Syria: Chemical weapons are a “danger to us all” and an unacceptable threat

• news by AUN News correspondent
• Friday, January 06, 2023
• AUN News – ISSN: 2949-8090

Summary:

• He said, “The lack of responsibility for using chemical weapons by parties to Syria’s long-running civil war is a threat to international peace and security and a danger to us all.

• “Not moving Regarding Resolution 2118, which orders the Syrian government to destroy any chemical weapons it may have, UNODA has maintained constant contact with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Since the Council’s previous meeting on the subject, all outstanding concerns “have not advanced,” according to Mr. Ebo, who added that “all efforts by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to organize the next round of consultations… continue to be futile.

• “He emphasized that to resolve any outstanding issues, “full cooperation by the Syrian Arab Republic with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is needed.

• “No reaction, no adherence UN representative told the Council that Syria has yet to explain why two cylinders connected to a 2018 chemical weapons incident in Douma were moved without authorization.

• The country is being asked to say where the chemical weapons used in the attacks in March 2017 were made, stored, and ready to use, as well as what chemical weapons it has now.

Adedeji Ebo, who works for High Representative Izumi Nakamitsu, spoke on her behalf. He said, “The lack of responsibility for using chemical weapons by parties to Syria’s long-running civil war is a threat to international peace and security and a danger to us all.”

So, he said, “it is important to hold everyone accountable who would dare to use chemical weapons.” “As we begin the new year, I express my fervent hope that this Council will come together on this matter.”

Not moving

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and UNODA have been in constant contact about Resolution 2118, which tells the Syrian government to destroy any chemical weapons it may have.

Mr. Ebo said that since the Council’s last meeting, “none of the outstanding issues have moved forward.” He also said, “The OPCW Technical Secretariat’s efforts to organize the next round of consultations continue to fail.”

He clarified that “full cooperation by the Syrian Arab Republic with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is needed” to solve any problems.

No reaction, no adherence

The UN representative told the Council that Syria has yet to explain why two cylinders connected to a 2018 chemical weapons incident in Douma were moved without authorization.

Additionally, he said that the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission, which was in the nation from November 6 to 12, “remains in the process of analyzing all relevant information linked to claims of chemical weapons usage.”

Regarding the 2021 decision by the UN-backed international body looking into the use of chemical weapons, titled “Addressing the Possession and Use of Chemical Weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic,” Mr. Ebo was told that Syria “has not yet completed any of the measures specified” in a decision from the year before.

The country is being asked to say where the chemical weapons used in the attacks in March 2017 were made, stored, and ready to use, as well as what chemical weapons it has now. It is also asked to deal with problems that haven’t been solved since it first said it had chemical weapons and a program to make them.

“The OPCW Technical Secretariat will continue to work with the Syrian Arab Republic to finish them and will continue to report to the OPCW Executive Council as instructed,” the UNODA Deputy High Representative said.