UN / YEMEN

The Special Envoy for Yemen told Security Council members trust between warring factions in Yemen “remains weak” and that deep divisions continue to hamper efforts to maintain the cessation of hostilities in the embattled country. UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:03
• Production Date: 22 December 2015
• Asset Language: Arabic; English
• Personal Subject: ZEID RA'AD AL HUSSEIN
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 1537435
• Parent Id: 1537435
• Alternate Title: unifeed151222b

Description

STORY: UN / YEMEN
TRT: 02:03
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 DECEMBER 2015, UNITED NATIONS / RECENT, NEW YORK CITY, USA

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY, USA

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

22 DECEMBER 2015, UNITED NATIONS

2. Wide shot, Security Council briefing on Yemen progress
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for Yemen:
“Tragically we were not able to preserve the cessation of hostilities throughout the length of the talks, although we did see a significant reduction of violence. In the first days there were numerous violations reported by the Committee. The lack of compliance with the cessation of hostilities demonstrates the need for stronger agreements as well as for more robust mechanisms to ensure adherence.”
4. Med shot, Security Council session in progress
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for Yemen:
“This framework provides the foundation for a new political consensus with special security measures which will help Yemen achieve stability and enable to confront the expansion of terrorist groups. The talks revealed deep divisions between the two sides on the path to peace and the shape of a future agreement. Trust between the parties remains weak.”
6. Med shot, Security Council session in progress
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled Hussein Mohamed Alyemany, Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations:
“We will spare no efforts to eliminate the manifestations of the butchers (warring parties) and the restoration of the legitimacy to pursue the dream of all Yemenis of establishing a democratic federal Yemen in accordance with the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) initiative and the outcomes of the national dialogue.”
8. Med shot, Security Council session in progress
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Madam President unless Yemen and the world urgently rise to meet the extraordinary challenges presented by the situation the consequences could be ever more catastrophic. To that end I urgently call upon the Council to expedite and intensify diplomatic efforts to bring about a ceasefire and help create a framework for negotiating comprehensive and sustainable peace in Yemen.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council session in progress

Storyline

The Special Envoy for Yemen told Security Council members today (22 Dec) trust between warring factions in Yemen “remains weak” and that deep divisions continue to hamper efforts to maintain the cessation of hostilities in the embattled country.

Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed made the comment during a briefing in New York, following the last round of peace talks in Switzerland between the Yemen government and a joint delegation of Houthis and the General People’s Congress.

“Tragically we were not able to preserve the cessation of hostilities throughout the length of the talks, although we did see a significant reduction of violence. In the first days there were numerous violations reported by the Committee. The lack of compliance with the cessation of hostilities demonstrates the need for stronger agreements as well as for more robust mechanisms to ensure adherence,” Ahmed told dignitaries.

The Special Envoy said that while a new framework was in place to provide new political consensus and special security measures to help Yemen achieve stability, “the talks revealed deep divisions between the two sides on the path to peace and the shape of a future agreement. Trust between the parties remains weak.”

Khaled Hussein Mohamed Alyemany, the Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations, reassured members of his government’s commitment to Security Council resolutions. He also stressed his country “will spare no efforts to eliminate the manifestations of the butchers (warring parties) and the restoration of the legitimacy to pursue the dream of all Yemenis of establishing a democratic federal Yemen.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed his concerns on the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned the Security Council, “unless Yemen and the world urgently rise to meet the extraordinary challenges presented by the situation the consequences could be ever more catastrophic. To that end I urgently call upon the Council to expedite and intensify diplomatic efforts to bring about a ceasefire and help create a framework for negotiating comprehensive and sustainable peace in Yemen.”