24 Mar 2011

UN / SIERRA LEONE

The Secretary-General’s representative in Sierra Leone said that despite Sierra Leone’s achievements, the Security Council should not “lose sight” of this African nation, particularly against the backdrop of the current events in North Africa and the adjacent region. UNTV

Posted at: March 24, 2011 4:05 pm

Duration: 01:55

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / SIERRA LEONE 
SOURCE: UNTV
TRT: 01:55
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 24 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN building

24 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael von der Schulenburg, Secretary-General's Executive Representative for the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL):
"The events in Northern Africa and the adjacent region may make it even more important for the Security Council not to lose sight of Sierra Leone and continue to give it the attention that it deserves and still needs. Sierra Leone, which was once a symbol of a failed state, is now gradually evolving into a model country for overcoming old divisions and for developing into a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country."
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael von der Schulenburg, Secretary-General's Executive Representative for the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL):
"Despite all achievements in overcoming its civil war, Sierra Leone will remain fragile and vulnerable to sudden economic, social and political shocks, both from outside and from inside the country. Being one of the world's poorest countries, the aptitude of the Government to absorb any adverse shock will continue to remain weak."
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) John McNee, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations:
"Sierra Leone rightly stands as a multilateral success story for peace-building, yet the story is not quite finished. One of the important lessons learned in the past two decades is that peace-building requires constant and continued support. Faltering now would risk all that has been gained."
9. Med shot, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph B. Dauda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone:
"Despite all these efforts of the government and the progress that has been made to date in addressing the many problems that led to the civil war, the sustained support of the international community and our development partners is required to build on the gains made and to further consolidate peace-building in Sierra Leone, as well as to enhance the country's capacity to absorb shocks, be they economic, social or political."
11. Wide shot, Security Council

STORYLINE:

Senior United Nations officials today (24 March) urged continued international support for Sierra Leone as it consolidates peace and advance development, and especially as it prepares for next year's elections, warning that any faltering now could risk the significant progress made so far.

Michael von der Schulenburg, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Executive Representative for Sierra Leone, told the Security Council that in the context of the events in Northern Africa and the adjacent region, it becomes "even more important for the Security Council not to lose sight of Sierra Leone and continue to give it the attention that it deserves and still needs."

He stressed that while the West African nation has made a remarkable recovery in the nine years since the war ended, it will continue to need strong international support as it remains "fragile and vulnerable to sudden economic, social and political shocks."

Ambassador John McNee of Canada, who chairs the Sierra Leone configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, echoed this sentiments telling the Council that "Sierra Leone rightly stands as a multilateral success story for peace-building, yet the story is not quite finished" and "faltering now would risk all that has been gained."

For his part, the Foreign minister of Sierra Leone, Joseph B. Dauda, said that "the sustained support of the international community and our development partners is required to build on the gains made and to further consolidate peace-building in Sierra Leone."

In his latest report on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), which is headed by von der Schulenburg, the Secretary-General noted that all of the country's achievements will be put to the test by the challenges of conducting peaceful, free and fair presidential, parliamentary and local council elections in 2012.

While the UN and international partners stand ready to assist Sierra Leone and its electoral institutions, Ban said that the Government and the country's political parties have a critical role to play in ensuring the success of the elections.