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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE U.N. SYSTEM

WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2016

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**There was no noon briefing today.

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SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MYANMAR: EVERY TRANSITION CARRIES RISKS BUT REFUSING TO EMBARK ON TRANSITION MAY CARRY GREATEST RISK

• The Secretary-General addressed today the opening of the 21 Century Panglong Conference in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar.
• He noted that it was the first time that such a peace process has been initiated in the seventy-year history of conflict and division between the Union Government and armed ethnic groups.����
• The long civil war has cost numerous lives and robbed successive generations of their dignity, tranquillity and normalcy, the Secretary-General said, urging all participants to accept that no party involved in this reconciliation process can expect to achieve all its aims. Conversely, every side must win something if this process is to succeed, he said. This will require goodwill on all sides, and a recognition that success is in the vital interest of all the people of Myanmar, regardless of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or socio-economic status.
• The Secretary-General stressed that every transition carries risks but that refusing to embark on transition may carry the greatest risk of all. The United Nations will remain your respectful partner as this process deepens, he finally said.
• Throughout the day, the Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with President U Htin Kyaw, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces as well as with U Win Myint and U Mahn Win Khang Than, Speakers of the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament. He also met with civil society organizations, religious leaders and members of the United Nations Global Compact which he had launched in 2012.
• In his meetings, the Secretary-General underlined that the current juncture presented a unique moment for progress on addressing outstanding human rights concerns, including with regard to remaining political prisoners, restrictive laws and land grabbing and confiscation issues.
• He emphasized that developing a broad series of measures to combat discrimination and to promote a more tolerant and inclusive society was essential. In this connection, he encouraged progress in the establishment of an OHCHR country office with a full mandate.

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES CRITICAL TO RENEW TALKS - U.N. YEMEN ENVOY

• The Special of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Security Council today. He noted with concern that the end of the Kuwait talks had been followed by a severe breakdown of the Cessation of Hostilities and a dangerous escalation in military activities, which had led to tragic and unnecessary civilian deaths, casualties and a worsening of humanitarian suffering.
• While the talks in Kuwait did not yield an agreement, he stressed that they were not without important results. The architecture of a roadmap had emerged, which would be expanded upon in the coming weeks and both parties had agreed to continue consultations separately and to reconvene direct talks at a later stage.
• There was now consensus on the need for a full and comprehensive political solution, involving clearly sequenced political and security measures. The proposed agreement would define a path for the rapid formation of a Government of National Unity to be formed immediately following the withdrawals and handover of heavy weapons in Sana’a and some other vital areas. However, the effective resumption of talks would only be possible if all parties maintained their commitment to a negotiated settlement and refrained from unilateral actions. ��
• Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed said he would resume consultations with the Government of Yemen, Ansar Allah and the General People’s Congress in order to take advantage of this new initiative and build on the progress made in Kuwait. In order to accelerate the path to renewed talks, he stressed the resumption of the Cessation of Hostilities would be critical. “The United Nations has not and will not fail Yemen”, he said. “Yemen’s leaders must not fail the Yemeni people, all the Yemeni people, in the South and in the North.”

U.N. RELIEF CHIEF CONCERNED ABOUT EVACUATION OF POPULATION OF DARAYYA, SYRIA

• The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief , Stephen O’Brien, yesterday great concern about the evacuation of the entire population of the besieged town of Darayya, on 26 and 27 August following an agreement between representatives of Darayya and the Syrian Government. He noted that the UN was not a party to this agreement, and was not informed of the evacuation until a few hours before it took place.
• He stressed that agreements resulting in a mass evacuation of civilians after a prolonged period of besiegement do not comply with international humanitarian law and human rights law. While reiterating the need to lift all sieges, he said this should not be through any type of agreement which results in the forced displacement of the civilian population. He stressed that what happened in Darayya should not be precedent setting for other besieged areas in Syria and that all those displaced must be allowed to return voluntarily, in safety and in dignity, to their homes as soon as the situation allows it.
• He also expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in other besieged areas in Syria where people have little physical protection and limited access to basic life-saving assistance, including the neighborhood of Al Waer in Homs city.

U.N. REPRESENTATIVE CONDEMNS ATTACK IN SOMALIA

• The Special of the Secretary-General in Somalia, Michael Keating, strongly yesterday’s truck bombing of the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu that killed at least 13 people and injured over 20.
• The bombing marked the third such attack on the SYL Hotel since the beginning of 2015. Mr. Keating said that “the SYL Hotel provides powerful evidence of the extraordinary resilience of the Somali people, who refuse to be cowed by al-Shabaab’s campaign of terror.”

U.N. COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES CALLS ATTENTION TO PLIGHT OF SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEES

• UN High for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, yesterday for greater international attention to the plight of South Sudanese refugees as well as donor support for Uganda’s open-door approach towards people fleeing conflict in neighbouring countries.
• Speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the East African country, he appealed to the leaders of South Sudan to behave responsibly and end the violence and instability that is forcing their people to go into exile.
• The High Commissioner lamented the donor response to the multi-agency regional appeal for South Sudanese refugees, which is funded about 20% of current requirements. Refugees entering Uganda since July 2016 have been using entry points in different districts, requiring major logistical operations to bring them to safety. The speed of the influx had stretched the capacities of partners and host communities.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR PROGRESS TOWARD NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE WORLD

• Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Kim Won-soo, spoke on behalf of the Secretary-General today at an event marking the International Day against Nuclear Tests. He called on all countries and peoples to work for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty as soon as possible so that we may advance toward a nuclear-weapon-free world.

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