7(c) – Elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme

7(f) – Addressing the threat from chemical weapons use

Mr. Chairperson,

Distinguished Colleagues,

Türkiye notes with deep concern the latest reports of the OPCW Director-General on progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme. We have underlined this on every occasion.

Türkiye welcomed the third report of the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) on the chemical weapon attack which took place in Douma on 7 April 2018. IIT has confirmed the responsibility of the Syrian regime in five chemical weapons attacks in the three reports it has published so far. Chemical weapons use has been independently attributed to the Syrian regime by the UN and the OPCW on nine occasions.

According to the assessment of the OPCW Technical Secretariat, the declaration submitted by Damascus still cannot be considered accurate and complete in accordance with the Convention.

We closely follow the work to resolve the remaining identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies.

After ten years since its accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention, it is unacceptable to see that no complete declaration was made yet.

Adoption of the decision entitled “Addressing the threat from chemical weapons use” (C-SS-4/DEC.3) on 27 June 2018 by the Fourth Special Session of the Conference and the establishment of the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) for identifying the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attacks in Syria provided an appropriate response by the OPCW to the chemical weapons attacks.

We believe that all perpetrators of use of chemical weapons must be held accountable.

The fate of hundreds of tonnes of Syria’s chemical weapons remains yet to be verified. This is a grave concern to all.

Syrian regime must declare the full extent of its chemical weapons programme without any further delay, extend its full cooperation and put an end to its obstruction to the work of the OPCW Syria missions in contravention of the Chemical Weapons Convention, UN Security Council resolution 2118 and relevant decisions of the OPCW policy-making organs. In this framework, we note consent given for the next round of consultations to be held with the full participation of DAT team, as a right step in the right direction.

Thank you.