UNSC Passes A Resolution Amending The Mandate Of The UN Mission In South Sudan

The Security Council passed a resolution today (09 Oct) amending the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to support implementation of the peace agreement signed in August.

The resolution was approved with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions.

Petr Iliichev, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, which abstained, disagreed the wording of the resolution, which he said presented "an ultimatum regarding sanctions against South Sudan."

Iliichev said the resolution was meant "to supplement the mandate of the peacekeeping mission tasked with facilitating the peace process, not to frighten them with the threats of sanctions."

Ambassador Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño of Venezuela, which also abstained, said the resolution included "elements that could be counterproductive to the achievement of peace."

These include "references to targeted sanctions" as well as "the inclusion of mechanisms such as unmanned aerial vehicles opposed by the South Sudanese government in the protection of their sovereignty."

David Pressman of the United States, which drafted the resolution, said the text "expresses our continued commitment to maintaining pressure on both sides, neither of which has fully complied with its ceasefire obligations."

He said this was "fully consistent with a strong warning issued by the African Union in its September 26th communique by its Peace and Security Council."

South Sudanese Ambassador Francis Deng, for his part said it was time "for the United Nations and the international community to engage the Government of South Sudan on this positive and constructive agenda, instead of negative threats of sanctions and punishment which can only undermine cooperation and the optimistic march to peace and reconciliation in our country."

STORY: UN / SOUTH SUDAN
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE: 09 OCTOBER 2015, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

SHOTLIST:

RECENT-NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

09 OCTOBER 2015, NEW YORK CITY

2. Various shots, Security Council vote
3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Petr Iliichev, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
"We cannot agree with the wording as an ultimatum regarding sanctions against South Sudan in the resolution, the main purpose of which is to supplement the mandate of the peacekeeping mission tasked with facilitating the peace process, not to frighten them with the threats of sanctions."
4. Med shot, South Sudanese Ambassador
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño, Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations:
"A resolution that would allow UNMISS to be an instrument in favour of implementing the accord, should not include elements that could be counterproductive to the achievement of peace. This is the reason for our abstention. Other reasons include, references to targeted sanctions; a definition of protection of civilians that does not consider what is nowadays aimed for in peacekeeping operations; the inclusion of mechanisms such as unmanned aerial vehicles opposed by the South Sudanese government in the protection of their sovereignty."
6. Med shot, South Sudanese Ambassador
7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Pressman, Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs of the United States to the United Nations:
"This resolution expresses our continued commitment to maintaining pressure on both sides, neither of which has fully complied with its ceasefire obligations. This is fully consistent with a strong warning issued by the African Union in its September 26th communique by its Peace and Security Council, and I quote: 'That it will not tolerate any further violations, and in line with its previous pronouncements expresses its determination to impose measures against all those who would impede this agreement.'"
8. Med shot, Russian Ambassador
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Francis Deng, Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations:
"It is time for the United Nations and the international community to engage the Government of South Sudan on this positive and constructive agenda, instead of negative threats of sanctions and punishment which can only undermine cooperation and the optimistic march to peace and reconciliation in our country."
10. Wide shot, Security Council

DURATION: 02:35