12 Oct 2012

UN / MALI

Citing the threat to regional peace from terrorists and Islamic militants in rebel-held northern Mali, the United Nations Security Council today (12 October) held out the possibility of endorsing, within the next 45 days, an international military force to restore the unity of the West African country. UNTV

Posted at: October 12, 2012 5:14 pm

Duration: 02:01

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UN / MALI
TRT: 2.01
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 12 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

12 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Various shots, Security Council vote
3.	Med shot, delegates
4.	SOUNDBITE (French) Oumar Daou, Permanent Representative of Mali to the United Nations:
"My country, Mali, underscores once again the importance and urgency of deploying an international military force under chapter VII of the United Nations charter, to support the defence and security forces of Mali in order to restore territorial integrity, fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime, and in the end restore human rights in the northern regions under occupation."
5.	Med shot, delegates 
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Youssoufou Bamba, Permanent Representative of Côte d'Ivoire to the United Nations:
"The clock is ticking and everyday that passes brings more suffering to the population trapped in the areas controlled by the terrorists carrying out all kinds of criminal activities in the north. ECOWAS is pleased with the resolution adopted today because that resolution is timely and opens the door to a next resolution calling for concrete action. Yes indeed, in the situation regarding Mali, inaction is no longer an option."
7.	Med shot, delegates 
8.	Zoom out, Security Council
9.	Wide shot, Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala walks up to the stakeout position

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

10.	Close up, reporter's notepad

12 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

11.	SOUNDBITE (English) Gert Rosenthal, Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the United Nations:
"There have been consultations and we are all trying to get our act together, so this is a first resolution and I think it will be followed by a more detailed plan in the weeks ahead. The Secretariat was asked to come up with a proposal, a concrete proposal, within 45 days."

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

12.	Zoom out, cameras

STORYLINE:

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body called on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to provide, at once, military and security planners to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and other partners to help frame a response to a request by Mali's transitional authorities for such a force, and to report back within 45 days.

Ambassador Oumar Daou of Mali told the Council that his country supports the deployment of an international force "in order to restore territorial integrity, fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime, and in the end restore human rights in the northern regions under occupation."

Fighting between Malian Government forces and Tuareg rebels broke out in the country's north in January. The instability and insecurity resulting from the renewed clashes, as well as the proliferation of armed groups in the region, drought and political instability in the wake of a military coup d'état in March, have led over 250,000 Malians to flee to neighbouring countries, with another 174,000 Malians estimated to be internally displaced. In addition, Islamist militants currently control the country's north and have imposed strict Sharia law, including amputation of limbs as punishment.

Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba of Côte d'Ivoire, speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, said "the clock is ticking and everyday that passes brings more suffering to the population trapped in the areas controlled by the terrorists carrying out all kinds of criminal activities in the north."

Bamba said ECOWAS was "pleased with the resolution adopted today because that resolution is timely and opens the door to a next resolution calling for concrete action."

He added that "inaction is no longer an option."

Outside the Council, Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala said "this is a first resolution and I think it will be followed by a more detailed plan in the weeks ahead."

In June, ECOWAS and the AU had requested a Security Council mandate authorizing the deployment of an ECOWAS stabilization force to ensure the protection of Malian state institutions, and assist in upholding the country's territorial integrity and in combating terrorism.