UN / SYRIA COI

The Head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, told reporters that the Commission has “received allegations” of civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes being conducted inside Syria by foreign powers. UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:25
• Production Date: 12 November 2015
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC; SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 1506986
• Parent Id: 1506986
• Alternate Title: unifeed151112d

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA COI
TRT: 01:25
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 12 NOVEMBER 2015, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Aerial shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

12 NOVEMBER 2015, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Paulo Pinheiro of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria at the stakeout microphone
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria:
“We have received allegations about casualties about results of those airstrikes that you have mentioned. But at this point we are not in a position to attribute what was the responsible, the member state responsible for these airstrikes.”
4. Wide shot, Pinheiro and Karen Koning AbuZayd along with Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, listening to question from reporter
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom:
“I think it would be wonderful if the government of Syria will complement this statement with an invitation for a visit of the Commission. Then we would be able to report about the concrete implementation of this proposal.”
6. Wide shot, Ambassador Rycroft at the microphone
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
“The Security Council demands that indiscriminate attacks and obstruction of aid must end. So far these calls have gone unheeded. While violations and abuses have been committed by all sides, it is clear that the regime has committed the overwhelming majority and bears the ultimate responsibility for the protection of its civilians.”
8. Pan right, Pinheiro, Koning AbuZayd and Rycroft walk away

Storyline

The Head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, told reporters today (12 Nov) that the Commission has “received allegations” of civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes being conducted inside Syria by foreign powers.

Pinheiro said that the Commission is not currently in a position to attribute “the member state responsible for these airstrikes.”

Reportedly, Russia, Israel, as well as an American-led coalition have been conducting airstrikes against a variety of targets, including ISIL positions, inside Syria.

Asked about a pledge by the Syrian government to refrain from arbitrary attacks against civilians, Pinheiro said “it would be wonderful if the government of Syria will complement this statement with an invitation for a visit of the Commission. Then we would be able to report about the concrete implementation of this proposal.”

Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of the United Kingdom, President of the Security Council for the month of November, said the Council has demanded that “indiscriminate attacks and obstruction of aid must end” but “so far these calls have gone unheeded.”

He said that “while violations and abuses have been committed by all sides, it is clear that the regime has committed the overwhelming majority and bears the ultimate responsibility for the protection of its civilians.”

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolution S-17/1adopted at its 17th special session with a mandate to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic.