UN / YEMEN

STORY: UN / YEMEN
TRT: 2:25
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 25 FEBRUARY 2020, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior

25 FEBRUARY 2020, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Wide shot, Yemeni ambassador joining meeting
4. Pan left, Security Council voting in favour of resolution
5. Med shot, Russian ambassador abstaining from vote
6. Med shot, Chinese ambassador
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“There is a risk that the veto becomes simply a negotiating tactic if countries are going to engage in negotiation with us in detail and then not support the text. Then that is my mind is sharp practice. There is a risk to the Security Council in that sort of behaviour. There is a risk it can’t step up to its responsibilities.”
8. Wide shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodney Hunter, Political Coordinator at the United States Mission to the United Nations:
“The Houthis did not just conjure up the ability to launch advanced weapons hundreds of kilometres into Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring states. Iran has smuggled these weapons to the Houthis, and in the process, Iran has violated this Council’s targeted arms embargo on the Houthis, as well as the Council’s arms embargo on Iran.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“We once again emphasise the need for the consolidation of the international community’s efforts to achieve overall stabilization in the region. There is a need to focus not on isolation, not on pressure, not on seeking to pin blame on parties, but rather meaningfully seeking ways to resolve crises.”
12. Wide shot, delegates
13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission for the Republic of Yemen to the United Nations:
“Mr. President, the Yemeni Government condemns all Houthi violations and practices which conflict with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including that which is endured by Yemeni women; including arrest, detention, looting, sexual violence, violence, torture, and facilitating rape in detention centres in the areas under the control of those militias. It calls for holding those who committed these violations accountable and bringing them to justice.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council

STORYLINE:

The UN Security Council today (25 Feb) adopted a resolution renewing the sanctions regime in Yemen and condemning violations of international law, including those involving conflict-related sexual violence in Houthi-controlled areas and the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict across the country.

Resolution 2511 received 13 votes in favour, with Russia and China abstaining from the vote. Following the vote, British ambassador Karen Pierce - whose country presented the resolution – said she was pleased to see the resolution pass but expressed her deep disappointment that the two Security Council members abstained, despite extensive negotiation today.

SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“There is a risk that the veto becomes simply a negotiating tactic if countries are going to engage in negotiation with us in detail and then not support the text. Then that is my mind is sharp practice. There is a risk to the Security Council in that sort of behaviour. There is a risk it can’t step up to its responsibilities.”

Rodney Hunter, Political Coordinator at the United States Mission to the UN, said his country voted in favour of the resolution to extend the Council’s sanctions against the Houthis and others responsible for the conflict in Yemen. He said all countries are obligated to implement the sanctions regime but stressed that Iran continued to defy this obligation.

SOUNDBITE (English) Rodney Hunter, Political Coordinator at the United States Mission to the United Nations:
“The Houthis did not just conjure up the ability to launch advanced weapons hundreds of kilometres into Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring states. Iran has smuggled these weapons to the Houthis, and in the process, Iran has violated this Council’s targeted arms embargo on the Houthis, as well as the Council’s arms embargo on Iran.”

Hunter said Iran did not only continue supplying weapons to the Houthis but was also increasing the sophistication of these weapons. He said Iranian weapons are deeply undermining the prospects for peace in Yemen.

Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said his country was not in a position to support the British draft as not all its concerns were taken into account. He said many contentious issues were incorporated into the draft adding that many delegations did not have the opportunity to work on a balanced text.

SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“We once again emphasise the need for the consolidation of the international community’s efforts to achieve overall stabilization in the region. There is a need to focus not on isolation, not on pressure, not on seeking to pin blame on parties, but rather meaningfully seeking ways to resolve crises.”

Yemeni ambassador Abdullah Al-Saadi welcomed the adoption of the resolution adding that violations by the Houthi militias were not new. He said, “The Yemeni Government condemns all Houthi violations and practices which conflict with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including that which is endured by Yemeni women; including arrest, detention, looting, sexual violence, violence, torture, and facilitating rape in detention centres in the areas under the control of those militias. It calls for holding those who committed these violations accountable and bringing them to justice.”

Resolution 2511 also emphasised the environmental risks posed by the Safer oil tanker, which is located in the Houthi-controlled North of Yemen, and the need for access of UN officials to inspect and maintain the tanker without delay.