‘Gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies’ continue over Syria’s chemical weapons stance, Security Council hears

In 2014, the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission was set up to investigate allegations of toxic chemicals for hostile purposes in Syria.
Unsplash/Eddie Carolina Stigson
In 2014, the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission was set up to investigate allegations of toxic chemicals for hostile purposes in Syria.
  • UN News

The top UN disarmament official told the Security Council on Monday that “gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies” identified in Syria’s declaration over its use of chemical weapons, in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). “cannot be considered accurate and complete”.  

Updating ambassadors on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, as per Security Councilresolution 2118 (2013), High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said she has been stressing each month “for many years now”, that continued unresolved inconsistencies meant Syria was out of compliance.

Continued efforts, ‘unsuccessful’

Since her last briefing, she said the Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) has been in regular contact with its counterparts at the UN-backed multinational Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on related efforts by its Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) of experts, to clarify outstanding issues.

“Unfortunately, all efforts by the OPCWTechnical Secretariat to organize the 25th round of consultations between the DAT and the Syrian National Authority continues to be unsuccessful”, she stated.

Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefs the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefs the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria.

Aiming to help

As Council members were previously informed, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has provided Syria with the list of pending declarations and other documents requested by the DAT since 2019, highlighting 20 unresolved issues.

“I have been advised that the OPCW Technical Secretariat has not yet received the requested information from the Syrian Arab Republic”, said Ms. Nakamitsu.

“Full cooperation by the Syrian Arab Republic with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is essential to closing all outstanding issues.”

Full commitment assured

The OPCW Technical Secretariat has assured the UNODA chief that it remains “fully committed” to ensuring the “complete implementation” of all Syria’s declaration requirements.

It has also upheld its pledge to assist Syria in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, OPCW policies, and Security Council resolution 2118.

“I take this opportunity to reiterate my support for the integrity, professionalism, impartiality, objectivity, and independence of the work of the OPCW”, concluded Ms. Nakamitsu.

© UN News (2022) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: UN News