|
UN Radio
UN and Africa
Programme Number: 069
Week of: Sunday, 9th October, 2005
Recording Date: Thursday, 13th October, 2005
Topical Issue(s):
LIBERIA: AFTER THE ELECTIONS
ROLLING BACK MALARIA: CONCERT IN GENEVA
PRESENTER: Greetingz to you from United Nations Radio
in New York.
PRESENTER:
Hello I'm Ben Dotsei Malor and you're listening to
UN and Africa.
PRESENTER:
The counting of votes proceeds in Liberia after Tuesday's
peaceful and orderly elections. UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan congratulates Liberians and pledges continuing
UN support. But as Liberians wait anxiously to know
who will be their next president, will be the outgoing
interim leader Charles Gyudeh Bryant asks Liberian
leaders to be cautious.
CLIP-1: GYUDEH BRYANT
"It is my hope that presidential candidate will
temper the expectation of victory would caution, they
should be prepare as much victory as for defeat because
out come of election can't be determine mainly on
basis of presumption and one expectations. ."
PRESENTER:
We'll also be hearing from some Liberian voters.
Plus, raising funds for the battle against malaria.
And UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan lends his voice
and support to the campaign against malaria as he
attends at a major concert in Geneva,
CLIP2: SG MALARIA CLIP AT GENEVA CONCERT
" Monsieur Kofi Annan (APPLAUSE) This is not
an event, it's a movement. Events can be a one-day
affair. And with you and the support you have shown
you can make a difference. Collectively, you can make
a huge difference."
We'll be hearing from top Senegalese musician Youssou
N'Dour who introduced Mr Annan.
Stay tuned to UN and Africa.
*** SIG TUNE *** (Bring up briefly, dip and hold
under until first sentence.)
LIBERIA: POSTE ELECTIONS
Hundreds of thousands of Liberians turned out in
huge numbers on Tuesday 11th October to cast their
votes, in the country's crucial legislative and presidential
elections, which are exceptive to consolidate, peace
and stability after so many years of conflict.
Before the polls the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia
and other broadcasters used public service announcements
like this one to prepare the public for peace and
order.
PAS KIDS
"Music….. Parents and adult think before
you vote… Leaders please think before you talk…
Parties please think before you insult some body….Liberia
please before you make wrong decision again…We
are the future please think about us this time….."
Well, on elections days some voters started queuing
as early as 2 o'clock at dawn.
Here are the some of the voters soon after they cast
their ballots.
VOX-POPS GRAND GEDEH COUNTY.
"I voted for change, I voted for speedy development,
a voter where will not be promises again, the promises
would not be going in to a room, so I saw the candidate
I think will bring change and move this country a
head. That is why I am saying voter rights, I do know
that every Liberian want to vote right vote for the
change. Where there will be no discrimination, this
country will be de- centralise educationally, ….
The counting of ballot papers started almost immediately
the polls closed and some provisional results have
started trickling in.
MORRIS: TURNOUT AND LEADERS
"The recorded votes for the polling places which
have reported amount to 72 per cent. Based on these
votes the three leading candidates at the moment are
George Weah 23.7% , Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf 14.9 % and
Charles Brumskine at 11.8%."
The head of the National Elections Commission, Madame
Frances Johnson-Morris. But she has had to caution
against the isolated announcement of these partial
and incomplete results.
MORRIS: CAUTION ANNOUNCERS
These concerns of the National Elections Commission
are also echoed by the outgoing interim leader of
Liberia, Chairman Charles Gyudeh Bryant.
BRYANT: NO INTERFERENCE
Mr Bryant also cautioned any contenders or public
officials making any statements that could create
post-elections trouble.
BRYANT: EXPECTATIONS AND CAUTION
The outgoing Liberian leader further stated that
any would-be troublemakers would be dealt with.
BRYANT: WARNING TO TROUBLERS
The preliminary counting of votes has shown former
World Footballer of the year George Oppong Weah in
the lead followed by former World Bank and UNDP official,
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed his
delight at the smooth conduct of the elections in
a calm, safe and secure environment. And he congratulated
all Liberians of the peaceful and orderly manner in
which they turned out to vote.
Mr Annan has also pledged the UN's continuing work
in Liberia to consolidate peace, good governance and
the rule of law.
