Madame President,

Israel thanks the High commissioner for Human Rights for her comprehensive annual report and her inclusive presentation this morning. We use this opportunity to reiterate our support to the High commissioner and her office's hard work and independence. The high commissioner's and her office's work, during human rights crisis and in the thematic domain are highly valuable. 

Madame President,
 
The turmoil in many countries in North Africa and the Middle East, during the year 2011, which, unfortunately, is still ongoing and evolving, have added a new and different dimension to the  human rights situation and challenges, in the region and worldwide. These situations have urgently needed the attention of the international community, the High commissioner, and also of this council. That was not always the case. We, therefore, appreciate the High commissioner's quick and direct response to those situations.

In this context and in reference to paragraphs 89 and 90 on the HC's report and the oral presentation this morning, we welcome the opening of OHCHR field office in Tunis and appreciate the valuable assistance this office is providing and welcome as well the invitation of Yemen to open in Sana'a a similar office. We hope such invitation will materialize soon. In this regard, we would like to inquire, based on the OHCHR   missions to North African and Middle Eastern countries and those missions' assessments, whether the OHCHR is intending to open further country or regional offices in this part of the world in the coming year?   

Further, and stressing the importance of field visits by the HC and her office's Human Rights mechanisms, we would appreciate if the HC share with us her priorities on country visits for 2012?  

Madame President, 

The distressing human rights situation on Syria has crossed, a long time ago, all red lines. The international community has failed to seriously address such situation and to stop the bloodbath in Syria. We appreciate the HC efforts in the last year to drawing the attention of the UN Security Council to this crisis and we regret the lack of adequate response by the Security Council. We hope the international community will rise to its responsibility to save the people of Syria and stop the human and humanitarian catastrophe there, as soon as possible.

Thank You.