UN / SYRIA CHEMICAL WEAPONS
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04-Apr-2018
00:02:34
A senior UN official told the Security Council today that the international chemical weapons watchdog (OPCW) continued to be “unable to confirm the completeness and accuracy” of the Syrian government’s declarations regarding the dismantling of its chemical weapons programme. UNIFEED
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STORY: UN / SYRIA CHEMICAL WEAPONS
TRT: 02:34
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS
DATELINE: 04 APRIL 2018, NEW YORK CITY
SHOTLIST:
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
04 APRIL 2018, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Thomas Markram, Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations:
“On the outstanding issues related to Syria's declaration, discussions between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic are continuing. However, these discussions have not permitted the resolution of any of those remaining issues. The OPCW Technical Secretariat continues to be unable to confirm the completeness and accuracy of Syria's declaration.”
4. Med shot, ambassadors
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“We are rapidly sliding backward, crossing back into a world that we thought we left. No one wants to live in a world where chemical weapons are used. No one wants to live in fear that a colourless, shapeless gas will suddenly seep into our lungs and leave us gasping for air. If we do not act, if we do not stop and change course, this is the world we could be fast approaching.”
6. Wide shot, Haley addressing Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“There should be no more victims of chemical weapons attacks, whether they take place in the warzone of Syria or in an English country town. The rules-based international order and its institutions are too valuable to be put at risk in this way. It is our collective duty to protect them and seek accountability for those who choose to defy them. We fail the people of Syria, we fail the people of Salisbury, we fail the world if we do not act.”
8. Med shot, ambassadors
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vassily A. Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“International law falls to pieces when suspicions, and not confirmed evidence, become the queen of evidence. No investigations or mechanisms are being called for now, however a number of countries continue to confidently announce that chemical weapons are being used by Damascus. This despite the clear absurdity of such allegations, absence of evidence, and most importantly military and political motivations behind such actions by the Syrian authorities.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mounzer Mounzer, Minister Counsellor, Deputy Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations:
“What is deplorable is the insistence of some governments to appoint themselves as guardians of the fates of people and protectors of law when in fact their political and colonial history reflect their repeated violation of the rights of these people.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
STORYLINE:
A senior UN official told the Security Council today (04 Apr) that the international chemical weapons watchdog (OPCW) continued to be “unable to confirm the completeness and accuracy” of the Syrian government’s declarations regarding the dismantling of its chemical weapons programme.
UN Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Thomas Markram said discussions between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the Syrian Government were continuing but had not permitted the resolution of any of the remaining issues. He stressed that resolving these issues would allow for shared confidence in Syria’s declarations.
Markram said the persistent allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria underscored the need to identify solutions and reach agreement on an appropriate accountability mechanism. He added that unity in the Security Council would provide the best foundation for success.
US ambassador Nikki Haley the Council’s lack of action regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria had consequences. She said the use of nerve agents in Salisbury and Kuala Lumpur proved this point and revealed a dangerous trend.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“We are rapidly sliding backward, crossing back into a world that we thought we left. No one wants to live in a world where chemical weapons are used. No one wants to live in fear that a colourless, shapeless gas will suddenly seep into our lungs and leave us gasping for air. If we do not act, if we do not stop and change course, this is the world we could be fast approaching.”
Haley said, exactly one year after the chemical weapons attack on Khan Shaykoun, the Council must reflect on this tragedy and renew its commitment to put an end to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. She said the United States refuses to believe that the Council could not come together once again to stop chemical weapons.
British ambassador Karen Pierce said Russia blocked the renewal of the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) last November which left the international community without a proper mechanism to determine accountability for chemical weapons use in Syria. She said Russia’s disdain for the international system manifests itself not only through its actions in Syria, but also through the poisoning of two people in Salisbury.
SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“There should be no more victims of chemical weapons attacks, whether they take place in the warzone of Syria or in an English country town. The rules-based international order and its institutions are too valuable to be put at risk in this way. It is our collective duty to protect them and seek accountability for those who choose to defy them. We fail the people of Syria, we fail the people of Salisbury, we fail the world if we do not act.”
Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the JIM’s conclusions could not be taken seriously by professionals adding that the findings reflected preordained results and defied the laws of physics. He said Russia could not support the extension of the JIM’s mandate but would not dispute the need for an investigative mechanism.
Nebenzia said Russia was proposing a draft resolution to replace the JIM with an alternative mechanism. The proposal was for the UN Secretary-General to select impartial members to the mechanism from the broadest geographical representation possible to be approved by the Security Council. He said the members would travel to the areas, select samples, and interview witnesses on the ground. He proposed the guiding link for this mechanism to be composed of specialists from the five permanent representatives of the Council (France, China, Russia, United States, and United Kingdom) who would take decisions based on consensus.
The Russian ambassador said international law “falls to pieces when suspicions, and not confirmed evidence, become the queen of evidence.” He said countries continued to “confidently announce that chemical weapons are being used by Damascus; this despite the clear absurdity of such allegations, absence of evidence, and most importantly military and political motivations behind such actions by the Syrian authorities.”
Separately, Nebenzia called on the Security Council to hold a meeting tomorrow at 3 pm to discuss a letter sent by British Prime Minister Theresa May to his Government regarding the use of a nerve agent in the town of Salisbury.
Syrian Minister Counsellor Mounzer Mounzer said his Government had fully complied with the OPCW in dismantling its chemical weapons programme in a record time yet some members of the Council continue to use misinformation to carry out their political agendas to control the world and return it to the times of colonialism and guardianship. He said, “What is deplorable is the insistence of some governments to appoint themselves as guardians of the fates of people and protectors of law when in fact their political and colonial history reflect their repeated violation of the rights of these people.”
