GA / SLOVAKIA CAPUTOVA

STORY: GA / SLOVAKIA CAPUTOVA
TRT: 03:02
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 SEPTEMBER 2023, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, exterior UN Headquarters
2. Wide shot, Slovakian President walking to the GA rostrum
3. Med shot, Slovakian delegation
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuzana Caputova, Slovak Republic, President:
“The time for talking, discussion and promises is over. This General Assembly must start with the ultimate purpose, for which the UN was founded: restoration of peace.”
5. Wide shot, Slovakian president speaking
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuzana Caputova, Slovak Republic, President:
“Last year, we recorded more conflict-related deaths in the world than in any year since 1994. Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia’s direct neighbour, has greatly contributed to this rise.”
7. Med shot, Russian delegation
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuzana Caputova, Slovak Republic, President:
“For more than 570 days, Russia’s forces have been killing innocent Ukrainiancivilians, kidnapping children and destroying towns and cities. They bomb infrastructure and ports that export Ukraine’s grain to those who need it in Bangladesh or Egypt.”
9. Wide shot, Slovakian president speaking
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuzana Caputova, Slovak Republic, President:
“Yes, we need a new Agenda for Peace, as the Secretary-General rightly said but first and foremost, we need action for peace from Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
11. Slovakian delegation
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuzana Caputova, Slovak Republic, President:
“We need to wake up. We are not battling an external threat. This is not a meteor heading for Earth. This is an existential crisis that we created – and we alone must solve.”
13. Wide shot, Slovakian President speaking
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuzana Caputova, Slovak Republic, President:
“Any technology must be used with one goal in mind: that of the dignity and rights of every individual. If not addressed, social media platforms, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies can act like steroids for the current crises. That is why we cannot postpone their democratic regulation.”
15. Med shot, Slovakian delegation applauding

STORYLINE:

The President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Caputova told delegates at the annual General Assembly Debate that the time for talking, discussions and promises “is over,” adding “this General Assembly must start with the ultimate purpose, for which the UN was founded: restoration of peace.”

Speaking today (20 Sep), Caputova noted that last year, “we recorded more conflict-related deaths in the world than in any year since 1994. Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia’s direct neighbour, has greatly contributed to this rise.”

For more than 570 days, she said, “Russia’s forces have been killing innocent Ukrainian civilians, kidnapping children and destroying towns and cities. They bomb infrastructure and ports that export Ukraine’s grain to those who need it in Bangladesh or Egypt.”

She added, “Yes, we need a new Agenda for Peace, as the Secretary-General rightly said but first and foremost, we need action for peace from Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

On climate change Caputova said, “We need to wake up. We are not battling an external threat. This is not a meteor heading for Earth. This is an existential crisis that we created – and we alone must solve.”

Regarding new technologies, the Slovakian president said, “any technology must be used with one goal in mind: that of the dignity and rights of every individual.”

In that sense, she added, “If not addressed, social media platforms, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies can act like steroids for the current crises. That is why we cannot postpone their democratic regulation.”