30 Jul 2012

UN / SYRIA – BAN

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today criticized what he called a 'brutal crackdown’ in Syria, with the use of fighter aircraft and helicopters against targets in heavily populated areas. He called on all sides to respect the Security Council’s call for a peaceful solution. UNTV

Posted at: July 30, 2012 3:54 pm

Duration: 02:45

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / SYRIA – BAN
TRT: 2.45
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 30 JULY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2011, UNITED NATIONS NORTH LAWAN BUILDING

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations North lawn Building

30 JULY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Ban Ki-moon approaches podium
3. Cutaway, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"The Government is adding to its brutal crackdown by attacking heavily populated areas with fighter aircraft and helicopters.  The armed opposition groups have also stepped up their attacks."
5. Cutaway, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"The Joint Special Envoy and I are deeply concerned about the situation in Aleppo.  Violence there has already caused large numbers of civilians to flee their homes.  I am extremely concerned by the impact of shelling and use of other heavy weapons on civilians in Aleppo and other locations in Syria.  I remind the parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, and urge them to exercise restraint and avoid any further bloodshed."
7. Cutaway, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"Let me also reiterate my concern about weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons.  The use of these arms is prohibited under international law.  Any use of such weapons would be an outrageous crime and a major concern for the entire international community. I call on the Government to renounce the possibility of using these weapons under any circumstances, and to ensure the safety and security of stockpiles."
9. Cutaway, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"Yesterday, the convoy of General Gaye was attacked by armed attacks.  Fortunately there were no injuries.  As you may know, more than a dozen of [our] armoured vehicles have been attacked and destroyed completely. It is quite fortunate that nobody got injured by these attacks.  It was only because of these armoured vehicles, which protected our mission."
11. Cutaway, journalists
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"The situation is getting worse and worse.  I am deeply concerned about this situation. When I discussed this matter with Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan, he expressed serious concern about the current situation.  We really need the united international community's action and political will to resolve this issue as soon as possible."
13. Cutaway, journalists
14. Wide shot, Ban Ki-moon leaves journalists behind

STORYLINE:

With as many as two million people affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General today (30 July) renewed his call on all parties to put an end to armed violence and prevent further bloodshed.

Addressing journalists at the UN headquarters in New York on his return from China, South-East Europe and the United Kingdom, Ban Ki-moon said that the Syrian Government was attacking heavily populated areas with fighter aircraft and helicopters.  He also said that armed opposition groups to the conflict had also "stepped up their attacks."

Ban voiced deep concern about the impact of shelling and use of other heavy weapons on civilians in various locations around the country, particularly in the city of Aleppo, where violence over recent days had already caused a large number of civilians to flee their homes.

Reiterating his concern about weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, he stated that any use of such weapons would be an "outrageous crime" and a major concern for the entire international community.

Ban also reported that the of the convoy of  Lt. General Babacar Gaye, the Head of the UN Supervision Mission ad interim in Syria touring Homs and Al-Rastan had been attacked yesterday, with no injured reported. He also noted that to date more than a dozen UN armoured vehicles had been attacked and destroyed completely.

Ban stressed that the situation in the country was getting "worse and worse".

The UN mission 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 Mr. Annan.

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