Ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet
Acting Deputy Permanent Representative
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
December 27, 2019
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The General Assembly, in resolution 71/248, established the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism in Syria to help provide prosecutors and investigators with the evidence needed to make the case during trial for the crimes committed by the Assad regime. Today we are here to decide upon budgetary matters. Issues pertaining to the legality of the mechanism were settled long ago.
Adoption of this resolution before us would lead to the absence of any regular budget funding for the IIIM. The United States rejects this attempt to defund a GA mandate and undermine the will of the international community and the work of this important mechanism. The United States remains committed to holding perpetrators of atrocities in Syria accountable and will vote against this draft resolution. We call on all delegations who support the mechanism and accountability efforts in Syria to vote against it as well.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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