regime. syria belongs to its 23 million citizens, not to one man or his family. and change can still be accomplished without dismantling the state or producing new tyranny. it is time for the international community to put aside our own differences and send a clear message of support to the people of syria. the alternative, spurning the arab league, abandoning the syrian people, emboldening the dictator, it would compound this tragedy. and would mark a failure of our shared responsibility and shake the credibility of the united nation's security council. the united states stands ready to work with every member in this chamber to pass a resolution that supports the arab league's efforts, because those are the efforts that are

well thought out and focused on ending this crisis, up holds the rights of the syrian people and restores peace to syria. that is the goal of the arab league. that should be the goal of the council, to help the syrian future that they seek. thank you. >> i think excellency secretary of state clinton for her statement. and i'll give the floor to his excellency minister of foreignf republic of france. >> translator: mr. president, we are meeting today so that the security council can take up its responsibility as a people is suffering in a region where peace is threatened by the brutal repression of a regime at its last gasp.

the silence of our council for months is no longer acceptable. it falls to the arab league today to implore it to recover itself. france, therefore, calls solemnly upon the council to live up to the mission vested upon it by the chaert of the united nations coming to the aid of a people and region who wish only peace and respect. the arab league has act and done its utmost to meet the requirements of the situation. the suspension of syria from the league, the dispatch of an observer mission, the definition of a plan of political transition. i wish to commend the courageous commitment of the league in the syrian conflict and i welcome the presence among us of its secretary general and the prime minister of qatar and i thank them for their addresses and i commend the decision of the kingdom of morocco to bring to us the draft resolution fully

supported by france. i wish lastly to commend the collective efforts of all of the states of the arab league and i'm well aware that decisions on the situation in syria are particularly difficult to take and implement for some amongst them if only because of their geographic proximity to damas s damascus. we're coming today to put an end to this scandalous silence of the council. i choose the word carefully and i'll explain that term. what is the situation in syria? people have risen up to defend its freedom. there's no words to describe the horror of the brutal repression, if we say that it's worsening. that does not fully express what is happening. 6,000 deaths, 15,000 prisoners. 15,000 refugees. the cruel torture every day.

i have for a long time termed some of the actions of the regime as crimes against humanity. the international commission inquiry of the human rights council confirmed that description and statistics conceal the faces of tortured children and the bodies of women who have been raped and thousands of human beings that are victims of the repression. we must act with them in mind. the situation is worsening every day and humanitarian terms, how dreadful must it be for the council to demand an end to the violations of human rights and free access for humanitarian assistance. every state bears a responsibility to protect its civilian population. not content with failing to protect its population, the syrian regime has slaughtered its people without restraint in a shameful manner. this has direct consequences on international peace and security, thousands of refugees are fleeing. violations of sovereignty of the neighboring states and increased intercommunity tensions, direct

repercussions on the stability in an already vulnerable region. without even referring the responsibility to the responsibility to protect. these consequences are enough in the region to establish the council's responsibility. how does this need discussion? france has unceasingly called for the council to work to have a vote, unsuccessfully, if we leave out the presidential statement of the -- if it was acceptable -- i don't think so. is it scandalous? i think so. obviously, we have continued to act on 11 occasions, the european union has tightened sanctions. france has worked much. we have established links with the peaceful opposition and i have met on several occasions the leaders of the syrian national council. a legitimate interlocktory and we commend their results but

action, however firm it can be, cannot replace that of the council by the legitimacy conferred on it by the united nation's charter which the council can express the will of the international community. the security council the is the key stone of international peace and security and if it is to remain so it has the duty to promouns on such serious cases like syria. rapidly and with the broad measure of support adopt the resolutions by month rocco and crucial involvement of regional activities today. the only protagonist able to provide a realistic political resolution. there are two essential elements in the text. firstly, it unequivocally condemns the repression perpetrated by the regime without falling into the trap of a false trap between this and the opposition on the ground because if a minority resorts to violence the vast majority of

