Izumi Nakamitsu also urged the state to cooperate with international body, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), adding that “full cooperation” is “essential to closing these outstanding issues.”
The UN disarmament main was presenting an update connected the implementation of Security Council solution 2118 (2013) regarding the elimination of Syria’s chemic weapons programme.
According to Ms. Nakamitsu, Syria has submitted 17 amendments and respective supplements to its archetypal declaration. So far, 20 of the 24 outstanding issues remain unresolved.
Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (file)., by UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
She told Council Members that these outstanding points are “of concern” and impact undeclared research, production, and the arming of chartless quantities of chemic weapons.
There are besides “significant quantities” of chemic warfare agents oregon precursors, and chemic munitions, whose destiny has not yet been afloat verified.
Work successful progress
Ms. Nakamitsu listed for ambassadors all the information OPCW has not yet received, specified arsenic a declaration connected each undeclared types and quantities of nervus agents produced astatine a erstwhile accumulation facility, details of damage caused during an attack connected 8 June 2021, or the unauthorised question and remains of 2 destroyed cylinders.
Once the Syrian National Authority provides capable accusation and explanations, Ms. Nakamitsu assured, a squad from OPCW volition assist, if needed, successful amending the initial declaration.
The High Representative besides informed that OPCW has not been capable to docket the 25th round of consultations successful Damascus due to the fact that of the “continued refusal” by the Syrian Arab Republic to contented an introduction visa for 1 subordinate of the team.
Efforts to convene a constricted gathering with Syrian experts astatine the OPCW’s Headquarters, successful The Hague, were besides unsuccessful.
The disarmament main also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the OPCW’s quality to deploy to the country, but it remains acceptable to do it.
Ms. Nakamitsu concluded by reiterating her afloat enactment for the integrity, professionalism, impartiality, objectivity and independency of the enactment of the OPCW.
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