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UN / BAN
STORY: UN / BAN
TRT: 2.30
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 14 JUNE 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
14 JUNE 2013, NEW YORK CITY
2. Pan right, Secretary-General’s arrival
3. Close up, camera
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
“Providing arms to either side would not address this current situation. There is no such military solution. Only a political solution can address this issue sustainably. Therefore stemming this flow of arms into either side would not be helpful. We are still working very hard with the concerned parties to facilitate this US – Russia initiative to have a peace conference, Geneva 2 conference, in Geneva as soon as possible.”
5. Close up, reporter’s notepad and microphone
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
“Each day brings new depth of despair and sectarian polarization. Every week the pace of killing grows more ferocious. Our latest estimate is that 93,000 people have died in just over two years and there are indications that the numbers could be well above that. I have of course read the statement issued by the United States on the question of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Let me also confirm that a letter from the US authorities has just been received by my office.”
7. Close up, camera
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
“The validity of any information on the alleged use of chemical weapons can not be insured without convincing evidence of the chain of custody. That is why I continue to emphasize the need for an investigation on the ground in Syria that can collect its own samples and establish the facts. Our goal remains a fully independent and impartial inquiry. I have complete faith in the integrity and professionalism of Dr. Sellström, and his team. The use of chemical weapons by any party would be a crime against humanity.”
9. Close up, reporter’s notepad and microphone
10. Pan right, the Secretary-General leaves the podium
Following a statement from the United States Government declaring that Syria has used chemical weapons and that the US will provide direct aid the rebels, Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon said today (14 June) that “providing arms to either side would not address this current situation.”
The Secretary-General reiterated that “there is no such military solution” and “only a political solution can address this issue sustainably.”
He told reporters that the UN is “still working very hard” to facilitate the US – Russia initiative to hold a peace conference in Geneva “as soon as possible.”
Ban acknowledged having read the statement as well as receiving a letter from the US government on the issue of Syria’s use of chemical weapons.
He said “each day brings new depth of despair and sectarian polarization” and “every week the pace of killing grows more ferocious.”
According to the UN’s latest figures 93,000 people have died in just over two years and Ban said “there are indications that the numbers could be well above that.”
Ban stressed “the validity of any information on the alleged use of chemical weapons can not be insured without convincing evidence of the chain of custody.”
He emphasized the need for an investigation on the ground in Syria “that can collect its own samples and establish the facts” and expressed confidence for the work of Ake Sellström, Head of the UN fact-finding mission to probe the reported use of chemical weapons northern Syria and his team.
He underscored that “the use of chemical weapons by any party would be a crime against humanity.”
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