7 Dec 2012

UN / LADSOUS

The head of UN peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous today spoke to reporters on the latest developments in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo following the M23 rebels’ retreat from Goma. He also commented on Mali and the reinforcement of the UNDOF, the UN mission monitoring the Golan Heights. UNTV

Posted at: December 7, 2012 7:00 pm

Duration: 02:33

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / LADSOUS
TRT: 2.33
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
 
DATELINE: 7 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters

7 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Herve Ladsous approaching the microphone
3. Close up, reporter taking notes
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
"We are developing the contingency plans in case M23 resumes hostilities. We are also investigating a number of reports regarding human rights abuses committed by M23, other armed groups and by some elements of national security forces in the area of Monova and we have taken measures to patrol regularly around areas of internally displaced persons camps to prevent further attacks."
5. Med shot, reporters taking notes
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
"I have outlined to the Security Council our preliminary views regarding what it might consider concerning the implementation of the mandate of MONUSCO in current environment as there will be an option of additional force enablers and we have to reflect the offer to support Joined Verification Mechanism which was established by the Conference of Great Lakes. We have to reflect the concept for mutual force which was put by Conference of Great Lakes."
7. Close up, reporter taking notes
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
"Experts tell us that nothing much happen before September-October for number of reasons, having to do with the necessity of re-training the army of Mali and also climatic conditions."
9. Close up, reporter taking notes
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
"We, of course, take very much at the heart safety and security of personnel in UNDOF. We are strengthening the security equipment, in particular sending more armoured cars. We also strengthen political analyst capacities of UNDOF, so, it is equally important."
11. Close up, reporter taking notes
12. Wide shot, Ladsous leaving

STORYLINE:

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous said today (7 December) that the M23 rebel group has completed its withdrawal from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Regular activities were resumed in Goma airport and some 2,400 Congolese police have been deployed back to the city.  The return of United Nations personnel who were temporarily relocated out of Goma and Bunia is expected to be completed today.

At the same time Ladsous warned that some M23 elements remain active in some areas of Goma. He told reporters that following the M23 rebels' retreat, the DPKO is developing contingency plans in case M23 resumes hostilities.

Ladsous said the UN is conducting an investigation into reports regarding human rights violations committed by M23, by other armed groups and by some elements of national security forces in the area of Minova.  UN peacekeepers are taking measures to patrol regularly around the camps for internally displaced people to prevent further attacks.

Ladsous told reporters he had outlined to the Security Council the Department of Peacekeeping Operations's preliminary views regarding the implementation of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in the current environment, and in view of the concept for mutual force put forward by the Conference of the Great Lakes.

Asked by reporters about the timeframe for a possible commencement of military operation in northern Mali, Ladsous said the "experts" were saying that "nothing much will happen before September-October for number of reasons, having to do with the necessity of re-training the army of Mali and also climatic conditions."

The peacekeeping chief also told reporters that the United Nations is strengthening the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), because of the escalation of violence in Syria and recent attacks on two convoys of UNDOF.

Ladsous said "we take very much to heart the safety and security of our personnel in UNDOF". More armoured cars would be sent, and the mission's political analysis capacity would be strengthened.

UNDOF was established in 1974 following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights. Since then, UNDOF has remained in the area to maintain the ceasefire between the Israeli and Syrian forces and to supervise the implementation of the disengagement agreement.