From The United Nations
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights: -Myanmar -Secretary-General’s Travel -Middle East -Iraq -Security Council -South Sudan -Democratic Republic of the Congo -Ethiopia -Somalia -Caribbean -Colombia -Forests -Immunization Services -Goodwill Ambassador -International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day -World Intellectual Property Day -Senior Personnel Appointment -Financial Contribuation
MYANMAR
On Myanmar, we’ve been asked by many of you about the travels of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Christine Schraner Burgener.
What I can tell you is that we will continue to support ASEAN’s important role, as reflected in the Special Envoy’s visit to Jakarta, Indonesia,
Where she held ministerial and other meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on 24 April.
Timely and comprehensive implementation of ASEAN’s five points of consensus from that meeting will be important.
They include a call for immediate cessation of violence and for all parties to exercise utmost restraint,
ASEAN humanitarian assistance and constructive dialogue among to seek a peaceful solution.
We continue to urge the release of all detainees and for the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Secretary-General and his Special Envoy continue to urge for a unified response by Member States and appeal for support to the UN system and regional efforts that can help deter further escalation of the crisis.
SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TRAVEL The Secretary-General is in Geneva, where tomorrow he will convene the informal 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue.
Stephane Dujarric will brief the press in Geneva tomorrow morning to share more details on the meeting, including the heads of delegations.
MIDDLE EAST
Over the weekend, Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, voiced his alarm at the recent escalations in Jerusalem and around Gaza.
He condemned all such acts of violence and reiterated his call upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan and this politically charged time for all.
He said that the provocative acts across Jerusalem must cease. The indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli population centres violates international law and must stop immediately, he added. The UN is still actively working to de-escalate the situation.