"Now for UNMIL, we'll continue to support the
National Elections Commission as it begins to tally
up the votes and move the ballots to secure places.
We will provide that support in the days ahead and
of course maintain a very high alert on security because
the results will be announced progressively and we
want to be sure those results are accepted peacefully
and that the outcome is respected."
According to the election rules, the final results
should be announced by the 26 of October.
And Should it become necessary, then presidential
run-off election between the top two contenders would
be held on the 8th of November.
ROLL BACK MALARIA CONCERT
And now, to that major concert just held in Geneva,
to raise awareness and also to gather some funds for
the battle against malaria.
Here's UN Radio's Bissera Kostova with a report.
RECORDED FEATURE ON ROLL BACK MALARIA
United Against Malaria Concert Raises Funds for Anti-Mosquito
Bed Nets
Package duration: 2'50"
Youssou N'Dour song (hold then fade under)
PRES: 6,000 people attended the United Against Malaria
concert on Saturday in Geneva, organized by Senegalese
singer Youssou N'Dour. Mr. N'Dour is the special envoy
of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and a UNICEF
Goodwill Ambassador. The concert also marked the UN's
60th anniversary and featured a very special guest.
N'Dour (French) hold under
PRES: Someone Youssou N'Dour introduced as the pride
of Africa.
N'Dour: Msr. Kofi Annan (applause)
Annan: This is not an event. It's a movement. An
event can be a one-day affair. Movement is a continuous
effort. And with you and the support you have shown,
you can make a difference. As individuals, you have
power. You have your voices. You have your votes.
You have your influence on your leaders. Don't think
you are powerless. Collectively you can make a huge
difference.
PRES: Malaria, which kills two million people each
year worldwide. In Africa more than 2,000 children
die EVERY DAY from the disease, which is transmitted
by infected mosquitoes. One of the most effective
weapons against malaria now is the use of insecticide-treated
bednets. And this Geneva concert has raised money
to purchase 50,000 such nets to be distributed by
the Roll Back Malaria partnership of UN agencies and
the World Bank.
PRES: One of the top world musicians who also played
at this concert is Brazil's Gilberto Gill, who's also
his country's Minister for culture.
ACTUALITY OF GILBERTO GILL IN FRENCH
(Pls play for 7 seconds and fade under voice-over.).
This is part of our obligations as humans, as citizens.
We are here, out of solidarity, to contribute to the
solution of the Malaria problem which is affecting
Developing countries and is still a problem in Brazil
and Africa, and everywhere, so we have to contribute
we have to do something!
PRES: Mr Youssou N'dour also sought to stress the
importance of continuing the the battle against malaria
beyond the Geneva concert.
ACTUALITY IN FRENCH: Youssou N'Dour
(Pls play for 7 seconds and fade under voice-over.).
This evening we are here to continue this program
that will not stop at tonight only, as the Secretary-General
of the United Nations said he is not interested in
it being a one night event but rather a continuous
effort. Artists have understood that and we are going
to continue our effort to inform those who are affected
but also those who help them, in a spirit to eradicate
Malaria. The ultimate goal being to eradicate malaria.
Song (fight back malaria) hold about 30" then
fade under
PRES: The UN Secretary-General told the artists and
the audience that having joined this movement of solidarity
to assist the poor and to ensure that we have a more
equitable world they should stick with it.
Annan: Don't go home and forget it. It's a long term
resolution. ….We often talk of the United Nations,
but you are the United Nations. The Charter is written
in the name of "We the Peoples…". That
is you out there, not the bureaucrats in the building.
You are the United Nations.
APPLAUSE
PRES: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the United
Against Malaria Concert.
For UN and Africa, I'm Bissera Kostova.
That's it for this edition of UN and Africa.
Our special thanks again to Kojo Robert Mensah and
Ratomir Petrovic of UNMIL Radio, in the UN peacekeeping
mission in Liberia.
Thanks to the team of Julio Martinich, Derrick Mbatha,
and Nyi Nyi Teza.
I'm Ben Dotsei Malor. Thank you for listening and
join us again next week.
Goodbye.
*** CLOSING MUSIC ***
(Please bring music up and play till the end.)
|
