25 Jul 2012

SYRIA / LADSOUS-GAYE

The United Nations peacekeeping chief announced today (25 July) that half of the 300 UN observers in Syria have left the country, while adding that the crisis there remains “of utmost concern” and the world body will continue to promote a political solution. UNSMIS

Posted at: July 25, 2012 12:21 pm

Duration: 02:15

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: SYRIA / LADSOUS-GAYE
TRT: 2.15
SOURCE: UNSMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 25 JULY 2012, DAMASCUS, SYRIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, arrival of Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, Head of UN Supervision Mission in Syria
2. Wide shot, Hervé Ladsous and Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye approach the podium for a press briefing
3. Cutaway, cameramen
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO):
"UNSMIS in a reduced format, as you know, about half of the military observers have been for the time being sent back to their countries.  So the mission operates on a reduced basis, reduced in numbers, reduced in team sites in the provinces and does what it can.  We, of course, have to take into account the security situation which in many places is extremely delicate."
5. Cutaway, cameraman
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, Head of UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS):
"We are back with the hope that wisdom will prevail; that there will be in this tunnel some light and that we can seize and obtain less violence. We have 30 days, and today we have 27 days to go so every opportunity will be seized to alleviate the suffering of the population."
7. Cutaway, cameramen
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO):
"I think we have to hope. We have to hope that the whole process gains traction, that the vicious circle of violence can cease, and that some political solution and first and foremost some political dialogue can get started."
9. Cutaway, cameraman
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO):
"It is not decreasing definitely."
11. Wide shot, Hervé Ladsous and Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye leave microphone behind

STORYLINE:

The United Nations peacekeeping chief announced today (25 July) that half of the 300 UN observers in Syria have left the country, while adding that the crisis there remains "of utmost concern" and the world body will continue to promote a political solution.

With half of the military observers serving with the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) having been sent back home, Herve Ladsous said that the Mission is operating on a reduced basis in a reduced number of team sites in the provinces and "does what it can."

He said that, "we, of course, have to take into account the security situation, which in many places is extremely delicate," 
Joining Ladsous was the UN Military Adviser, Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, who arrived in Syria to assume leadership of UNSMIS, following the departure of General Robert Mood.

The Council last week extended UNSMIS for a final period of 30 days.  Gaye noted that now there were 27 days left, "so every opportunity will be seized to alleviate the suffering of the population", he told journalists.

Ladsous also expressed his hope that "the whole process gains traction, that the vicious circle of violence can cease, and that some political solution and first and foremost some political dialogue can get started".

Responding to whether the violence was increasing, Ladsous said, "It is not decreasing definitely".

UNSMIS is tasked with monitoring the cessation of violence in Syria, as well as monitoring and supporting the full implementation of the six-point peace plan put forward by the Joint Special Envoy for the UN and the League of Arab States for the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan.

That 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, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

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