Unifeed

UN / UNDOF PEACEKEEPERS

Commenting on the 45 Fijian peacekeepers detained by an armed group in the Golan, the UN top peacekeeping official said “what we demand is the immediate and safe and unconditional release of these peacekeepers.” UNIFEED-UNTV
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00:03:10
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MAMS Id
1159097
Description

STORY: UN / UNDOF PEACEKEEPERS
TRT: 03:10
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 3 SEPTEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

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Shotlist

RECENT – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

3 SEPTEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, presser
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“I have to tell you, we still have 45 peacekeepers from Fiji who are still detained. I can give you no details –as you would understand- because in these matters the situation is of course something one should abide with, but clearly it is our goal and in that we are supported by the Security Council –yet again today-. What we demand is the immediate and safe and unconditional release of these peacekeepers.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“They were never under such specific orders. You would realize that the situation on the ground is a fast-moving one. There is time for decisive action that was in particular the decision to engage a quick reaction force to extract people. Then there are times when other considerations including about the safety of the people come in; and then you have to possibly refrain from proactive stands –that means some shooting back really- because that might put other people in danger. It’s a matter of judgment. But, I would say again than General Singha has exercise good sound judgment all along that process.”
6. Med shot, cameramen
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“One of the problems is that it is not just one group. It’s at least seven or maybe more and we know the geography of these particular groups is not something that we have very clear indications upon. So, yes indeed it’s one of the main challenges that we are there –you know- to observe, monitor cessation of hostilities agreement and some people actually want to kidnap our peacekeepers. They have done so –remember last year-, attack us –you know- and that, of course, is absolutely unacceptable, and I think this is a point that the Security Council is making in the clearest way.”
8. Wide shot, US ambassador walks to the stakeout position

RECENT – NEW YORK CITY

Close up, camera

3 SEPTEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The members of the Security Council again condemned in the strongest terms the detention of 45 Fijian peacekeepers by a Security Council-designated terrorist organization. They reiterated their call for the peacekeepers’ immediate and unconditional release. There can never be any justification for attacks on or the detention of UN peacekeepers.”

RECENT – NEW YORK CITY

10. Close up, notepad

3 SEPTEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

11. Wide shot, US ambassador walks away

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Storyline

Commenting on the 45 Fijian peacekeepers detained by an armed group in the Golan, the UN top peacekeeping official said “what we demand is the immediate and safe and unconditional release of these peacekeepers.”

The peacekeepers are serving with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), deployed to monitor the 1974 accord between Syria and Israel after the 1973 war.

The peacekeepers were detained last week as fighting intensified between armed rebels and Syrian government forces in the Golan.

Speaking to reporters in New York, Hervé Ladsous pointed out the Security Council’s support reiterated today (3 Sept).

He went on to commend the performance of the peacekeepers and especially the UNDOF Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha. Responding to questions regarding the reported tender of resignation of another ranking Filipino UNDOF military official, Ladsous said it was important to recognize that all the detained Filipino troops had either escaped or been recovered during the operation launched by the Quick Reaction Force.

Asked about if the peacekeepers were under orders not to resist, he said “they were never under such specific orders. You would realize that the situation on the ground is a fast-moving one. There is time for decisive action that was in particular the decision to engage a quick reaction force to extract people. Then there are times when other considerations including about the safety of the people come in; and then you have to possibly refrain from proactive stands –that means some shooting back really- because that might put other people in danger.”

Ladsous stressed “it’s a matter of judgment. But, I would say again than General Singha has exercised good sound judgment all along that process.”

He also pointed out that one of the problems is that it is not just one group.

He said “it’s at least seven or maybe more and we know the geography of these particular groups is not something that we have very clear indications upon. So, yes indeed it’s one of the main challenges that we are there –you know- to observe, monitor cessation of hostilities agreement and some people actually want to kidnap our peacekeepers. They have done so –remember last year-, attack us –you know- and that, of course, is absolutely unacceptable, and I think this is a point that the Security Council is making in the clearest way.”

Earlier today, reading an agreed statement to the press, US ambassador Samantha Power, who holds the Council's rotating presidency of this month, said the members of the UN body again condemned in the strongest terms the detention of 45 Fijian peacekeepers by a Security Council-designated terrorist organization.

She said “they reiterated their call for the peacekeepers' immediate and unconditional release. There can never be any justification for the attacks on or the detention of UN peacekeepers."

Ambassador Samantha Power said the Security Council welcomes the news that all Filipino peacekeepers who had been under siege in the Golan are now safe.

The members of the Security Council also reaffirmed their unconditional support for UNDOF and the vital role it plays in support of stability in the Golan.

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