20 Jul 2012

UN / SYRIA GAYE

The UN’s military advisor Babacar Gaye, who is set to arrive in Syria Tuesday, said today (20 July) he does not see the mission’s 30-day extension as a “last chance”. UNTV

Posted at: July 20, 2012 5:36 pm

Duration: 01:18

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STORY: UN / SYRIA GAYE
TRT: 1:18
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 JULY 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2011, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

20 JULY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. SOUNDBITE (English) General Babacar Gaye, United Nations Military Adviser:
"Upon arriving to Syria, first of all I will ensure that the mission is in a position to use in the best way these 30 days, that I consider not as the days of the last chance, but as a demonstration of the concern of international community, even though the way of this concern are different from one member state to another, indeed, there is a concern because people are suffering in Syria. So this will be let's say my orientation to use in the best way this very short period of time."
3. SOUNDBITE (English) General Babacar Gaye, United Nations Military Adviser:
"The reality is that everything will depend on the reality on the ground. And we have to confess that our ability to influence this reality on the ground so far has not met our expectations. So everything will depend again on the developments on the ground."

STORYLINE:

The UN's military advisor Babacar Gaye, who is set to arrive in Syria Tuesday, said today (20 July) he does not see the mission's 30-day extension as a "last chance".

The Security Council today renewed the mandate of United Nations observers in Syria for a final period of 30 days. A previous draft resolution that would have also threatened sanctions on Syria was vetoed by Russia and China.

In an interview with UNifeed, Gaye said the extension demonstrated the international community's concern about the suffering in Syria, "even though the way of this concern are different from one member state to another". He would try to "use in the best way this very short period of time".

Deputy-Secretary-General Jan Eliasson announced yesterday that Gaye would be sent to Syria. The current head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), Major General Robert Mood has left Syria.

Asked for his views on whether the 30-day extension meant time to withdraw or a continuation of the mission, Gaye said everything would depend on the reality on the ground, adding "we have to confess that our ability to influence this reality on the ground so far has not met our expectations".

The Council established UNSMIS in April with an initial 90-day mandate, which expired today. In June the mission suspended its regular patrols due to the escalating violence in the country, where over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 16 months ago.

Babacar Gaye, a Senegalese general, has served as the advisor on United Nations peacekeeping operations since 2010. Before that he was the force commander of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUC from 2005 to 2010.

Filed under SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC .