(Near verbatim transcript of remarks to the press ahead of Security Council meeting on Syria)

[Q. on "next steps"]
Wittig:"The next step is now, the briefing of Mrs. Pillay. We should not loose sight of the dramatic human rights situation in Syria - and therefore this briefing is very important.
We are aware that the Syrian government continous to shell indiscriminatly the civilian population and that it exercises violence in disproportionate form. We also heard of human rights abuses by other groups. That’s why this briefing is so important today: to underline the dramatic situation.
We have always called for strong accountability in the Security Council. Any Commission of Inquiry needs to get access to the situation on the ground. We will repeat the need to have a Commission of Inquiry that can investigate and ensure accountability.
And the [following] step is the report of the Secretary-General on the UNSMIS options. And then we will take it from there."