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>> DONAHOE: Obviously, the global community is seized
with the crisis in Syria,
which has taken a terrible toll
on the lives of so many, and is truly
one of the most difficult humanitarian
and human rights crises of our time.
As we were meeting here in Geneva
during this session, we learned that
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
registered the one millionth refugee
forced to flee Syria, challenging the
humanitarian community, as well as
Syria's neighbors.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians
are internally displaced.
Tens of thousands have been killed,
including many, many women and children.
We condemn in the strongest terms the brutal,
persistent attacks of the Assad regime against
its own people. The United States is committed
to working within the international framework
to try to bring about an end to this crisis
and a change that is necessary in Syria.
The actions we take together at the Council
are part of this international effort to bring
an end to this crisis.
The Commission of Inquiry, charged by this
Council with investigating the atrocities
and massacres, is amassing a body of evidence
that will play a very important part in ensuring
accountability and justice for the Syrian people.
At this session the United States is cosponsoring
an Arab-led resolution on Syria that will extend
the mandate of the COI so that it can continue its
important work documenting the ongoing gross human
rights violations taking place in Syria.
The work product of the Commission of Inquiry
will help ensure that there is accountability for
the massacres and atrocities committed over
the past two years. We expect that this resolution
will have overwhelming international support.