While hailing the recent progress made by the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the new Syrian authorities, Pakistan has said that such cooperation would accelerate the elimination of former President Bashar al-Assed’s chemical weapons programme.
“The OPCW Technical Secretariat must continue to be enabled to carry out its independent verification to eliminate suspected chemical weapons in Syria and any risks of proliferation, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council on Thursday.
The 15-member Council was discussing the latest international efforts to implement resolution 2118 (2013), which called for the complete elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.
In his remarks, Ambassador Jadoon reiterates Pakistan’s firm opposition to the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, and under any circumstances.
“(The) Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) remains a cornerstone of global disarmament framework, and we support all efforts for its universalization as well as its full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation.”
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy underscored the need for enhancing capacities and extend cooperation to Syrian authorities in overcoming obstacles and challenges associated with this complex file.
“This cooperation is critical in addressing several challenges including the nature of suspected sites, institutional constraints and limited technological capacities and experience of Syrian national teams in handling, transporting, and storing chemical munitions.”
He commended all those extending cooperation to Syrian authorities to build capacity and enhance institutional capabilities, especially Turkiye and Qatar.
“The OPCW Technical Secretariat must continue to be enabled to carry out its independent verification to eliminate suspected chemical weapons in Syria and any risks of proliferation, in compliance with the CWC.” Ambassador Jadoon said.
He hoped that the continued positive engagement between the Technical Secretariat and Syrian authorities will further build on the positive momentum to resolve all outstanding issues at the earliest, and close this file.