Inimõiguste Nõukogu 36. sessioon
Intervention by H.E. Ambassador Andre Pung, ESTONIA
Item4 – ID with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Genf, 18september2017
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Mr.President,
Estonia aligns itself fully with the statement made bythe EU. We would like to thank the Commission of Inquiry for their thorough raportpresented at this session.
Estoniafinds unacceptable the grave crimes perpetrated against civilians by theparties to the conflict – especially against religious minorities and vulnerablegroups, such as women and children –, and the use of seige to limit thedelivery of vital humanitarian assistance to the suffering Syrian populations.We condemn the continuing deliberate attacks targeting schools, hospitals and other protected civilianinfrastructure, using forced displacement, and starvation as a weapon of war.
The use ofchemical weapons by the government forces in opposition-held areas as reportedby the Commission of Inquiry is deeply concerning. It is a violation ofinternational humanitarian law and the Convention on Chemical Weapons and mayamount to war crime and crime against humanity. Thus, we remind the obligationstaken by Syria as a party to the convention since 2013, and call on all partiesto the Syrian conflict to facilitate the investigations of these attacks.
Estoniaurges all parties to the conflict to continue negotiations for a politicalsolution to the Syrian conflict, under the auspices of the United Nations andtake every feasible measure to spare the civilian population from the harmfuleffects of the ongoing armed conflict. We call on all parties involved in theconflict to cooperate fully with the international, impartial and independentmechanism established by the UN General Assembly resolution in December 2016.Their work will be essential in ensuring that impunity does not prevail in thisconflict and that all perpetrators are held accountable. We reitirate oursupport for referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court(ICC), to guarantee that all victims would receive justice.
Lastly, we call on the Syrian authorities to cooperatefully with the Human Rights Council mechanisms and the Commission of Inquiry bygranting immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the Syrian Arab Republic.
Thank you.