STORY: UN peacekeepers to stay in positions in Lebanon: peacekeeping chief
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 14, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:31
LOCATION: UN Headquarters
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. pan left and zoom in of Jean-Pierre Lacroix walking to podium
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX, UN under-secretary-general for peace operations
3. mid shot of Lacroix listening to question by reporter
4. pan left and zoom in of Pascale Baeriswyl walking to podium
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PASCALE BAERISWYL, President of Security Council for October
6. pan right and zoom out of Baeriswyl leaving

STORYLINE:

UN peacekeepers will stay in all their positions in Lebanon in spite of the calls made by Israeli authorities to vacate the positions that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, the UN peacekeeping chief said on Monday.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, made the remarks after briefing the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX, UN under-secretary-general for peace operations
"The decision was made that UNIFIL (UN Interim Force In Lebanon) would currently stay in all its positions in spite of the calls that were made by the Israel Defense Forces to vacate the positions that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line. I want to emphasize that this decision still remains, it was confirmed this morning by the secretary-general. I will also emphasize that this was a decision that was very carefully considered based on a number of elements and criteria. Of course, the safety and security of the peacekeepers is a paramount priority."

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on Monday expressed its strong concern over the ongoing hostilities across the Blue Line.

Pascale Baeriswyl, president of the Security Council for October and permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, read out a statement to reporters after closed-door Security Council consultations.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PASCALE BAERISWYL, President of Security Council for October
"Against the backdrop of the ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line, the members of the Security Council expressed their strong concern after several UNIFIL positions came under fire in the past days. Several peacekeepers have been wounded. They urged all parties to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and UN premises. They recall that UN peacekeepers and UN premises must never be the target of an attack. They reiterated their support to UNIFIL, underscoring its role in supporting regional stability. They expressed as well their deep concern for civilian casualties and sufferings, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the rising number of internally displaced people. They called on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law. They called for the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. They also emphasized the need for diplomatic endeavors that would bring a durable end to the conflict and allow civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from UN Headquarters.
(XHTV)