UN / BAN KI-MOON

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the decision to remove the Saudi-led coalition from the blacklist of children’s rights abusers was “one of the most painful and difficult decisions” he has had to make. Ban said he had to “consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would de-fund many UN programmes.” UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:00
• Production Date: 9 June 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: BAN KI-MOON
• Subject Topical: CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS; PEACE AND SECURITY; SYRIA SITUATION
• Geographic Subject: SAUDI ARABIA; SOUTH SUDAN; SYRIA; YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 1639953
• Parent Id: 1639953
• Alternate Title: unifeed160609a

Description

STORY: UN / BAN KI-MOON
TRT: 03:01
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 09 JUNE 2016, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UNHQ

09 JUNE 2016, NEW YORK CITY

2. Pan left, Secretary-General approaching stakeout
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“This was one of the most painful and difficult decisions I have had to make. The report describes horrors no child should have to face. At the same time, I also had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would de-fund many UN programmes.”
4. Wide shot, Secretary-General
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“It is unacceptable for Member States to exert undue pressure. Scrutiny is a natural and necessary part of the work of the United Nations. I stand by the report. We will assess the complaints that have been made, but the content will not change.”
6. Wide shot, Secretary-General
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Because of this you cannot burn down the whole house. I’m the chief administrative officer of this organization. I have to take care of and consider so many crises happening at the same time. While it was quite painful for me, I accept all the criticism. That is due criticism. The impression was not a good one as I understand. But despite all these kind of things, I had to make a decision just to keep all United Nations operations, particularly humanitarian operations continuing.”
8. Wide shot, Secretary-General
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The time is not yet mature for a third round of talks. We don’t want to have talks for the sake of talks. At the same time, I want to underline the great urgency of the deadline of early August set by the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG). We have to have at least the beginnings of a serious agreement by then.”
10. Wide shot, Secretary-General
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“They have established this transitional government of unity. That’s fine. Now they should go beyond their personal or whatever differences or perspectives maybe; go beyond that. Work for the country. There are so many people; millions of people have been suffering still.”
13. Zoom out, Secretary-General leaving stakeout

Storyline

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the decision to remove the Saudi-led coalition from the blacklist of children’s rights abusers was “one of the most painful and difficult decisions” he has had to make. Ban said he had to “consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would de-fund many UN programmes.”

Speaking to reporters today (9 Jun) in New York, the Secretary General said children in Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and so many other places would fall further into despair if he did not make the decision to remove the collation fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen from the list. He said "scrutiny is a natural and necessary part of the work of the United Nations. I stand by the report. We will assess the complaints that have been made, but the content will not change.”

On Syria, Ban said the time was “not yet mature for a third round of talks” adding, “we don’t want to have talks for the sake of talks.” He however underlined the early-August deadline set by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to at least reach the beginnings of a serious agreement. He added that without a political horizon and discussions on the transition, further military escalation was all too likely.

Asked on the situation in South Sudan said the priority now is that President Salva Kir and Vice President Machar work together as leaders of the country. Ban said after establishing a transitional government of unity the two should now “go beyond their personal or whatever differences or perspectives” and work for the country as millions of people still suffer.