syrians protest baer handed in the streets against the indiscriminate violence of the regime. we must respectfully pay tribute to those men and women and those syrians who every day march for their freedom in the knowledge that they could be shot dead at the any moment. i would also, as this has been mentioned, the memory of the french journalist who died as he did his job. and i will not allow this to be exploited. the syrian authorities should have given him all necessary protection. i have to note that this has not been the case. when it comes to the report of the observer mission which we have and has been distributed to us, it does not say anything about the origin of the exchange of fire which led to the death

of my com patriot and we're still awaiting the syrian authorities actions shedding full light on this episode. now the second essential element in the arab league draft, it provides the support of the council to the arab league initiative regarding its three main aspectis demand of violenc and the definition of a credible transitional political process. it will be for the arab league to implement it. our responsibility so to help it by addressing the clear message to the syrian regime that the international community is united behind the arab efforts. and certainly, we would have liked to see the council gain further but we need a rapid response which can provide us with a swift resolution to this terrible crisis. we are therefore, willing to vote now upon the text proposed

by morocco. it is alleged there's a plan leading to military intervention in syria. this is a myth. absolutely nothing in the draft resolution distributed to members can be construed as an authorization for the use of force. this draft is not under chapter vii we're not preparing any military operation. the tragedy afflicting the syrian people, there's a sufficient explanation for the action. the goal is simple. to find a peaceful way out of the crisis, allowing the syrian people freely to express their aspirations. they, with the various components and nobody else, must determine the future. we have no intention of imposing any political regime from the outside. the arab league offering the only viable prospect for achieving this goal. let us grasp it and rise above our differences and support the plan submitted to us today. let us live up to our

responsibilities. to the political and moral duty falling to us as the result of the peaceful uprising of the syrian people, inspired by the momentum of the arab's rein. there's no time to be lost. in less than a year of five -- more than 5,000 lives have been lost. each week means hundreds of more deaths each day, dozens more, in the memory of all the victims i urge the members of this council to vote forthwith on this text so a political process may be commenced putting an end to the syrian nightmare. thank you. >> i tell you that finance minister, for your statement. i now give the floor to his excellency, secretary of state for affairs of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. >> mr. president, i, too, thank the prime minister of qatar and the secretary general of the

league of arab states. for their reports and their powerful words and we are all grateful to you, mr. president for presiding over this debate. our task as a council is clear. we must address the horrifying violences that engulfed syria for the last ten months which is an unmitigated tragedy for the people of that country, and a real threat to international peace and security. and we must do so in a way that gives the greatest possible chance of a peaceful and lasting solution. the league of arab states has proposed a way to achieve this. and they should be congratulated and supported in doing so. their plan is at the heart of the draft resolution put forward by the kingdom of morocco and they do so with the full support of the united kingdom and i think with the support of the majority of the security council members. if implemented in full, the arab

league plan would lead to an end to all violence against syrian civil yanscivilians and it woul major stumbling blocks to reform it would give confidence to the syrian people. it would staff an exclusive syrian-led political process that would allow the syrian people to determine their future peacefully. and it would lead to a national unity government and elections. syria needs a path out of conflict and misery and with this plan, the arab league has provided one that is credible and viable. and they have done so after three months of engagement described by the secretary general, with all sides in syria. after multiple visits to damascus by ministerial delegations from arab nations on the basis of the work of over 150 arab league monitors inside

syria and in the light of their own deep understanding of their own region. the arab world is on and off asking the united nation's council to put its weight and authority behind this plan. this is not the west telling syria what to do. it is not the permanent members of the security council seeking to impose their view. this is the arab nation's calling on the u.n. security council to help address the crisis in syria and the threat that it poses to the stability of their region. and the secretary general has come here and urged us not to let the syrian people down in their plight. members of the council have often called for arab leadership in the past and that should be respected now, by all nations of the world. can any member of the council today claim to have a better -- be in a better position to judge how best to support peace and stability in syria, than these arab nations themselves? the resolution does not

