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STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 2.40
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 20 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
20 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Kubiš, Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Starting with President Karzai, each and every individual has offered a warm welcome. If there was one thing I drew hope from, it was the strong expressions of the desire for peace. The message of the people is clear: It’s time to wind down this war.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Kubiš, Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Recent events should not eclipse, should not overshadow positive trends and developments. They should not push the international community in Afghanistan, the transition process of agreed plans and timetables. The transition so far has been on track and on target. The Afghan National Security Forces have so far proven that they are up to the tasks.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Zahir Tanin, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations:
“The recent incidents, such as the brutal killing of sixteen innocent civilians, mostly children and women in the Panjwaii District of Kandahar Province, the burning of the Holy Koran north of Kabul and similar atrocities could undermine our trust and cooperation by inciting deep sorrow, anger and frustration among Afghan people. It’s imperative that these incidents are ended immediately and their perpetrators be held accountable.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosemary DiCarlo, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“We are deeply saddened by the events last week in Kandahar. This incident was tragic and shocking. US Secretary of Defence Panetta has expressed our commitment to get the facts as quickly as possible and to hold accountable anyone responsible.”
11. Med shot, delegates
12. Wide shot, Council
13. Zoom in, Kubiš walks up to the stakeout position
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
14. Close up, reporter’s laptop
20 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Kubiš, Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“I would like to say that, and I acknowledge as well, a very strong, very robust response of notably the US authorities, not only they came together with ISAF with a very quick apology, but also confirmed their commitment to full accountability, and I believe that this is extremely important.”
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
16. Close up, reporters’ notepads
20 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY
17. Zoom out, Kubiš walks away from the stakeout position
The new United Nations top official in Afghanistan briefed the Security Council today (20 March) and said that after his first interactions with the Afghan population and officials the message was clear that “it is time to wind down this war.”
The Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ján Kubiš stressed that “recent events should not eclipse, should not overshadow positive trends and developments” as the transition towards Afghan ownership “so far has been on track and on target.”
He added that the Afghan National Security Forces “have so far proven that they are up to the tasks.”
Recent incidents such as the inadvertent improper disposal of a large number of Islamic religious materials, including copies of the Koran by NATO forces and the murder of 16 civilians by US Staff Sergeant Robert Bales have exacerbated anti-American sentiments in the country.
Afghan Ambassador Zahir Tanin told the Council that these and other incidents "could undermine our trust and cooperation by inciting deep sorrow, anger and frustration among Afghan people.”
He added that it was “imperative that these incidents are ended immediately and their perpetrators be held accountable.”
US Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo echoed President Barack Obama’s words saying that they were “deeply saddened” by the “tragic and shocking” events. She noted that US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta has expressed “commitment to get the facts as quickly as possible and to hold accountable anyone responsible.”
Outside the Security Council, Kubiš “acknowledged “a very strong, very robust response” by US authorities, who not only issued “a very quick apology, but also confirmed their commitment to full accountability.”
The United Nations last week voiced shock and sadness at the loss of civilian lives and called for a full investigation to establish the facts behind the tragic incident.
