Statement by Mr. KITADA Tetsuo, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on "the Situation in the Middle East (Syria chemical weapons)"

Madam. President,
 
Since this is the first time to take the floor this month, I would also like to congratulate the United States for the successful presidency in August and wish Albania all the best for this month.
 
First, I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Ms. Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament, for her detailed and insightful briefing.
 
It is truly regrettable that we have not witnessed tangible progress on the Syria chemical weapons file since our last meeting.
 
In September 2013, this Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2118.
 
As this month marks 10th year since its adoption, I would like to stress one simple thing:
 
Syria should comply fully and faithfully with this resolution, and this Council should not remain silent on its non-compliance.
 
Resolution 2118 prohibited Syria from using, developing, producing, otherwise acquiring, stockpiling, or retaining chemical weapons.
 
However, since 2013, independent impartial expert bodies have repeatedly found, on a total of nine occasions, that the Syrian Arab Republic was responsible for the use of chemical weapons.
 
Regarding the horrific use of chemical weapons in Douma, Japan once again condemns the Syrian Government's use of chemical weapons, as concluded by the third report of the Investigation and Identification Team.
 
Resolution 2118 also decided that Syria should cooperate fully with the OPCW and comply with all aspects of its decision, including by accepting personnel designated by the OPCW or the United Nations and providing them with immediate and unfettered access to—and the right to inspect—any and all chemical weapons sites.
 
Nevertheless, as described in the latest monthly report, Syria has not provided declarations or documents requested by the OPCW Secretariat to resolve the outstanding issues.
 
Syria's refusal to issue a visa to the Declaration Assessment Team's lead technical expert is another regrettable example of Syria's non-cooperation with the OPCW.
 
Japan, once again, calls upon all Council members to urge the Syrian Government to fully comply with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and Security Council resolution 2118, including the complete dismantlement of its chemical weapons program.
 
Let this Council do its job before we witness another victim of chemical weapons in Syria.
 
I thank you.