14 Feb 2013

UN / SOMALIA

The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Taye-Brook Zerihoun tells the Security Council that the success by the Somali Government internationally is matched "by daunting challenges at home". UNTV

Posted at: February 14, 2013 6:27 pm

Duration: 02:29

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UN / SOMALIA
TRT: 2.29
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 JANUARY 2013, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

14 JANUARY 2013, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Cutaway, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, United Nations:
"The success achieved by the Government internationally is matched by daunting challenges at home. The growing expanse of territory liberated from Al-shabaab has created an opportunity for the Federal government to extend its control over the country and enhance its legitimacy amongst Somalis. The Government is working to fill the vacuum through an inclusive "bottom up" approach."
5. Cutaway, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, United Nations:
"However, Al-Shabaab is not yet defeated, and its presence continues to hamper freedom of movement for Somalis and those who would assist them."
7. Cutaway, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, United Nations:
"The Secretary-General suggests in his report it would be important to take a calibrated approach based on all the factors at play, including the pressing need to support the development of Somali forces while avoiding the proliferation of uncontrolled weapons that could exacerbate the security situation."
9. Cutaway, delegates 
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, United Nations:
"The Secretary-General therefore recommends to the Security Council the liquidation of UNPOS and the establishment of a broader peacebuilding mission based in Mogadishu."
11. Cutaway, delegates
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Fawzia Y.H Adam, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, Somalia:
"Today, Al-shabaab is weakened; its leadership is in disarray and on the run. We are committed to continue the fight against this scourge until the final victory is realised."
13. Cutaway, delegates
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Fawzia Y.H Adam, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, Somalia:
"Despite the progress in different areas and the multiple tasks ahead, serious challenges remain. We have no illusion about this. Getting rid of the remnants of the Al-shabaab is a top priority for us. This, however, requires strengthening the military capacity of the Somali Defence Forces (SDF) by way of training, providing the enablers in a timely manner and further restructuring command and control structures."
15. Cutaway, delegates
16. Wide shot, Security Council

STORYLINE:

The Security Council today (14 February) discussed a revised United Nations (UN) presence in Somalia to support recent political gains and to address the urgent ongoing humanitarian and human rights situations.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun told the Council that the success achieved by the Government internationally was "matched by daunting challenges at home".  He said that the growing expanse of territory liberated from Al-shabaab had created an opportunity for the Federal government to extend its control over the country and enhanced its legitimacy amongst Somalis.

He said, the Government was working to fill the vacuum through an inclusive "bottom up" approach.

Noting that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces, now deployed at full mandate, had been effective in degrading Al-shabaab's operation capability However, Zerihoun said that "Al-Shabaab is not yet defeated, and its presence continues to hamper freedom of movement for Somalis and those who would assist them".

Commenting on the arms embargo imposed on the country Zerihoun said that relaxing the arms embargo "would take a calibrated approach based on all the factors," including support for the Somali forces while avoiding proliferation of uncontrolled weapons.

While noting that the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) had played a critical role in supporting the Somalis to deliver the transition, Zerihoun supported Ban Ki-moon's recommendation to the Council, for "the liquidation of UNPOS and the establishment of a broader peacebuilding mission based in Mogadishu".

The UN entities working on Somalia, including the UN Political Office (UNPOS) and UNSOA, which provides logistics for AMISOM, are due to steadily relocate to Somalia over the next six to 12 months.

Also speaking to the Council, Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fawzia Y. H. Adam told Council members that today, "Al-shabaab is weakened; its leadership is in disarray and on the run". She added that the government was committed to continuing the fight against Al-shabaab "until the final victory is realised".

Adam warned that despite the progress in different areas and the multiple tasks ahead, "serious challenges remain". She said that "Getting rid of the remnants of the Al-shabaab is a top priority for us". But she said that that required strengthening the military capacity of the Somali Defence Forces (SDF) by way of training.

Somalia marked a historic political watershed last August when it swore-in the first formal parliament. The event ended a so-called "transition" phase which had begun with the 2004 launch of a UN-backed interim government after Somalis had been without a functioning government since the overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.