COTE D’IVOIRE / CHOI

UN special representative in Cote d'Ivoire Y. J. Choi says UN peacekeepers are crucial to preventing a possible resumption of civil war and that the mission "will not be threatened by direct attacks." ONUCI

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:28
• Production Date: 15 February 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OPERATIONS IN COTE D'IVOIRE - UNOCI
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; ELECTIONS
• Geographic Subject: COTE D'IVOIRE
• MAMS Id: U110215c

Description

STORY: COTE D’IVOIRE / CHOI
TRT: 3.28
SOURCE: ONUCI
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 FEBRUARY 2011, ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, arrival of the SRSG at airport
2. Wide shot, SRSG Choi saluting soldiers
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Y. J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d’Ivoire, United Nations:
“I just returned from New York, and of course our Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and all the members of the Security Council asked me to convey their sincere thanks and encouragement to our troops. So I came to share this feeling with our brave soldiers and policemen.”
4. Various shots, SRSG visits sick soldiers
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Y. J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d’Ivoire, United Nations:
“I am touched by their determination and their courage. We work in quite difficult circumstances, because if I remember correctly, this is the first time that the UN maintains a mission in a place where the de facto authority asks us to leave the country. We said no because we have to fulfil two important mandates. The first concerns the protection of civilians.”
6. Various shots, SRSG exchanging views with militaries
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Y. J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d’Ivoire, United Nations:
“The second important mandate is the protection of the Golf Hotel. Suppose that there is no protection and that our team is there, President Ouattara is obliged to go to Bouake, it would mean the division and even civil war in that country. To summarize, the protection of civilians, protection of the golf hotel and certification of election results are the three elements that constitute the moment, the heart of our mandate.”
8. Wide Shot, SRSG entering Golf Hotel
9. Wide Shot, SRSG sitting with President Dramane Ouattara
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Y. J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d’Ivoire, United Nations:
“True, there are some cases where our soldiers have been damaged but it also proves that we are here to protect civilians. Never as aggressors against the population. UNOCI and Soldiers are peacekeepers. So it is better to be harmed than harming.”
11. Various shots, military providing explanations to the SRSG
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Y. J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d’Ivoire, United Nations:
“Absolutely. We will not allow us to be threatened by direct attack. But for now they are no direct attacks, but rather the harassment, blockades, blockages here and there. But it always happens to send provisions to the Golf Hotel, Sebroko hotel. One week ago, we received a fairly substantial amount of fuel.”
13. Wide shot, SRSG saying goodbye to military
14. SOUNDBITE (French) Y. J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote D’Ivoire, United Nations:
“We will assist and do everything we can to find a peaceful solution. But the first responsibility is good for Ivorians, Ivorian politicians to find the solution. Over time, we will continue our work which involves the protection of civilians and the golf hotel and certification of election results.”
15. Wide shot, Choi and staff leaving

Storyline

The top United Nations (UN) envoy in Cote d’Ivoire said that UN peacekeepers where former president Laurent Gbagbo refuses to step down despite his electoral defeat, are crucial to preventing a possible resumption of civil war, and that the mission “will not be threatened by direct attacks.”

The Secretary–General’s Special Representative Y.J. Choi said that the mission works in difficult circumstances. This was the first time he said, that the UN maintained a mission in a place where the de facto authority asked the UN to leave the country. “We said no because we have to fulfil two important mandates, he said, “the first concerns the protection of civilians.”

The second important task, Choi said, was guarding the Golf Hotel, where the winner of November’s run-off election, opposition leader Alassane Ouattara and his Government were based due to Gbagbo’s refusal to vacate the presidential palace.

He said the mission will assist and do everything they can to find a peaceful solution.

The election, with its results certified by the UN, was meant to be the culminating point in reunifying the West African country, which was split by civil war in 2002 into a Government-controlled south ruled from Abidjan, the commercial capital, and a rebel-held north governed from the city of Bouaké.

Gbagbo has demanded the withdrawal of the 9,000-strong UNOCI. Not only has the UN refused this but the Security Council last month, in a unanimous resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for the use of force, authorized the immediate deployment of an additional 2,000 troops and three armed helicopters.