Thank you, Mr. President,

Germany aligns itself with the EU Statement.

We sincerely thank the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM) and its Head Mr. Robert Petit, for their continuous engagement and dedication to achieve justice and accountability for the most serious crimes committed in Syria. We are most grateful for your efforts in advancing the work of the IIIM and for the latest – the eleventh – report underlining the progress made.

Our gratitude also extends to the newly-established Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and its head, Ms Karla Quintana

The end of the Assad regime provides an unprecedented chance for lasting change. Transitional justice and respect for human rights, including women's and children’s rights, will be key to achieving sustainable peace and reconciliation in Syria.

We continue to fully support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process. The future of the country must lie in the hands of all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic background, religion or gender. We strongly welcome Syria’s constructive interaction with the IIIM, and remain convinced that close cooperation of the mechanism with Syria can play a key role for a successful transitional justice process.

Germany has been supporting the IIIM since its establishment, and thanks to the substantial contributions of the IIIM, Germany has been able to initiate criminal proceedings against members of the Assad regime for severe human rights violations under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

We are highly appreciative and extremely thankful for the close cooperation between the IIIM and the German Federal Prosecutor General and committed to continue working together on pending cases. Germany reiterates its firm political and financial support to the IIIM.
We call on all Member States to do the same and fully co-operate with the mechanism.

Thank you.