After Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention, 17 cases of chemical weapons use was detected by U.N Security Council
United Nations, Jun 4 (AP) The head of the international chemical weapons watchdog told the U.N. Security Council that its experts have investigated 77 allegations against Syria, and concluded that in 17 cases chemical weapons were likely or definitely used.
Fernando Arias called it 바카라a disturbing reality바카라 that eight years after Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the production or use of such weapons, many questions remain about its initial declaration of its weapons, stockpiles and precursors and its ongoing programme.
He said Thursday that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will be taking up a new issue at its next consultations with Syria -- 바카라the presence of a new chemical weapons agent found in samples collected in large storage containers in September 2020."
Arias said he sent a letter informing the Syrian government that he intended to send an OPCW team to look into this issue from May 18 to June 1, and requested visas but never got a response. He said he informed Damascus he was postponing the arrival to May 28.
With no reply from Syria by May 26, he said, 바카라I decided to postpone the mission until further notice.바카라
Syria was pressed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention in September 2013 by its close ally Russia after a deadly chemical weapons attack that the West blamed on Damascus. By August 2014, President Bashar Assad's government declared that the destruction of its chemical weapons was completed. But Syria's initial declaration to the OPCW has remained in dispute.
In April 2020, OPCW investigators blamed three chemical attacks in 2017 on the Syrian government. The OPCW Executive Council responded by demanding that Syria provide details.
When it didn't, France submitted a draft measure on behalf of 46 countries in November to suspend Syria's 바카라rights and privileges바카라 in the global watchdog. In an unprecedented vote on April 21, the OPCW suspended Syria's rights until all outstanding issues are resolved.
Russia has sharply criticised the OPCW and its investigators, accusing them of factual and technical errors and acting under pressure from Western nations.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia kept up the attack on Thursday, accusing the chemical weapons watchdog of using information 바카라from biased sources opposed to the Syrian government,바카라 of collecting evidence remotely and relying on 바카라pseudo witnesses.바카라
He said the purpose of the council meeting was not to 바카라interrogate바카라 Arias by asking 바카라uncomfortable바카라 questions, as some council members said, but 바카라to work collectively to improve the deplorable situation that has evolved in the OPCW.바카라
바카라We need to talk frankly with the OPCW leadership in order to preclude further erosion of its authority and prevent recurrence of the miserable situation that happened in April,바카라 when it voted 바카라to incapacitate ... a sovereign state that faithfully complies바카라 with the Chemical Weapons Convention, Nebenzia said. 바카라We are concerned over increasing politicization of its work, initiated by our Western colleagues.바카라
The Russian ambassador said he was surprised that Arias expressed surprise that Syria was not cooperating with the OPCW investigation team charged with determining responsibility for chemical attacks.
바카라It is not surprising that Syria never recognized the legitimacy of the group, neither did we,바카라 Nebenzia said. 바카라The group was established illegitimately. You cannot expect that Syria will be cooperating with it.바카라
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward countered that 바카라the facts of this case are clear.바카라
바카라There are 20 unresolved issues in Syria's initial chemical weapons declaration, which is deeply oncerning,바카라 she said. 바카라The UN and the OPCW have attributed eight chemical weapons attacks to the Syrian regime. It's clear that the regime retains a chemical weapons capability and the willingness to use it.바카라
Woodward said the Security Council will continue to insist on Syria's full cooperation with the OPCW, 바카라and the full and verifiable destruction of Syria's chemical program.바카라
U.S. Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills said 바카라no amount of disinformation 바카라 espoused by Syria and its very small number of supporters 바카라 can negate or diminish the credibility of the evidence that has been presented to us by the OPCW.바카라
바카라The Assad regime 바카라 supported by Russia 바카라 continues to ignore calls from the international community to fully disclose and verifiably destroy its chemical weapons program,바카라 Mills said.
바카라Without accountability for the atrocities committed against the Syrian people, lasting peace in Syria will remain out of reach. The United States, once again, calls for justice and accountability as critical components to help move Syria towards a political resolution to the conflict.바카라