UN / SOUTH AFRICA SANGQU

Wrapping up South Africa's Security Council Presidency for the month of January, Ambassador Baso Sangqu underlined support for the work of regional organizations in Africa and the Middle East, particularly regarding the situation in Syria. "We condemn the violence that is taking place from all sides, he said, "would want to see a Syrian-led political solution" to the conflict in Syria. UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:49
• Production Date: 31 January 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL AFFAIRS; LAW; INTERNATIONAL LAW; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: LIBYA; SYRIA; SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U120131f

Description

STORY: UN / SOUTH AFRICA SANGQU
TRT: 2.49
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 31 JANUARY 2012, NEW YORK

Shotlist

RECENT 2011, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

31 JANUARY 2012, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of January at press conference:
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations:
“The AU has a role to play in contributing to the resolution of those conflicts, whether we’re taking about Somalia, talking about Sudan, talking about Libya, Côte d’Ivoire. And the President made it clear that our experience over the last year in 2011 was not encouraging. Hence we sponsored this thematic debate. We saw a situation where the relations between the two bodies were strained, where the contributions the AU wanted to make were sidelined, and we believe that this gave us the opportunity to press a ‘restart’ button, if you wish, and promote greater engagement.”
4. Cutaway, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations:
“We were denied this engagement when we dealt with the situation in Libya. The AU came here and we could not even, you know, agree on… on moving forward in terms of the PRST. We still maintain that our, our – that the road map of the AU was undermined. But, um, the concept of, the proposition of Security Council having greater engagement sc with regional organizations is something must be welcome and that we will support. And hence we are looking to this meeting in the afternoon.”
6. Cutaway, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations:
“We condemn what’s going on in Syria. We condemn the violence that is taking place from all sides. We would, um, want to see a Syrian-led political solution to the, to the conflict in Syria. We, uh, um, support the efforts uh, of the regional organizations.”
8. Cutaway, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations:
“There are differences in the Council, but, um, there’s negotiations ongoing on the Syrian draft resolutions. And the process is going on. So we can’t prejudge what will be the outcome of that process.”
10. Cutaway, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations:
“Of course, the Security Council is concerned and it has clearly indicated this about the humanitarian situation that’s happening in Jonglei and that to what extent, to whatever extent that UNMISS, with double ‘s,’ can play a role working with the government of South Sudan and more coordination, more presence on the ground, more force multipliers, that will be, that will be a positive contribution.
12. Cutaway, journalist
13. Wide shot, South African delegation standing up at the end of the press conference

Storyline

Wrapping up South Africa's Security Council Presidency for the month of January, Baso Sangqu, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, highlighted the 15-member body’s recent programme of work today (31 Jan) during an end-of-term press conference.

Recalling the thematic debate on cooperation between the Council and regional organizations that was chaired by South African President Jacob Zuma on 12 January, he said his Government had been concerned that the AU (African Union)had been “sidelined” in 2011.

He emphasized that the thematic debate, which resulted in the adoption of resolution 2033, provided “the opportunity to press a ‘restart’ button, if you wish, and promote greater engagement,” between the Security Council and AU and other regional organizations.

Turning to the briefing and debate on the situation in Syria, he welcomed the Council’s engagement on the issue, but drew a distinction between its current approach and the one it adopted last year regarding Libya.

The AU had at the time been “denied this engagement when we dealt with the situation in Libya” and its proposed road map was “undermined,” he said.

Condemning the situation in Syria, and “the violence that is taking place from all sides,” he called for a Syrian-led political solution and voiced support for the efforts of the Arab League.

He acknowledged differences in the Council regarding its course of action on Syria, but, pointing to ongoing negotiations, urged all parties not to prejudge the outcome of those talks.

Fielding a question on the rising violence among ethnic groups in South Sudan, he stressed that the Council’s concern about the humanitarian situation unfolding in Jonglei and noted the positive contribution the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan by providing, in conjunction with the government of South Sudan, “more coordination, more presence on the ground, more force multipliers.”