The UN established informed the Council that will Syria has yet to provide an explanation regarding the unauthorized movement of two cylinders that were related to a 2018 chemical weapon incident in Douma. “It is, therefore , imperative to keep accountable all those who would care to to use chemical weapons”, he continued. “As we start the new year, I state my sincere hope that associates of this Council will bring together on this issue”.
No movement
Turning to the 2021 decision from the UN-backed international organization investigating chemical substance weapons use, entitled Addressing the Possession and Use of Chemical substance Weapons by the Syrian Arabic Republic ”, Mr. Ebo was informed that Syria has “not yet completed any of the steps stipulated ” in a decision from the previous year. It requests that within a specific time frame that the country: state the facilities where the chemical weapons used in March 2017 attacks were developed, produced, stockpiled, and operationally stored for delivery; the chemical weapons it currently possesses; and resolve all of the excellent issues regarding its initial declaration of its chemical weaponry stockpile and programme. All excellent issues “have not progressed” since the Council last met on the matter, said Mister. Ebo, adding that “all efforts by the OPCW Specialized Secretariat to organize the next round of consultations…continue to be unsuccessful”.
No response, no compliance
“Full cooperation by the Syrian Arab Republic with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is essential to closing every outstanding issues”, he underscored. UNODA has been in regular connection with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) on resolution 2118 , which mandates the particular Syrian Government to destroy any chemical weapons this possesses. He furthermore pointed out that the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission from 6 to 12 November, “remains along the way of studying all offered information related to allegations associated with chemical weapons use” in the country. Speaking on behalf of Higher Representative Izumi Nakamitsu, her deputy, Adedeji Ebo, declared that “the absence of accountability” for the previous use of chemical weapons by combatants in Syria’s long-running civil war, “is a threat to worldwide peace and security as well as a danger to us all”. “The OPCW Technical Secretariat will continue to engage with the Syrian Arab Republic regarding their completion and will still report to the OPCW Professional Council as mandated”, came to the conclusion the UNODA Deputy High Representative. Click here to watch the meeting in its entirety.
