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UN / SYRIA JIM
STORY: UN / SYRIA JIM
TRT: 02:51
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS
DATELINE: 17 NOVEMBER 2017, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
17 NOVEMBER 2017, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Pan right, Security Council voting
4. Med shot, Russian ambassador
5. Wide shot, Security Council
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“Russia’s veto – its second in 24 hours – shows us that Russia has no interest in finding common ground with the rest of this Council to save the JIM. Russia will not agree to any mechanism that might shine a spotlight on the use of chemical weapons by its ally, the Syrian regime. It’s as simple and shameful as that.”
7. Med shot, Russian ambassador
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“I invite my colleagues to examine the two resolutions side-by-side: the language in the resolution just vetoed by our Russian friends was virtually the same as the text in their own resolution. And still they saw fit to waste our time. Russia’s actions – today and in recent weeks – have been designed to delay, to distract, and ultimately to defeat the effort to secure accountability for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.”
9. Wide shot, Security Council
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“Any extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism’s mandate for us is possible only provided that fundamental flaws in its work be rectified after the leadership of the mechanism disgraced itself with its fictitious investigation into the episode of sarin use in Khan Shaykhoun and signed its name on baseless accusations against Syria. I am not certain that those who so vehemently condemn Russia today even read the report itself or our comments on the report.”
11. Wide shot, Security Council
12. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“The American delegation is tabling a draft resolution which essentially presents Syria with an ultimatum. What are you looking to achieve? The destruction of the fruit of unprecedented collective labour on the chemical de-militarization of this country, where Russia and the United States stood at the origin? Are you considering the consequences of your steps in New York and The Hague for the political settlement of the situation in Syria? What is taking place in the Security Council in New York and what you thought up in The Hague are but links in one chain.”
13. Wide shot, Security Council
United States ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia’s second veto in 24 hours “shows us that Russia has no interest in finding common ground with the rest of this Council to save” the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) on the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Russia tonight (17 Nov) vetoed a draft resolution presented by Japan which would have allowed for a technical extension of the JIM’s mandate for a period of 30 days to allow further discussions among Council members on the Mechanism’s fate. The Japanese draft called on the Secretary-General to make proposal on the structure and methodology of the JIM based on recommendations from Council members. The draft received 12 votes in favour and two against, Russia and Bolivia, while China abstained.
Speaking at the Council after the vote, Haley said Russia would not agree “to any mechanism that might shine a spotlight on the use of chemical weapons by its ally, the Syrian regime; it’s as simple and shameful as that.” Haley said the Japanese draft included a provision that is virtually identical to the Russian draft calling on the Secretary-General to solicit recommendations from Council members to strengthen the JIM.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“I invite my colleagues to examine the two resolutions side-by-side: the language in the resolution just vetoed by our Russian friends was virtually the same as the text in their own resolution. And still they saw fit to waste our time. Russia’s actions – today and in recent weeks – have been designed to delay, to distract, and ultimately to defeat the effort to secure accountability for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.”
Haley apologised to the families of the victims of chemical weapons in Syria and to the Syrian children, women, and men who may be victims of future attacks for the Council’s failure to adopt a resolution, adding that the United States will not give up on seeking justice for the victims.
Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said his delegation participated seriously in all consultation to renew the JIM and attempts to portray things otherwise are nothing but deliberate misinformation. He said Russia could not support a brief technical extension of the JIM’s mandate and that his delegation had informed Council members of this prior to the vote. He added that everyone in the Council’s chamber is aware the JIM is wrapping up its work tonight and as such the vote had nothing to do with the fate of the Mechanism.
SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“Any extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism’s mandate for us is possible only provided that fundamental flaws in its work be rectified after the leadership of the mechanism disgraced itself with its fictitious investigation into the episode of sarin use in Khan Shaykhoun and signed its name on baseless accusations against Syria. I am not certain that those who so vehemently condemn Russia today even read the report itself or our comments on the report.”
Nebenzya said the Japanese draft places an impossible challenge before the Secretary-General to make proposals reflecting the views of Council members which are diametrically in opposition. The Russian ambassador said he was dismayed by the US’s draft resolution at Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague “which essentially presents Syria with an ultimatum.” He asked the US ambassador, “What are you looking to achieve? The destruction of the fruit of unprecedented collective labour on the chemical de-militarization of this country, where Russia and the United States stood at the origin? Are you considering the consequences of your steps in New York and The Hague for the political settlement of the situation in Syria?” Nebenzya said the US’s actions in New York and The Hague are “but links in one chain.”
The Russian ambassador said his country is being accused of having shut down the JIM, but reminded Council members that three Permanent Members had voted against a draft resolution to renew its mandate. He said the resolution, submitted by Russia, China, and Bolivia, was a good opportunity to give the Mechanism another chance making it stronger and more robust, but it was effectively vetoed by the three members – United States, United Kingdom, and France. He said this was a deliberate choice by the members to exert pressure on Syria and engage in confrontation with Russia.
Yesterday the Council voted on two draft resolutions to renew the mandate of the JIM. The US draft was vetoed by Russia after receiving eleven votes in favour, while the Russian draft failed to receive the required number of votes with four votes in favour, seven against, and four abstentions. The JIM’s mandate is set to end at midnight tonight.
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