AS DELIVERED

The United States is very pleased to co-sponsor this Arria session today in lieu of the Security Council briefing that was supposed to take place and which was disrupted by certain members who, for their own reasons, have continued to object to the Council using the forum to discuss the link between human rights and international peace and security. This is an ongoing discussion that we’ve been having in the Council, and today shows the lengths some members of the Council will go to hide and distort the truth about what’s happening in Syria. So we’re grateful that we will have an opportunity to hear from Prince Zeid today, to hear from the High Commissioner for Human Rights, about the situation in Syria and to also share our views on the subject. So I thank France for convening this Arria, and we are pleased to co-sponsor it.

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