Syria: Situation is extremely worrying - UNODA Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, on the situation in the Middle East.

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UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said, “The situation left by the previous Syrian authorities is extremely worrying. Therefore, I am encouraged that the new authorities have expressed their desire and commitment to embark on a new chapter of cooperation with the OPCW to close the outstanding issues.”

Addressing the Security Council today (7 Mar), Nakamitsu said, “I am further encouraged by the statement made by the caretaker Foreign Minister on Wednesday at this week’s session of the OPCW Executive Council, in which he emphasized the new authorities’ commitment to destroying any remains of the chemical weapons programme developed under the previous authorities, bring justice to the victims, and ensure Syria’s compliance with international law.”

She also said, “I am pleased to note that, as a result of the renewed commitment, the new Syrian authorities and the OPCW Technical Secretariat have already begun to work towards these goals. In the coming days, a team of technical experts from the OPCW Technical Secretariat will be deployed to Damascus to work on establishing the OPCW’s permanent physical presence in Syria and start jointly planning deployments to chemical weapons sites.”

She highlighted, “That said, the work ahead will not be easy. The new reality, while presenting an opportunity to chart a new course for Syria, also presents significant challenges amidst significant humanitarian, security and recovery needs in the country. In order to accomplish all the tasks needed to rid Syria of all chemical weapons, the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the new authorities in Syria will require strong support and additional resources from the international community.”