propotion imposing change on syria from outside. it calls for the syrian people to be allowed to make their choices for themselves. it does not call for military action and could not be used to authorize it. indeed, the secretary general has stressed the plan of the arab league specifically does not include any outside intervention. it does not contain coerrive ur chapter 7 resolution. but in our -- it should, in our view, put the leaders of syria on notice that measures will be considered by this council. immd to the violence and if the arab league plan continues to be ignored. that warning is important for too long, the syrian continued the violence. at any time over the last ten months they could have stopped the bloodshed they could have seized the initiative or introduced bold and lasting reform, that meets the aspirations of syrians, for greater political freedom.

but the fact speaks for themselves over recent months. when this council adopted a presidential statement on syria, in august of last year, the death toll was approximately 1,000. when a draft security council resolution was put forward in october and vetoed here, 3,000 people had died. today, we believe nearly 6,000 syrians have died in appalling circumstances. and this includes, as we have heard, 384 children, between 30 and 100 people currently die every single day from the violence in syria and they will be dying as we speak. thousands more are enduring torture and imprisonment and sexual violence, including the rape of children. the representative of the syrian iraq republic spoke about the idealism of children in his country and in the 1950s and 1960s. without noting the irony that the descendants of those

children, the children of 2012, are now being tortured and murdered in the name of their own government. and it is not acceptable to try to blame the situation in syria on everyone else from outside intervention, to the gulf states, to french diplomats to laurence of arabia. this does not excuse such repression, violence at which is a shame on any nation. we know about these crimes because they have been documented by imparti-- bodies united nations. how long do syrian families have to live fear that the children will be tortured or killed by the security council passes a meaningful resolution? how many people need to die before the consciouses of all world capitals on this subject are stirred? the people of syria can't afford to wait while more false promises and half-measures from their government are accompanied by brutality on the ground.

there will be no reform of political progress in syria while such swrooins and the threat to the stability of the region is growing. with each day that passes finding a way back from the brink will be harder and innocent lives will be needlessly and wrongfully lost and that's why this council could help to overt by acting in a united manner. today as i understand it we all the agree around this table that the security council has a role to play and we all want a peaceful, political solution that ensures the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of syria and we all agree the process should be led by the people of syria themselves with the support of their region and the international community and we all agree the rights of minorities in syria must be safeguarded and respected. we all agree that military action would not be an

appropriate response to the complex situation in syria. something that this draft resolution makes clear. we all welcome the work of the arab league. so based on agreeing on all those things now we must have the will to match such agreement by being able to agree on a resolution. while we meet mr. president, the gravest of crimes, of being committed in syria, responsibility for these crimes lies overwhelmingly at the door of the syrian authorities. but if this council cannot agree to adopt a resolution, condemning the violence and backing the arab league and enabling a peaceful resolution, then that failure of this council will be judged by the people of syria. and of their region. we should united behind the arab league plan and that is what i urge all members of the council to do this week. and we should remain seized of the situation in syria, returning to the matter if the violence still continues. to fail to do so would be to undermine the credibility of

this institution, betray the syrian people, snub the arab league and fail in this council's responsibilities. thank you, mr. president. >> i thank you for your statement and i give the floor to hills excellency, minister of foreign affairs of guatemala. >> thank you. >> translator: mr. president, allow me to begin my statement on a personal note. i represent the government of president molina which took off barely two weeks ago. my presence reflects our commitment to the united nations as well as our intention to carry out our role as a recently elected member of the council in a responsible manner. we are here fully committed to build consensus for the maintenance of international peace and security.

