Unlike the previous Assad regime, the present Syrian authorities are showing their commitment to the Chemical Weapon Disarmament. While briefing the Ambassadors, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs welcomed the steps taken by the new authorities to engage with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is also affirmative on the point of compliance with the International Law.
Along with emphasising the importance of seizing this moment to close all the outstanding issues related to the country’s chemical weapons dossier, she said, “Syria has started to take its steps towards this objective”. The August 2013 chemical weapon (Sarin Gas) attack in Syria has killed 1127 civilians and caused more than 6,000 with serious health complications.
After the fall of the Assad regime, there has occasioned a historic opportunity to get rid of chemical weapons and ensure the long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the UN’s top disarmament official told the Security Council on Friday.
The Resolution on Chemical Weapon Disarmament-
Soon after the August 2013 chemical attack in Syria, the Security Council called for the elimination of the country’s chemical weapons. In addition to this, it also endorsed a diplomatic plan for Syrian-led negotiations towards peace. A resolution, Resolution 2118 (2013) was unanimously adopted. The Council called for speedy implementation of the procedures laid down by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “for the expeditious destruction of the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons programme and stringent verification thereof.” The text expressly mentions that ‘no party in Syria should use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer chemical weapons.’
The consequence of non-compliance with the resolution is that the measures under Chapter VII, UN Charter, come into force. These measures can include sanctions or any other coercive action, as per the council. The resolution also authorised the member states to acquire, control, transport, transfer, and destroy chemical weapons identified by the Director General of the OPCW.
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The Ghouta attack and Report-
A team of UN investigators was investigating the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria. It has found “clear and convincing evidence” that Sarin gas was used in the Ghouta attack of 21 August 2013. This attack involved a chemical weapon (Sarin Gas), which killed 1127 civilians and left more than 6,000 with serious health complications. A team led by Swedish scientist Dr. Ake Sellstrom has concluded the report with finding that the environmental, chemical and medical samples collected provide ‘clear and convincing evidence that surface to surface rockets containing the nerve agent Sarin were used in Ein Tarma, Moadamiyah, and Zamaika, in the Ghouta area of Damascus. Mr. Ben said, “There must be accountability for the use of chemical weapons. Any use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, is a crime.” The Secretary-General has also said that, “This is a war crime”.
The role of the Assad Regime-
Ms. Izumi Nakanitsu, also added that the situation left by the previous Syrian authorities is extremely worrying. The previous authorities were not apparently serious to meet the ends of the resolution.
She also told the Council, “It is ‘undeniable’ that the previous authorities in Syria did not declare the full extent of its chemical weapons programme and that they continue to use, and possibly produce, chemical weapons after joining the convention,” citing the reports from the OPCW Technical Secretariat. She also added that despite the promising developments, the road ahead will be challenging as Syria continues to face significant humanitarian, security and recovery challenges.
An OPCW technical team is proposed to be deployed to Damascus. It will be working on setting up a permanent presence in the country and planning joint site inspections.
She said, “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.”
She concluded that, “The United Nations stands ready to provide the support however we can and will continue to do our part to uphold the norms against the use of chemical weapons- anywhere, at any time.”
