UN / UNDOF PEACEKEEPERS

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the detention of 43 UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) by armed elements of the opposition in the vicinity of Al Qunaytirah, in the area of separation in the Golan and called for their immediate release. UNIFEED- UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:16
• Production Date: 28 August 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE - UNDOF
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 1156400

Description

STORY: UN / UNDOF PEACEKEEPERS
TRT: 2.16
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 28 AUGUST 2014, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior of the United Nations Headquarters

28 AUGUST, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric walks up to the podium
3. Wide shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General:
"A period of increased fighting began yesterday between armed elements and the Syrian Arab Armed Forces within the area of separation in the Golan Heights. There are 43 Fijian troops from Position 27 who are being detained in the vicinity of Al Qunaytirah. Our understanding is that they are now in the southern part of the Area of Separation. There are a further 81 troops from the Philippines who are having their movements restricted at Positions 68 and 69 in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah."
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General:
"The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers, and to restore full freedom of movement of the Force throughout its area of operation. UNDOF peacekeepers, as you will remember, were previously detained by armed elements in March and May of 2013 and were then released safely."
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General:
"There are contacts being held at different levels, on the mission and on the ground. They are talking to representatives of various armed groups that they have contact, operational contact, with. They are talking to countries in the region, and here at Headquarters obviously we are in touch with various permanent missions. Right now there are trying to establish the best contact possible to ensure that the freedom of movement of the peacekeepers is resumed as quickly as possible."
8. Med shot, journalists
SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General:
"We would expect that all the countries bordering the UNDOF area would support the UN and would help facilitate the return of the peacekeepers that are being detained and would insure the safety of the mission as a whole."
8. Med shot, journalists
Wide shot, Dujarric at the podium

Storyline

The members of the Security Council today (28 August) strongly condemned the detention of 43 UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) by armed elements of the opposition in the vicinity of Al Qunaytirah, in the area of separation in the Golan and called for their immediate release.

The Spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Stephane Dujarric, during the daily noon briefing told reporters that during “a period of increased fighting” yesterday between the Syrian Arab Armed Forces and armed opposition elements within the area of separation in the Golan Heights, 43 Fijian troops had bee detained in the vicinity of Al Qunaytirah.
Dujarric said “our understanding is that they are now in the southern part of the Area of Separation” and added that a further 81 troops from the Philippines “are having their movements restricted at Positions 68 and 69 in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah."

The Spokesperson said "the United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers, and to restore full freedom of movement of the Force throughout its area of operation."

He said “there are contacts being held at different levels,” including with “representatives of various armed groups” in order to “ensure that the freedom of movement of the peacekeepers is resumed as quickly as possible."

Dujarric said "we would expect that all the countries bordering the UNDOF area would support the UN and would help facilitate the return of the peacekeepers that are being detained and would insure the safety of the mission as a whole."
The Secretary-General, in statement, strongly condemned the detention of the UNDOF peacekeepers and called for their immediate release.

He reminded all actors that UNDOF is mandated to monitor the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria, calling on all parties to respect UNDOF’s freedom of movement and safety and security.

Peacekeepers serving with UNDOF monitor the 1974 disengagement accord between Syria and Israel after the 1973 war. In June, the Security Council extended the mission's mandate for another six months, until 31 December 2014. There are 1,223 peacekeepers serving in UNDOF from six countries - Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines.