Statement by Mr. TAMAURA Shu, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East (Syria chemical weapons)
2023/8/8
(As delivered)
Madam President,
First, I would like to thank Deputy to the High Representative Mr. Ebo, and Dr. Katoub for their insightful briefings.
We reiterate our full support for the impartial, independent, and professional work of the OPCW and its Technical Secretariat, including its Fact-Finding Mission and Investigation and Identification Team.
It is regrettable that we have not seen concrete progress on this file, and the monthly report by the OPCW Director-General once again confirmed that “the declaration submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic still cannot be considered accurate and complete”.
Japan urges Syria to engage in good faith with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and provide all requested documents to solve the outstanding issues related to the initial and subsequent declarations submitted by Syria.
We regret that all efforts to hold the next round of consultations between the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) and the Syrian National Authority have been unsuccessful.
In this regard, we express our gratitude to the OPCW Technical Secretariat for providing updates on their meeting with Syrian representatives in Beirut on 22 and 23 June 2023.
As emphasized by the Secretariat during the meeting, priority should be given to the resumption of rounds of consultations, incorporating all experts designated by the Secretariat.
Madam President,
The use of chemical weapons by Syria remains a threat to international peace and security.
The Security Council cannot remain silent and allow impunity for those responsible for the use of chemical weapons against their own people.
Preventing the recurrence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria must continue to be this Council's priority. We call upon all Council members to join us in urging the Syrian Government to fully comply with its obligations under the CWC and Security Council resolution 2118 and eliminate its entire chemical weapons program.
I thank you, Madam President.
First, I would like to thank Deputy to the High Representative Mr. Ebo, and Dr. Katoub for their insightful briefings.
We reiterate our full support for the impartial, independent, and professional work of the OPCW and its Technical Secretariat, including its Fact-Finding Mission and Investigation and Identification Team.
It is regrettable that we have not seen concrete progress on this file, and the monthly report by the OPCW Director-General once again confirmed that “the declaration submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic still cannot be considered accurate and complete”.
Japan urges Syria to engage in good faith with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and provide all requested documents to solve the outstanding issues related to the initial and subsequent declarations submitted by Syria.
We regret that all efforts to hold the next round of consultations between the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) and the Syrian National Authority have been unsuccessful.
In this regard, we express our gratitude to the OPCW Technical Secretariat for providing updates on their meeting with Syrian representatives in Beirut on 22 and 23 June 2023.
As emphasized by the Secretariat during the meeting, priority should be given to the resumption of rounds of consultations, incorporating all experts designated by the Secretariat.
Madam President,
The use of chemical weapons by Syria remains a threat to international peace and security.
The Security Council cannot remain silent and allow impunity for those responsible for the use of chemical weapons against their own people.
Preventing the recurrence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria must continue to be this Council's priority. We call upon all Council members to join us in urging the Syrian Government to fully comply with its obligations under the CWC and Security Council resolution 2118 and eliminate its entire chemical weapons program.
I thank you, Madam President.