Source The United Nations
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said that all efforts by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat to organize the next round of consultations between the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) and the Syrian National Authority continue to be unsuccessful.
Addressing the Council on Monday (8 May), Nakamitsu emphasized that full cooperation by the Syrian Arab Republic with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is essential to close all outstanding issues.
She also said, “Considering the identified gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies that remain unresolved, at this time, the OPCW Technical Secretariat assesses that the declaration submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic still cannot be considered accurate and complete in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).”
The UN High Representative said she had been advised that the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) continues to study all available information related to allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.
In this context, she added, the FFM is currently preparing upcoming deployments and will report to the Executive Council on the results of its work in due course.
Nakamitsu also said that the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) continues investigating incidents where the FFM has determined that chemical weapons were used or likely used in the Syrian Arab Republic.
In closing, Nakamitsu called the Council’s attention to the fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which will take place next week.
According to the UN High Representative, the Conference is an important opportunity for States Parties to renew and strengthen their commitments to the CWC and the norm against the use of chemical weapons.
Nakamitsu urged, “We must make every effort to ensure the continued resilience of the taboo against these horrific weapons. The use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, under any circumstances, is a grave violation of international law. There can be no justification for their use. Those responsible for such attacks must be identified and held accountable, for the sake of the victims and as a deterrent to future chemical warfare.”