5 Mar 2013

UN / BAN KI-MOON

Ban says that that the approach he was proposing to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had a number of important elements "crucial to peacemaking in Africa'sGreat Lakesregion". UNTV

Posted at: March 5, 2013 7:50 pm

Duration: 03:11

Available in: SD

DOWNLOAD

Full script

STORY: UN / BAN KI-MOON
TRT: 3.11
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 05 MARCH 2013, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2011, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

05 MARCH 2013, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, United Nations Secretary-General approaches podium
3. Cutaway, journalist taking notes
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"First, the approach to the situation that I am proposing has a number of important features crucial to peacemaking in Africa's Great Lakes region.  It brings together all the relevant actors.  It includes innovative oversight mechanisms.  And it provides for credible enforcement. Second, we are under no illusions about the difficulties ahead.  Heavy fighting in the past days in North Kivu involving national troops and armed groups is only the latest reminder of the fragility of the situation. The United Nations has done its utmost to broker an agreement that can finally break the horrendous cycles of violence.  The onus is now on the signatories to show strong, consistent and sustained leadership."
5. Cutaway, journalist taking notes
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"We believe there is a small but important window of opportunity.  Both the Government and the Opposition have indicated a willingness to engage in a political dialogue.  The United Nations stands ready to facilitate such a process.This is the only way forward.  The humanitarian situation is catastrophic. War crimes are being carried out with alarming frequency.  The impasse in the Security Council remains deeply disturbing and difficult to understand.  All those with influence must do their part to pursue a political solution."
7. Cutaway, journalists taking notes
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"I appeal to them – and in particular the candidates, political leaders and their supporters -- to maintain the same calm and patience, to allow the electoral commission to complete its tallying of the votes, and to refrain from any pronouncements that could undermine its authority or cause tension."
9. Cutaway, journalists taking notes
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea should fully comply with the relevant decisions of the Security Council and refrain from further provocative acts. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1953 Armistice Agreement of the Korean War. I reiterate the validity and importance of this critical agreement. I strongly urge the Pyongyang authorities to reverse course to build trust that will lead to durable peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
11. Cutaway, journalist taking notes
12. Wide shot, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon leaves microphone behind

STORYLINE:

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (5 March) met journalists, following his briefing to the Security Council on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including the framework agreement reached 9 days ago (24 February) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where  he joined leaders of 11 African countries for the signing ceremony.

Ban said that the approach he was proposing to the situation in the DRC had a number of important elements "crucial to peacemaking in Africa's Great Lakes region".

He said that while bringing together all the relevant actors, it also included "innovative oversight mechanisms.  And it provides for credible enforcement".

Ban also said the UN had done "its utmost to broker an agreement that could finally break the horrendous cycles of violence.  The onus is now on the signatories to show strong, consistent and sustained leadership".

Commenting on his recent trip to Switzerland where he met with Joint UN/Arab League Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi about the crisis in Syria, Ban said that they both believed that "there is a small but important window of opportunity".

While noting that both the Syrian Government and the Opposition had indicated their willingness to engage in a political dialogue, he said that, "The United Nations stands ready to facilitate such a process. This is the only way forward".

And while describing the humanitarian situation there as "catastrophic", the Secretary-General said that the Security Council impasse "remains deeply disturbing and difficult to understand". 
 
Talking about yesterdays (4 March) elections in Kenya, and while recognizing the eagerness of the Kenyan population while the awaited the final electoral results, Ban appealed to them "to maintain the same calm and patience, to allow the electoral commission to complete its tallying of the votes, and to refrain from any pronouncements that could undermine its authority or cause tension."

Commenting on the draft resolution presented to the Council today by the United States on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and pointing out that the recent conduct of nuclear weapons by the DPRK was in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, Ban said that The DPRK "should fully comply with the relevant decisions of the Security Council and refrain from further provocative acts".