. This is not a line of questioning that I will entertain. Have
a good day, now bye. The show has been produced by Depictions Media.
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