6 Jun 2012

UN / AL-NASSER SYRIA

GA president Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser expressed his disappointment today over the lack of progress in ending the violence in Syria. Al-Nasser told a press conference in New York that the situation on the ground was “very disappointing and, frankly, appalling.” UNTV

Posted at: June 6, 2012 4:17 pm

Duration: 02:08

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER
TRT: 2.08
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 6 JUNE 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

6 JUNE 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Med shot, over-the-shoulder view of Abdulaziz Al-Nasser at the dais
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, President of the General Assembly:
"The situation on the ground is very disappointing and, frankly, appalling. We have all followed the recent horrifying developments, especially the massacre of more than a hundred people – including women and children – in the village Al-Houlah. I have condemned the Al-Houlah massacre and the ongoing violence in the strongest possible terms.  Those responsible must be made to face justice."	
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, President of the General Assembly:
"They are calling for more action by the Security Council, by General Assembly, and they are not happy with the, I mean, the Arab support Kofi Annan's six-point plan, but they are not happy about what's happening on the ground. So, they need more engagement from the Security Council and the General Assembly."	
7. Med shot, over-the-shoulder view of Abdulaziz Al-Nasser at the dais
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, President of the General Assembly:
"Here we are not talking about changing regimes. Here we are talking, we have to stop the violence and to implement Mr. Annan's six-point plan which the Syrian Government agreed on that. We don't see any positive action. Still violence is going on and that is not acceptable."
9. Med shot, journalists
10. Med shot, end of conference

STORYLINE:

The President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, today (6 June) expressed his disappointment over the lack of progress in ending the violence in Syria.

Al-Nasser told a press conference in New York that the situation on the ground was "very disappointing and, frankly, appalling."

He especially condemned the recent "horrifying" massacre in the village Al-Houlah, where over one hundred people, mostly women and children, were killed, many of them execution style.

The General Assembly President stressed that "those responsible must be made to face justice."

The UN estimates that some 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 15 months ago.

Al-Nasser told reporters that the League of Arab States is calling for more engagement by the Security Council and the General Assembly. He said that the organisation fully supports Kofi Annan's six-point plan, "but they are not happy about what's happening on the ground."

The General Assembly endorsed, in February, a resolution establishing Kofi Annan as the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for the Syrian Crisis. In March, Annan put forward a six-point plan to help bring peace to the Middle Eastern country.

The plan calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

Al-Nasser stressed that "we are not talking about changing regimes" but about implementing the six-point plan "which the Syrian Government agreed on that."

He added that there is a lack of "positive action" by the Government and "still violence is going on and that is not acceptable."

On Thursday, Annan will brief the General Assembly in person, followed by the Security Council and the media, on the latest developments in Syria. Al-Nasser will also address the Assembly meeting, as will Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Nabil Al Araby.