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STORY: UN / MYANMAR
TRT: 1.15
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 11 AUGUST 2009, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
11 AUGUST 2009, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Susan Rice approaching stakeout outside Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Susan Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The United States will join with others in introducing a statement for consideration by the Council that condemns the conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi; that calls for her immediate release and the ability to participate in the political process.”
4. Wide shot, John Sawers approaching the microphone
5. SOUNDBITE (English) John Sawers, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“A draft statement by the Council was circulated and there was considerable support for the principle of the statement, but a number of delegations wanted to refer back to their capitals overnight for advice and instructions, and so we have adjourned our consultations and we will resume discussion of this matter tomorrow.”
6. Wide shot, Jean-Pierre Lacroix approaching the microphone
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations:
“If there is to be an inclusive and fair electoral process in Myanmar it cannot be without the participation of all relevant political players, particularly Aung San Suu Kyi. So that is why we think that there has to be a reaction by the Security Council.”
8. Wide shot, Lacroix leaving the stakeout area
The UN Security Council today (11 August) began debating a draft statement on the decision by a Myanmar court to sentence pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional 18 months of house arrest.
Speaking to reporters before a closed meeting of the Council, US Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States would press for a statement condemning the conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi and calling for her immediate release as well as “the ability to participate in the political process”.
After the consultations, UK Ambassador John Sawers, who holds the rotating presidency of the Council for the month of August, told reporters that a draft statement had been circulated, but that “a number of delegations wanted to refer back to their capitals overnight for advice and instructions”. He said discussions would resume Wednesday (12 August).
Deputy Ambassador Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France, which called today’s emergency session on Myanmar, also spoke to the press outside the Security Council chambers. He said that a reaction by the Security Council was necessary because an inclusive and fair electoral process in Myanmar was not possible without the participation of all relevant political players, “particularly Aung San Suu Kyi”.
Earlier today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored the Myanmar court’s decision and called for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi. “The Secretary-General is deeply disappointed by the verdict in respect of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” his spokesperson said in a statement.
Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for Democracy (NLD), was reportedly convicted of violating state security laws after an uninvited United States citizen gained access to her home. She has already spent over 12 years under house arrest.
Last month, the Myanmar government refused the Secretary-General’s request to meet with Suu Kyi when he visited the South-East Asian nation.
