Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Geneva, SANA-The head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Investigate Serious Crimes in Syria, Robert Petit, stressed that the best solution for accountability and justice for the crimes committed by the former regime in Syria is the one decided by the Syrians themselves.
“For the first time in eight years, we have the chance to really fulfill our mandate,” Petit said in a statement.
He added that the main purpose of the visit was to start engaging diplomatically and explain to the new authorities what our role is and what we would like to do and get permission to do so. We found them to be receptive.
Petit underlined that the Syrian civil society and Syrians in general have, since March 2011, been the best documenters of their own victimization. They accumulated an enormous quantity of evidence of crimes, often at great risk the cost of their own lives.
Now we potentially have access to a wealth of fresh evidence of crimes, and we’re hoping to be able to exploit that opportunity very soon, he added.
Manar Salameh
