(Near verbatim transcript of remarks by Ambassador Wittig ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Syria)

[Q. on Council meeting]

Wittig:"The Council is meeting on Syria today. The massacre in Houla was hopefully an eye-opener for some members of the Council.

That’s why we hope we can take the discussion forward today. We think it should focus on three elements:

First, is the mission on the ground adequate - or do we need to expand it? Secondly, how does the Council deal with violations of its own resolutions? Because the massacre in Houla was a clear violation of the Security Council resolution. And third, accountability. This is what we have always asked for. The massacre has also made clear: we need mechanisms of accountability for those crimes.

We think the last 15 months have shown that inaction of the Council leads to this vicious circle of violence. We need to overcome that - and hopefully today's debate will make a contribution."