The situation in the Middle East (Syria) - Security…

Disarmament Head Urges Damascus Cooperate with Technical Secretariat, Allow Access

International efforts to clarify Syria’s declarations on its chemical weapons programme still have not progressed, the United Nations disarmament chief told the Security Council today, as some delegates sparred over the contents of the fact-finding mission’s latest report.

Presenting an update on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) regarding the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme (document S/2022/530), Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu stated that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat has yet to receive the requested declaration from Syria on all undeclared types and quantities of nerve agent, produced and/or weaponized, at a former chemical weapons production facility that was declared by Damascus as never having been used to produce and/or weaponize chemical warfare agents.

In response to the OPCW Technical Secretariat’s note verbale dated 20 May, Syria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates sent a letter to the OPCW Director-General on 31 May.  This note agreed with the Technical Secretariat’s proposal to address shortcomings in Syria’s initial declaration by exchanging correspondence for the time being.  In his letter, Syria’s Foreign Minister also acknowledged that such an exchange could not replace consultations between the Syrian authorities and the OPCW Declaration Assessment Team.  The letter also stated that the exclusion of the Team’s lead technical expert was a condition to stage the twenty-fifth round of consultations.

Regarding this twenty-fifth round of consultations in Damascus between the Syrian authorities and the Declaration Assessment Team, Ms. Nakamitsu said she regretted that the Technical Secretariat still cannot carry out these consultations because of Syria’s repeated refusal to issue an entry visa for the Team’s lead technical expert.  The Syrian authorities have stated that the exclusion of the expert from a limited round of consultations in Beirut, as proposed by the Secretariat, is a condition for its participation in the consultations.

She urged Syria’s Government to cooperate with the Technical Secretariat, as set out in paragraph 7 of article VII of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and facilitate arrangements to deploy the Declaration Assessment Team, in accordance with paragraph 7 of Council resolution 2118 (2013).  This includes allowing immediate and unfettered access for all personnel designated by the Secretariat.

“The use of chemical weapons is a grave violation of international law and an affront to our shared humanity,” she said.  “We need to remain vigilant to ensure that these awful weapons are never used again, and are eliminated, not only in Syria, but everywhere.”  She assured the Council of the United Nations commitment to work with all Member States to reinforce the norm against chemical weapons and ensure those responsible for their use are held to account.

In the ensuing discussion, the representative of France recalled that, nine years ago, President Bashar al-Assad killed more than 1,000 Syrians in the suburbs of Damascus.  This was never contested, and after that massacre, Council members unanimously adopted resolution 2118 (2013), including those who today contest Syria’s use of chemical weapons.  He deplored the absence of progress and said the situation is not evolving and Syria’s initial declaration is still incomplete.  The regime continues to obstruct OPCW’s work with a complete absence of cooperation.

The Russian Federation’s representative said the organization’s latest report follows the same pattern and aims to achieve the same goal as previous ones:  creating an impression about Syria’s alleged inability to be constructive or cooperate.  Yet, Damascus continues to comply with its obligations and actively engage with OPCW.  The Director-General should focus all efforts to “expeditiously turn this shameful page” in OPCW’s history where, for the benefit of Western representatives, a State was stripped of its rights despite “conscientiously complying” with the Chemical Weapons Convention, he said.

The representative of the United States said the Syrian regime has refused to grant all requested visas to the Declaration Assessment Team, despite its clear obligations under Council resolution 2118 (2013), and to meet with that team outside of Syria.  Given its failure to hold the next round of consultations for more than a year, Syria has left unresolved 20 issues in its incomplete declaration.  The regime and its supporters, including Moscow, claim that OPCW is biased.  “That claim is absurd,” he said, recalling that the regime has amended its initial declaration 17 times — and only after OPCW has noted its discrepancies with observable facts.  “The Council has responsibility to address this issue seriously and Russia shares that responsibility,” he said.  After 105 reports by the OPCW Director-General, the Technical Secretariat states that the declaration cannot be considered complete, notably amid the relentless obstruction of the regime.

The representative of Albania said the situation has not changed and there has not been any progress, preventing the resolution of the Syrian chemical weapons issue.  He deeply regretted Syria’s deliberate obstruction.  The 105th report comes to the same conclusion as the same inconsistences and discrepancies exist.  It is still not possible for Declaration Assessment Team members to confirm issues.  There is a refusal to provide key information and look at the true scope of the situation.  Closing the investigation quickly will help Syrian citizens and help the Council support the people of Syria, he concluded.

Syria’s delegate said that, despite difficult circumstances, Damascus has fully cooperated with OPCW to destroy its stock of chemical weapons and production facilities “in record time”.  Syria has positively engaged despite the politicization over recent years, the hostile approach of some States and the Technical Secretariat’s procrastination in dealing with some aspects of the dossier.  Detailing several positive developments — including Syria’s submission of its 104th monthly report on the elimination of chemical weapons and production facilities — he said that it is unfortunate that Damascus’ cooperation with OPCW was met with “ingratitude and denial”.  The reports present only a partial account of certain aspects by placing them outside of context.  Responding to comments made by the representatives of the United States, France and Albania, he stressed that those aggressive, non-constructive positions lead nowhere.  He called on those colleagues to refrain from such hostile declarations and adopt a more positive approach to let the Council shoulder its responsibilities in line with the Charter of the United Nations.

Also speaking today were the representatives of Ireland, India, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ghana (also on behalf of Gabon and Kenya), United Arab Emirates, China, Norway, Brazil, Iran and Türkiye.

The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 11:42 a.m.