and we appreciate the convening of this important meeting in response to the requests this important meeting in response to the request made by league of state in its letter 22nd of january addressed to secretary-general ban ki-moon. we are especially pleased at the information of secretary-general of league of our states as well as the president his excellency. we've listened intently to ambassador from the republic of syria. in addition to the information provided today, we have previously had access to the decisions that in the past week ministers. the league of our states and

government of syria on the 19 ae tenth of the report prepared by the he o all of this improved our ability to understand what is happening on the ground. at the same time it has criticed to a clearly deteriorating situation the events of the last few days and decision for the league of states have only heightened our apprehension. mr. president once again the council addresses the possible management on the league of nations on the amazing changes in the middle east and north of the african continent. as with all change, especially when it surges from the grassroots of society, its final outcome tends to be unpredictable. we commonly affirm these changes are the pursue only exclusively

of the citizens of each country but it is undeniable events continue to be the case wave of change does not affect border and any specific impacts the rest explains the presence of the league of states in the case we're dealing with today, the situation in syria. we have listened intently on narratives on the matter which try to assign responsibility to different while the facts of what is actually happening is sorted out, a task made more difficult to the lack of access to the media and in spite of the presence until a few days ago of the mission of observers, two realities overshadow the rest. first the increasing toll of human life and the general suffering on the population. secondly the spiral of violence that points at the real possibility of a civil war

between syrians. the immediate tafb at hand, then, is put an end to violence and reverse the current trend to great eer misfortunes. the league of states commended for pursuing the front lines on these objectives. we sympathize with the initiative of the organization this seeks what is termed an arab solution to the crisis. our delegation is prepared to acrow the league of our states in the fulfillment of this solution. the prime objective of which is humanitarian in nature. but the broader objective of which is viewed in the framework of a longer term political solution. some question whether this is realistic given immediate rejection from the president of the government of syria. for our part we're willing to give them the objective within a predetermined timeframe.

should this initiative not bear fruit, we believe whether we like it or not we'd be failing in our obligation, if we were to allow a grave situation to deteriorate further with the foreseeable domestic and international repercussions on peace and security. we are more than aware of the serious dilemmas this poses. nonintervention in the affairs of sovereign states and respect for territory integrity are cardinal principles of our firm poll sichlt we also acknowledge the obligation of all states to observe certain norms of conduct in relation to their populations. we understand popular demands expressed in a peaceful manner cannot be equated with a government that uses force to address these demands. that is why in an area when the principle of the responsibility to protect is being questioned

we are not ashamed with nuances in other forns we support that principle. >> as you can see we lost the picture from new york, the security council for new york city u.n. security council. we're told we'll get it back very shortly. so we ask you to stay with us, if you would. secretary of state hillary clinton there before the u.n. security council. she expected to endorse that plan by the arab league on syria. the plan calling for president assad to step aside as part of an effort to resolve the political crisis in his country. two permanent security councilmembers russia and china have spoken out against the arab league plan. secretary clinton is joined by foreign ministers of britain and france. we're work ongoing that.

we'll also remind you that our coverage tonight begins at 8:00 eastern time on c-span of the florida primary.

so you can see we're trying to get the satellite signal back. as we work on that we'll take a look at a program earlier with cbo director talking about the health care law. [ applause ] >> no standing ovation? my people. i want to thank everyone for the chance to be here today and to spend a little time talking about the coast associated with the care act and close with the speculation about its likely future, how it might evolve over

time and answer a few questions the audience may have. i'll warn you in advance that discussing the cost of affordable care act is not suitable for polite company. also former director of the budget office and it's my job to talk tout apocalyptic things in the future so that the this will be a depressing presentation. there are four kinds of cost associated with the act. first are the budget costs. we'll walk through this and talk about the job the cbo was burdened with and how i think about the scoring. past that there are cost associated with the bill, genuine economic costs going to burden the united states if the bill continues in its current form. then severe political fallout,

unmistakable complications for our future. i'll touch on each of those and close with answers to your questions the question comes up is this going to close the budget or not? you want to say at the outset the cbo received criticism, much of it from my people, conservatives in america, about their scoring and i think they did an absolutely superb job. i think they conducted themselves in exactly the fashion they were asked to. unfortunately the cbo operates with golden handcuffs. the cbo is never allowed to say two things about legislation. it cannot be law say that's not a good idea. it can be say that's never going to happen.