Copy of The UN page : 01.03.00 – MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND SE

Copy of The UN page : 01.03.00 – MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND SECURITY
GENEVA / SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS


						STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT:  1.31
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 25 OCTOBER 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1.	 Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations

25 OCTOBER 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2.	Med shot, journalists
3.	SOUNDBITE (English) Paulo Pinheiro, Chairman, Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on Syria:
"Our first decision yesterday was that we will again seek our access to Syria and we decided to send a letter to President Al Assad calling for a meeting. We are not specifying the access for the Commission, but we thought that taking into consideration the seriousness of the situation, we think that it would be very important that he could receive us and of course, we expect that he will receive us in Damascus."
4.	Med shot, camera people
5.	SOUNDBITE (French) Carla del Ponte, Member of the Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on Syria:
"My main task will be to continue the investigation to determine the highly placed military and political figures responsible for these crimes."
6.	Med shot, journalists
7.	SOUNDBITE (English) Paulo Pinheiro, Chairman, Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on Syria:
"I think that Mr. Brahimi did a wonderful job. He believes that this ceasefire will occur. I think it will be a great accomplishment and we have to think about the present and the future. The fact that the ceasefire was unsuccessful in the past does not mean there is a spell on any ceasefire."
8.	Med shot, Del Ponte and Laura Dupuy Lasserre, President of the Human Rights Council walking in corridor

STORYLINE:

The chairperson of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Pinheiro, said today (25 October) in Geneva that his office will send a letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad calling for access to the country.

Pinheiro said the letter will request a meeting with the President and "taking into consideration the seriousness of the situation, we think that it would be very important that he could receive us and of course, we expect that he will receive us in Damascus."

The UN official praised the work of the UN and Arab League special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, saying that he has done a "wonderful job."

The Brazilian diplomat said a ceasefire "will be a great accomplishment" and the fact that previous ceasefires were unsuccessful "does not mean there is a spell on any ceasefire."

The Government of Syria is reportedly expected to make an announcement on the ceasefire today.

Also speaking to reporters, Carla del Ponte, a member of the Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on Syria said that those responsible for crimes will face justice.

She said her "main task will be to continue the investigation to determine the highly placed military and political figures responsible for these crimes."

According to the UN, an estimated 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the uprising against al-Assad began some 19 months ago. In addition, a further 2.5 million Syrians urgently need humanitarian aid, and over 340,000 have crossed the border to Syria's neighbouring countries.