UN / NON PROLIFERATION WMD

British ambassador Karen Pierce said it was clear the world stood “on the cusp of a nightmare where weapons of mass destruction are used with impunity, where our citizens live in real fear of an indiscriminate attack at any time and without warning.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:09
• Production Date: 12 April 2018
• Asset Language: English; Russian
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
• Geographic Subject: RUSSIAN FEDERATION; SYRIA; UNITED KINGDOM
• MAMS Id: 2128155
• Parent Id: 2128155
• Alternate Title: unifeed180412b

Description

STORY: UN / NON PROLIFERATION WMD
TRT: 02:09
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 12 APRIL 2018, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior

12 APRIL 2018, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“These events, Mr. President, are awful enough, yet, in acts of unbelievable irresponsibility, those risks have been exacerbated by the use of weapons of mass destruction by state actors. The chemical weapons attacks in Douma, the attempted murders in Salisbury are the most recent incidences, but we also have the assassination of Kim Jong Nam in Malaysia and the horror of Khan Shaykhoun a little over a year ago.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“But it is clear that we stand on the cusp of a nightmare where weapons of mass destruction are used with impunity, where our citizens live in real fear of an indiscriminate attack an anytime and without warning. It is not enough just to condemn this. We need to find a way to take meaningful action and ensure that there are meaningful consequences for the perpetrators.”
6. Med shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vladimir Safronkov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“In light of the persistent activity of the Islamic State in Syria and the activities of other terrorist groups there, who have mastered the technology of chemical weapons production and are actively using this technology, the importance of cooperation to supress this heinous phenomenon of chemical terrorism only rises.”
8. Med shot, Chinese delegate
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vladimir Safronkov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“We are awaiting information from the investigation and responses to the questions we posed. I would not be mistake if I stressed that everything that was said was unsubstantiated and the same applies to Eastern Ghouta, which we hope will soon see civilian and peaceful life restored. OPCW experts are investigating allegations and assertions and we hope, we trust, that they will be allowed to do this.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

British ambassador Karen Pierce said it was clear the world stood “on the cusp of a nightmare where weapons of mass destruction are used with impunity, where our citizens live in real fear of an indiscriminate attack at any time and without warning.”

Speaking at a Security Council meeting today (12 Apr), Pierce said the use of chemical and biological weapons has become a routine part of fighting and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were being used by non-state actors. She added that Da’esh (ISIL) used mustard gas in Syria and Iraq multiple times and in Australia a terrorist chemical weapons attack was thwarted in July last year.

Pierce said these events are awful enough, “yet, in acts of unbelievable irresponsibility, those risks have been exacerbated by the use of weapons of mass destruction by state actors.” She added, “The chemical weapons attacks in Douma, the attempted murders in Salisbury are the most recent incidences, but we also have the assassination of Kim Jong Nam in Malaysia and the horror of Khan Shaykhoun a little over a year ago.”

The British ambassador stressed that the pattern of WMD use by state actors undermined efforts to deter and eradicate their use. She called on the Security Council to “find a way to take meaningful action and ensure that there are meaningful consequences for the perpetrators” who use WMD.

Russian ambassador Vladimir Safronkov said the fight against WMD was among the priorities of Russia and stressed that this required cooperation among all countries. He said the persistent activities of terrorist groups in Syria, “who have mastered the technology of chemical weapons production and are actively using this technology,” only highlights the importance of cooperation.

Safronkov said Russia was awaiting information from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) investigation and responses to the questions it had posed regarding the events in Salisbury. He added, “I would not be mistake if I stressed that everything that was said was unsubstantiated and the same applies to Eastern Ghouta, which we hope will soon see civilian and peaceful life restored; OPCW experts are investigating allegations and assertions and we hope, we trust, that they will be allowed to do this.”

The Security Council is expected to meet next week to discuss the finding of the OPCW investigation into the Salisbury attack after its findings are reported.