The United States expressed gratitude to Mr. Robert Petit and the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for their work in advancing justice and accountability in Syria. The United States underlined the importance of holding accountable those responsible for crimes committed over the past 14 years in Syria.
The statement acknowledged the IIIM's progress in evidence collection and analysis of international humanitarian and human rights violations, despite limited access to the country. The United States noted that this progress has supported significant trials convicting regime officials and ISIS members of war crimes.
The statement highlighted the removal of Assad from Syria as a historical opportunity for the IIIM to further its mandate. "We welcomed the interim authorities providing access for the IIIM to enter Syria for the first time," reads the statement. It emphasized the necessity for continued access to document and preserve evidence of regime abuses, supporting ongoing and future accountability.
The United States encouraged interim authorities to ensure unrestricted IIIM access and asked for support from Syrian civil society organizations and UN entities. The statement urged member states to fund the IIIM as demand for its assistance increases, calling it a critical moment to shape Syria's future.
"Meaningful justice and accountability are critical to prevent atrocities – like those we saw on the coast – and build sustainable peace in this country marred by destabilizing violence," the statement concluded. The need to support the IIIM's mandate was deemed urgent and essential.