UN / LADSOUS

At his first press conference as the head of UN Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous talked about the need to reduce the number of peacekeepers in Haiti "to pre-earthquake surge levels." He asserted that there should be no link between the cut backs and the recent reports of peacekeeper misconduct in the country. UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:22
• Production Date: 13 October 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; DISARMAMENT; DECOLONIZATION; TRUST TERRITORIES; APARTHEID
• MAMS Id: U111013d

Description

STORY: UN / LADSOUS
TRT: 02:22
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 13 OCTOBER 2011, UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT - UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

1. Wide shot, exterior UN headquarters

13 OCTOBER 2011, UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, press conference room
3. Cutaway, press
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General, Peacekeeping Operations:
“It’s true that we have to cut back wherever we can for instance we are looking in the case of Haiti at coming back to pre-earthquake surge levels and other missions as thing go. Of course, wherever we can we’ll try and reduce the numbers and therefore the cost.”
5. Cutaway, press
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General, Peacekeeping Operations:
“In general, I think there is a desire from the government of Haiti to retain MINUSTAH and this is shared by 60 percent of the population of Haiti. There was a opinion survey done and people think that MINUSTAH is an important element to give them a sense of security at this stage because the Haitian National Police is being developed, it’s being trained but it’s only I believe 4,000 operational policemen when probably four to five times that would be necessary.”
7. Cutaway, press
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General, Peacekeeping Operations:
“There is no link to that those absolutely dreadful event that took place two months ago which are being handled by the way. The Uruguayan authorities are following up to the maximum but in terms of military criminal procedures and in terms of civilian criminal procedures. So that is to be noted. That was totally neither here nor there. You know we have a policy of zero tolerance and that is something I’ll strive to enforce but you cannot link that terrible incident with the overall perspective of the mission in Haiti.”
9. Cutaway, press
10. Wide shot, end of press conference

Storyline

The United Nations (UN) head of peacekeeping operations Hervé Ladsous held his first press conference today (13 Oct) discussing the future of the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Speaking to reporters, he said that the strength of the mission is expected to be reduced to “pre-earthquake surge levels” in an effort to reduce overall peacekeeping numbers “and therefore the cost.”

The Security Council will meet tomorrow to vote on the extension of MINUSTAH. As of August this year, there are more than 12,000 troops serving in the mission compared to approximately 9,000 at the end of 2009.

When asked if the decision to cut back relates to recent reports linking peacekeepers to the cholera outbreak and alleged sexual abuse, Ladsous asserted that “there is no link to the absolutely dreadful event that took place two months ago.”

He was specifically referring to the recent alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old Haitian man by Uruguayan members of MINUSTAH.

He added that “the Uruguayan authorities are following up to the maximum in terms of military criminal procedures and in terms of civilian criminal procedures.”

Last month Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had sent a team to Haiti to enforce the UN’s zero-tolerance policy on misconduct by its personnel. According to the agreements between the UN and the troop-contributing countries to peacekeeping missions, it is up to the authorities of those countries to shed light on such allegations.

Despite media reports on protests against MINUSTAH following both the cholera outbreak and sexual assault, Ladsous said that according to a recent public opinion survey “60 percent of the population of Haiti” as well as its government want “to retain MINUSTAH.”

Ladsous, who replaced another French national Alain Le Roy, was appointed by Ban in the beginning of September. He has held a broad range of positions France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1971.