Qatar Strongly Condemns Syrian Regime's Use of Chemical Weapons

Qatar Strongly Condemns Syrian Regime's Use of Chemical Weapons

The Hague/Information Office/12 October 2016/ Qatar condemned in the strongest terms the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons in Syria, and called for the need of holding those involved in these attacks accountable. This came in a speech delivered by HE Permanent Representatives of Qatar to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Khaled Fahd Al Khater before the 83rd Session of the OPCW Executive Council being held from 11 to 14 October in The Hague. The State of Qatar, he said, appreciates the efforts exerted by the OPCW with respect to the destruction of Syria's declared chemical weapons, and supports as well what has been done and being made by the OPCW to investigate the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, especially what the fact-finding mission is doing to find the truth despite the grave risks facing it. Al Khater pointed out that Qatar's delegation took note of the third report issued by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and submitted to the UN Security Council on 24 August 2016 pursuant to the resolution No. 2235 (2015), which concluded that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in the Syrian towns of Telmns and Srmin, and also concluded that the ISIS group used chemical weapons in the Syrian town of Mare'. The State of Qatar strongly condemned in the strongest terms the use of chemical weapons by both the Syrian regime and other organizations, the Permanent Representatives of Qatar to the OPCW said, adding that stringent measures should be taken in this regard, and those involved in these chemical attacks should be held accountable. He described the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons as a flagrant violation of the Convention and the resolution of the Security Council No. 2118 (2013) and a flagrant violation of the resolutions of this Council. It is reprehensible, unprecedented and contrary to the rules of international law, he said. He expressed the State of Qatar's deep concern about the report of the OPCW Director General which said that the Organization was unable to address the unresolved issues, including gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies, in the Syria's declaration and related submissions, and unable to verify the accuracy and completeness of Syria declaration in accordance with the requirements of the Convention and the Council's relevant resolution. Al Khater said two years ago we mentioned that the international community made an unprecedented effort in giving Syria one opportunity after another to correct the situation within a specific time, but the third report proves Syria's non-compliance and its insistence on the use of chemical weapons. Therefore, the State of Qatar endorses and supports the draft resolution submitted by the United States to the Council entitled to (the report of the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism on the use of chemical weapons in Syria), especially in its paragraph 9 which demanded the inclusion of the issue of (the removal of Syria's chemical weapons program) in the agenda of all the sessions of the Council in the future, its paragraph 10 which recommended that the 21st Conference of the States Parties suspend the rights and privileges enjoyed by Syria under the Convention until it is proven that all the elements of the Syrian chemical weapons program removed, and its paragraphs 11 and 12 concerning additional strict procedures against Syria. Al Khater stressed that Qatar attaches great importance to rid the world of chemical weapons, expressing its cooperation with the OPCW, especially in relation to the activities held by the Doha regional center which will hold more than six regional workshops in collaboration with the Organization this year. He called at the same time for adopting Qatar's statement as an official document of the OPCW Executive Council and putting it on the official site of the Organization.