Mounzer said the main goal of these countries was to stop the advance of the Syrian army in the face of terrorists. He reaffirmed the Syrian Government’s commitment to its obligations under the chemical weapons ban treaty and to its fight against terrorism.
TRT: 02:34
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS
DATELINE: 04 APRIL 2018, NEW YORK CITY
SHOTLIST:
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
04 APRIL 2018, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Thomas Markram, Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations:
“On the outstanding issues related to Syria's declaration, discussions between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic are continuing. However, these discussions have not permitted the resolution of any of those remaining issues. The OPCW Technical Secretariat continues to be unable to confirm the completeness and accuracy of Syria's declaration.”
4. Med shot, ambassadors
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“We are rapidly sliding backward, crossing back into a world that we thought we left. No one wants to live in a world where chemical weapons are used. No one wants to live in fear that a colourless, shapeless gas will suddenly seep into our lungs and leave us gasping for air. If we do not act, if we do not stop and change course, this is the world we could be fast approaching.”
6. Wide shot, Haley addressing Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“There should be no more victims of chemical weapons attacks, whether they take place in the warzone of Syria or in an English country town. The rules-based international order and its institutions are too valuable to be put at risk in this way. It is our collective duty to protect them and seek accountability for those who choose to defy them. We fail the people of Syria, we fail the people of Salisbury, we fail the world if we do not act.”
8. Med shot, ambassadors
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vassily A. Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“International law falls to pieces when suspicions, and not confirmed evidence, become the queen of evidence. No investigations or mechanisms are being called for now, however a number of countries continue to confidently announce that chemical weapons are being used by Damascus. This despite the clear absurdity of such allegations, absence of evidence, and most importantly military and political motivations behind such actions by the Syrian authorities.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mounzer Mounzer, Minister Counsellor, Deputy Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations:
“What is deplorable is the insistence of some governments to appoint themselves as guardians of the fates of people and protectors of law when in fact their political and colonial history reflect their repeated violation of the rights of these people.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
STORYLINE:
A senior UN official told the Security Council today (04 Apr) that the international chemical weapons watchdog (OPCW) continued to be “unable to confirm the completeness and accuracy” of the Syrian government’s declarations regarding the dismantling of its chemical weapons programme.
UN Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Thomas Markram said discussions between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the Syrian Government were continuing but had not permitted the resolution of any of the remaining issues. He stressed that resolving these issues would allow for shared confidence in Syria’s declarations.
Markram said the persistent allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria underscored the need to identify solutions and reach agreement on an appropriate accountability mechanism. He added that unity in the Security Council would provide the best foundation for success.
US ambassador Nikki Haley the Council’s lack of action regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria had consequences. She said the use of nerve agents in Salisbury and Kuala Lumpur proved this point and revealed a dangerous trend.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“We are rapidly sliding backward, crossing back into a world that we thought we left. No one wants to live in a world where chemical weapons are used. No one wants to live in fear that a colourless, shapeless gas will suddenly seep into our lungs and leave us gasping for air. If we do not act, if we do not stop and change course, this is the world we could be fast approaching.”
Haley said, exactly one year after the chemical weapons attack on Khan Shaykoun, the Council must reflect on this tragedy and renew its commitment to put an end to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. She said the United States refuses to believe that the Council could not come together once again to stop chemical weapons.
British ambassador Karen Pierce said Russia blocked the renewal of the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) last November which left the international community without a proper mechanism to determine accountability for chemical weapons use in Syria. She said Russia’s disdain for the international system manifests itself not only through its actions in Syria, but also through the poisoning of two people in Salisbury.
SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“There should be no more victims of chemical weapons attacks, whether they take place in the warzone of Syria or in an English country town. The rules-based international order and its institutions are too valuable to be put at risk in this way. It is our collective duty to protect them and seek accountability for those who choose to defy them. We fail the people of Syria, we fail the people of Salisbury, we fail the world if we do not act.”
Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the JIM’s conclusions could not be taken seriously by professionals adding that the findings reflected preordained results and defied the laws of physics. He said Russia could not support the extension of the JIM’s mandate but would not dispute the need for an investigative mechanism.
Nebenzia said Russia was proposing a draft resolution to replace the JIM with an alternative mechanism. The proposal was for the UN Secretary-General to select impartial members to the mechanism from the broadest geographical representation possible to be approved by the Security Council. He said the members would travel to the areas, select samples, and interview witnesses on the ground. He proposed the guiding link for this mechanism to be composed of specialists from the five permanent representatives of the Council (France, China, Russia, United States, and United Kingdom) who would take decisions based on consensus.
The Russian ambassador said international law “falls to pieces when suspicions, and not confirmed evidence, become the queen of evidence.” He said countries continued to “confidently announce that chemical weapons are being used by Damascus; this despite the clear absurdity of such allegations, absence of evidence, and most importantly military and political motivations behind such actions by the Syrian authorities.”
Separately, Nebenzia called on the Security Council to hold a meeting tomorrow at 3 pm to discuss a letter sent by British Prime Minister Theresa May to his Government regarding the use of a nerve agent in the town of Salisbury.
Syrian Minister Counsellor Mounzer Mounzer said his Government had fully complied with the OPCW in dismantling its chemical weapons programme in a record time yet some members of the Council continue to use misinformation to carry out their political agendas to control the world and return it to the times of colonialism and guardianship. He said, “What is deplorable is the insistence of some governments to appoint themselves as guardians of the fates of people and protectors of law when in fact their political and colonial history reflect their repeated violation of the rights of these people.”
Mounzer said the main goal of these countries was to stop the advance of the Syrian army in the face of terrorists. He reaffirmed the Syrian Government’s commitment to its obligations under the chemical weapons ban treaty and to its fight against terrorism.
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