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STORY: GENEVA / UKRAINE HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 2:40
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 6 MAY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
RECENT – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
6 MAY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"We're deeply concerned by this situation it seems to be getting worse as the days go by, a lot of people died over the weekend most notably in the terrible fire in Odessa, we're seeing violent confrontations between different groups of protestors but also continued illegal activities by these well organized, well armed opposition groups and the situation is getting really very difficult indeed, clashes also between those armed groups and the military. So the High Commissioner is calling on the government on the military and police to make sure they keep the moral high ground to make sure they stay within accepted international standards of how they operate, take great care not to kill or harm civilians when confronting the armed groups. And of course the armed groups are a major major problem and they need to disarm, put down their weapons, free people they've been detaining illegally, basically the whole situation needs to cool down because otherwise the future for these parts of Ukraine the Eastern and the south. In particular are really looking very worrying indeed.
3. SOUNDBITE (English) UNTV Journalist:
“There are concerns about the effects of this on the upcoming elections, what are your views, what is the offices reaction?”
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"There is still time and it's really important the elections which are set for the 25th of May that they go ahead because all Ukrainians need to have a say and this is really the best way for them to have a say in how to bring the current situation to an end and get the country back on stability. There are all cities and towns and villages where people can't even work properly at the moment so the effects on the economic life is very serious as well. So they really need these elections to get some stability but there is 20 or so days till they take place and we really hope and urge all leaders whether they're local leaders or paramilitary leaders or national leaders to do their upmost to start talking and to stop fighting.”
5. Wide shot, Rupert Colville walking upstairs, Palais des nations, Geneva
The United Nations human rights chief has expressed deep concern about the surge in violence in Ukraine. The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Tuesday that “all sides need to make a much greater effort to find a peaceful resolution to the current crisis, especially in the various towns in eastern and southern Ukraine that have been racked by increasingly violent confrontations.”
Speaking to UNTV her spokesperson Rupert Colville said “the High Commissioner is calling on the government on the military and police to make sure they keep the moral high ground to make sure they stay within accepted international standards of how they operate, take great care not to kill or harm civilians when confronting the armed groups.”
Pillay also called on the Government to ensure that military and police operations are undertaken in line with international standards.
She noted that very little time remains before the elections on 25 May, which represent the best opportunity for Ukraine to begin the process of reconciliation and stabilization.
Pillay also added “there is still time and it's really important the elections which are set for the 25th of May that they go ahead because all Ukrainians need to have a say and this is really the best way for them to have a say in how to bring the current situation to an end and get the country back on stability.”
