Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East (Syria chemical weapons)
2023/2/7
(As delivered)
Madam President,
I would like to reiterate our heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their families due to the recent devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria and sincerely pray for the prompt reconstruction of the affected areas. Japan has started and continues to extend its support.
Madam President,
First, I would like to thank Ms. Nakamitsu, Mr. Arias, and Mr. Oñate for their comprehensive and insightful briefing.
The use of chemical weapons can never be tolerated anywhere, by anyone, under any circumstances.
The use of them in Syria is a flagrant breach of international law, including the Chemical Weapons Convention, and constitutes a threat to international peace and security and the non-proliferation regime.
In April 2018, 43 individuals, including women and children, lost their lives and dozens more were affected in horrific chemical weapons attacks in Douma, according to the findings of the Fact-Finding Mission and Identification and Investigation Team.
The latest report of the IIT concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian Arab Air Force perpetrated these attacks. Japan condemns the Syrian Government’s use of chemical weapons, as concluded by the report.
We deeply regret that the report, once again, confirms the continued failure of the Syrian Government to cooperate with the OPCW and IIT, violating its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and UN Security Council resolution 2118.
The decision made by the twenty-fifth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention should be taken seriously by Syria.
Syria must engage in good faith with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and provide all required documents to solve the outstanding issues related to the initial and subsequent declarations submitted by Syria.
It is imperative that Syria immediately declare and completely eliminate its chemical weapons program, and grant full and unhindered access to OPCW staff to verify compliance.
Also, it is our shared responsibility to hold accountable those who have used chemical weapons and bring justice to the victims. No Member State should provide shelter to those responsible for committing these brutal and inhumane acts against their own people.
We commend the professional, impartial and independent work conducted by the OPCW and its staff. We strongly oppose any attempts to undermine their invaluable work.
Furthermore, in order to prevent the recurrence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Japan continues to fully support efforts of the OPCW, including the IIT, and to work closely with the international community toward the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
Thank you.
I would like to reiterate our heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their families due to the recent devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria and sincerely pray for the prompt reconstruction of the affected areas. Japan has started and continues to extend its support.
Madam President,
First, I would like to thank Ms. Nakamitsu, Mr. Arias, and Mr. Oñate for their comprehensive and insightful briefing.
The use of chemical weapons can never be tolerated anywhere, by anyone, under any circumstances.
The use of them in Syria is a flagrant breach of international law, including the Chemical Weapons Convention, and constitutes a threat to international peace and security and the non-proliferation regime.
In April 2018, 43 individuals, including women and children, lost their lives and dozens more were affected in horrific chemical weapons attacks in Douma, according to the findings of the Fact-Finding Mission and Identification and Investigation Team.
The latest report of the IIT concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian Arab Air Force perpetrated these attacks. Japan condemns the Syrian Government’s use of chemical weapons, as concluded by the report.
We deeply regret that the report, once again, confirms the continued failure of the Syrian Government to cooperate with the OPCW and IIT, violating its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and UN Security Council resolution 2118.
The decision made by the twenty-fifth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention should be taken seriously by Syria.
Syria must engage in good faith with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and provide all required documents to solve the outstanding issues related to the initial and subsequent declarations submitted by Syria.
It is imperative that Syria immediately declare and completely eliminate its chemical weapons program, and grant full and unhindered access to OPCW staff to verify compliance.
Also, it is our shared responsibility to hold accountable those who have used chemical weapons and bring justice to the victims. No Member State should provide shelter to those responsible for committing these brutal and inhumane acts against their own people.
We commend the professional, impartial and independent work conducted by the OPCW and its staff. We strongly oppose any attempts to undermine their invaluable work.
Furthermore, in order to prevent the recurrence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Japan continues to fully support efforts of the OPCW, including the IIT, and to work closely with the international community toward the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
Thank you.