A/HRC/19/2 H. Visits 42. At the 13th meeting, on 2 March 2012, the Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights of the United States of America, Maria Otero, delivered a statement to the Human Rights Council. 43. At the 14th meeting, on the same day, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Sri Lanka. I. Urgent debate on the human rights and humanitarian situations in the Syrian Arab Republic 44. At its 1st meeting, on 27 February 2012, the President of the Human Rights Council announced that, following a request received from Bahrain, Denmark (on behalf of the European Union), Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, the Council would convene, in the afternoon of 28 February 2012, an urgent debate on the human rights and humanitarian situations in the Syrian Arab Republic. 45. At its 5th meeting, on 28 February 2012, the Human Rights Council held an urgent debate on the human rights and humanitarian situations in the Syrian Arab Republic. The President of the General Assembly made introductory remarks for the debate. The High Commissioner also made a statement. 46. At the same meeting, the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic made a statement as the State concerned. 47. During the ensuing discussion at the same meeting, the 6th meeting on the same day and the 10th meeting, on 1 March 2012, the following made statements: (a) Representatives of States Members of the Human Rights Council: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania (on behalf of the Arab Group), Mexico, Nigeria, Norway (also on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden), Peru, Poland, Portugal72 (on behalf of the European Union), Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United States of America, Uruguay; (b) Representatives of observer States: Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, France, Gabon, Germany, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of); (c) Observer for the Holy See; (d) Representatives of non-governmental organizations: Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, International Federation for Human Rights, Nord-Sud XXI, Press Emblem Campaign, Union of Arab Jurists, United Nations Watch. 142 GE.13-14768