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STORY: UN / CRAFT PRESSER
TRT: 3:12
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 06 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
06 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, journalists
3. Wide shot, Craft arriving to press room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“Iran is a bad actor and until we address the maximum pressure campaign continuing to apply pressure on Iran, we are going to see upheaval whether in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, wherever it is. We are taking this very serious, and there are other tools that we will use against Iran if they continue this malicious behaviour.”
5. Wide shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“Yes, I have read the letter. We care about human rights. I care about human rights. It is an issue that our President cares about. It is something that is a confidential conversation within the closed consultations; it is being discussed. What we all agree upon is that we are very concerned about any more ballistic missile launches, and that we have to make sure that the world understands that this is a serious situation. I mean, whether it be in December or whenever it is.”
7. Med shot, journalist asking question
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“There is no issue to me that has proven more damaging to the Council’s credibility than the conflict in Syria. There is no question that this is a difficult, complex, and often frustrating issue. But, I look at that as a way that we can gain even more from reflecting back on the 11 months, and what we have done right this past year and what we need to set our sights on achieving for Syria in the next 12 months.”
9. Wide shot, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The US is committed to encouraging both sides to finding a peaceful solution that promotes and protects the prosperity and security of the Israelis and Palestinians alike. You know, I have stated in many of my remarks that the US has stood with Israel in the past. We are standing with them today. We will stand with them tomorrow. And there is no better friend than Kelly Craft, and I will continue to say this every opportunity that I have. We are all about a mutually agreed solution. However, when it comes to Council meetings, I’m not going to accept the status quo where Israel is the subject of relentless and one-sided criticism. That is not ok with me.”
11. Wide shot, Craft at dais speaking to reporters
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“We expect countries to pay their fair share. With NATO that’s two percent. With the UN that is whatever they’re allocated. The US, by far, is the largest contributor. We are always there. The institutions which you have US as the head of - whether it be UNICEF, whether it be the World Food Programme – those are institutions where we have accountability and transparency. And as an American, I owe it to our tax payers to make certain that we hold the Secretariat of the UN responsible for making certain that our money is spent wisely.”
13. Zoom out, Craft speaking to journalists
United States ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said Iran is a “bad actor” and stressed that the “maximum pressure campaign” against it must continue, adding that there are “other tools” the US would use against Iran if they continue their “malicious behavior” in the Middle East.
Addressing reporters today (06 Dec) to discuss the Security Council’s programme of work for the month of December under US presidency, Craft said the Council would discuss Iran on the 19th of the month adding that Iran was involved in areas of conflict and strife in the Middle East including Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. She said the country must be held accountable, especially in regards to the humanitarian situation in Yemen and its support for Houthi rebels. She added that there has not been any change in Iran’s behaviour adding that the US cares for the Iranian people who she said were being mistreated and abused by their Government.
Craft was asked about a possible ‘Christmas gift’ to the US from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its letter to the Security Council warning that any discussion on the human rights situation in the country would be considered a provocation.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“Yes, I have read the letter. We care about human rights. I care about human rights. It is an issue that our President cares about. It is something that is a confidential conversation within the closed consultations; it is being discussed. What we all agree upon is that we are very concerned about any more ballistic missile launches, and that we have to make sure that the world understands that this is a serious situation. I mean, whether it be in December or whenever it is.”
The US ambassador said her team would be focused during its presidency on the theme of a ‘credible Council’ which sets and meets clear and measurable goals. She added, “There is no issue to me that has proven more damaging to the Council’s credibility than the conflict in Syria. There is no question that this is a difficult, complex, and often frustrating issue. But I look at that as a way that we can gain even more from reflecting back on the 11 months, and what we have done right this past year and what we need to set our sights on achieving for Syria in the next 12 months.”
Craft said the Council would discuss the situation in the Middle East on 18 December and noted that the US is “committed to encouraging both sides to finding a peaceful solution that promotes and protects the prosperity and security of the Israelis and Palestinians alike.” She said, “The US has stood with Israel in the past. We are standing with them today. We will stand with them tomorrow. And there is no better friend than Kelly Craft, and I will continue to say this every opportunity that I have. We are all about a mutually agreed solution. However, when it comes to Council meetings, I’m not going to accept the status quo where Israel is the subject of relentless and one-sided criticism. That is not ok with me.”
Asked about the US paying outstanding dues to the UN budget, Craft said the US is the number one contributor both to NATO and the UN adding, “We expect countries to pay their fair share. With NATO that’s two percent. With the UN that is whatever they’re allocated.” She added, “The institutions which you have US as the head of - whether it be UNICEF, whether it be the World Food Programme – those are institutions where we have accountability and transparency. And as an American, I owe it to our tax payers to make certain that we hold the Secretariat of the UN responsible for making certain that our money is spent wisely.”
