3 Jan 2013

UN / KHAN

Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan told reporters that Syria remains a priority as he outlined the programme of work for Pakistan's presidency of the UN Security Council this month. UNTV

Posted at: January 3, 2013 6:47 pm

Duration: 02:28

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UN / KHAN
TRT: 2.28
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 3 JANUARY 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

3 JANUARY 2013, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Wide shot, dais
3.	Wide shot, journalists
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations:
"Syria is a priority for the Council. The Council has been seized on this issue and even as we speak there are diplomatic efforts continuing. I spoke with Mr. Brahimi yesterday and he is engaging Moscow, the United States, Damascus. He's been talking to other regional leaders. He is making all efforts to pave the way for some diplomatic breakthrough." 
5.	Zoom out, photographers
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations:
"All Council Members, particularly Russia and the United States, they are making honest endeavours to resolve this issue, this thorny issue, and to also to move towards some sort of middle ground. So they are making this, what I can tell you, and there is evidence to back that up, they are making sustained and intense efforts and they've been meeting frequently in the past to communicate more effectively, to explore whatever possibilities there are to deal with this issue." 
7.	Wide shot, journalists
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations:
"There is huge concern about concentration of extremist elements in Mali, and the Council is serious about this threat and it will continue to work with the African Union to come up with a concrete response to this challenge." 
9.	Close up, journalist
10.	SOUNDBITE (English) Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations:
"The fire should cease, because that would usher in an era of stability. We hope that all sides would cease hostilities in DRC, because the situation in DRC is worrisome. There is this call you referred to, one call, but there is a call from the Security Council for cessation of all hostilities and that should be respected by all sides." 
11.	Med shot, journalists
12.	Zoom out, dais

STORYLINE:

Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for this month, told a news conference at UN Headquarters today (3 January) that Syria remains "a priority for the Council"  and diplomatic efforts are continuing "even as we speak."

Khan said he has been informed by Joint UN-Arab League Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi that he is currently engaging Moscow, the United States, Damascus and other regional leaders, "making all efforts to pave the way for some diplomatic breakthrough."

Khan highlighted the role being played by Russia and the United States as they make "honest endeavours to resolve this issue, this thorny issue, and to also to move towards some sort of middle ground."

The Council, Khan told reporters, will also focus on a number of issues this month that are part of its regular agenda, including developments in the Central African Republic, the Middle East, Sudan and South Sudan, and Darfur, among others.

He said there was "huge concern about concentration of extremist elements in Mali, and the Council is serious about this threat and it will continue to work with the African Union to come up with a concrete response to this challenge."

On the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Khan called for a cease fire which "would usher in an era of stability" and added that the situation is "worrisome" and the cessation of hostilities "should be respected by all sides."

The Pakistani Ambassador announced that his delegation will convene a ministerial-level open debate on a comprehensive approach to counter terrorism on 15 January.

The meeting, which will be chaired by Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, is expected to draw participation at the ministerial level and feature a briefing from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

He said peacekeeping and terrorism, issues which are particularly relevant for Pakistan, as well as for the wider international community, will feature prominently in the work of the Security Council in January.