UN / SYRIA KAAG WRAP

In an interview following her briefing to the Security Council, the Special Coordinator of the OPCW-UN Mission Sigrid Kaag said “there was no reason to assume” that the deadline for the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme would not be met, however, she underlined that security was still a “grave concern”. UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:09
• Production Date: 8 January 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS - OPCW
• Subject Topical: CHEMICAL WEAPONS; SECURITY COUNCIL
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: U140108a

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA KAAG WRAP
TRT: 2:09
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 08 JANUARY 2014, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE, RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior shot, United Nations Headquarters

08 JANUARY 2014, NEW YORK CITY

2. Zoom out, pan right Sigrid Kaag walking to the Security Council.
3. Close up, Security Council sign
4. Med shot, Sigrid Kaag in UN Radio studio
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the OPCW-United Nations Joint Mission:
“The deadline is overall in target and based on the current availability of material, preparation, training, maritime efforts, the international assistance; I think all things being equal. As I said, security conditions of course always being a grave concern for the authorities, but also for the Joint Mission, for ourselves. There is no reason to assume the deadline will not be met.”
6. Close up, UN Radio sign
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the OPCW-United Nations Joint Mission:
“The chemicals that are leaving Syria or that are destined to leave Syria will be destroyed outside of the country. Either on board the US vessel, specifically equipped for this purpose, or other types of chemicals will be sent to companies in countries that have successfully tendered for that. It is a commercial destruction process”.
8. Med shot, pan left, Sigrid Kaag walking to stakeout position
9. Wide shot, Security Council stakeout
10. Med shot, cameras
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the OPCW-United Nations Joint Mission:
“It is an unprecedented effort. It is noble under very sad circumstances, and that always needs to be remembered, very challenging in-country situation. Security is a big factor in all that takes place. Security is a big consideration for the Syrian Arabic Republic. It is under its authority and accountability that this operation needs to be conducted and it wants to take due care that all elements are in place. However, security when it comes to access the sites, getting caught in cross-fire, direct fire and indirect fire is a concern of course for the Joint Mission, myself as head of Mission, it is also a concern for the authorities that are responsible for safe of Joint Mission personnel”.
12. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

In an interview following her briefing to the Security Council, the Special Coordinator of the OPCW-UN Mission Sigrid Kaag said that "there was no reason to assume" that the deadline for the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme would not be met, however, she underlined that security was still a “grave concern”.

Speaking to UN Radio, Kaag said that “the deadline is overall in target” based on the current availability of material, preparation, training, maritime efforts, and the international assistance

She explained that “the chemicals that are leaving Syria or that are destined to leave Syria will be destroyed outside of the country either on board the US vessel, specifically equipped for this purpose”, or “will be sent to companies in countries that have successfully tendered for that”, adding that “it is a commercial destruction process”.

Earlier today, speaking to the press outside the Security Council, the Special Coordinator of the OPCW-UN Mission said that this mission “is an unprecedented effort” and that the Security Council expects that there will be no delay beyond the end-of-June deadline for the total removal of all such material.

She underlined that “security is a big consideration for the Syrian Arabic Republic”, and said that “it is under its authority and accountability that this operation needs to be conducted”.

The removal of the most critical material for destruction began yesterday (7 Jan), a week after the deadline for its completion set by an agreement brokered by Russia and the United States under which Syria renounced its chemical weapons material and joined 1992 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons.
She said that this was a very important moment because “it’s the first important step in an expected process of continued movement for the onward destruction out of country”.

In relation to access the sites, Kaag said “getting caught in cross-fire, direct fire and indirect fire is a concern of course for the Joint Mission, myself as head of Mission, it is also a concern for the authorities that are responsible for safe of Joint Mission personnel”.

She also described the Syrian cooperation during the process “as very constructive”.

Finally, asked about the final destination where the chemicals would be destroyed, she said that “priority one chemicals will be destroyed on board of the US vessel by means of hydrolysis and priority two chemicals will be going to different countries”, but the final destination is still not known, adding that Italy has offered a port were transloading would take place.