Mr President,

Commissioners, thank you for providing your reflections from your recent historic visits to Syria.

We welcome the access you have been granted by the interim authorities, and the promising steps they have taken to pursue evidence gathering and preservation efforts. We would also like to acknowledge the important sentiments we heard from His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Syria this morning.

Your reports to date have left us with no illusions: Assad oversaw a reign of terror and tyranny that systematically oppressed the Syrian people with complete impunity. As part of the transition Syrians must, finally, see accountability and justice. We therefore support the continuation of the Commissioners’ work, which provides a clear evidence base for the Syrian people in their pursuit of this. 

But we must be realistic. National reconciliation and processes to address violations and abuses will take time. The journey towards truth, reconciliation and healing will require vigilance.

Recent reports that large numbers of civilians have been killed in the coastal areas of Syria are horrific. The answer to those horrors cannot be further retribution. It must lie in the interim authorities’ commitment to the protection of all Syrians, in word and deed.

Commissioners,

How can the international community support Syria to ensure that sensitive information and sites are preserved to ensure eventual accountability?