UN official: The Assad regime continues to obstruct the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Director and Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United States, Adedeji Ebo, affirmed before the Security Council that “The full cooperation of the Assad regime with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is necessary to close all outstanding issues.”
Ebo said: “Assad regime continues to obstruct the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its various technical teams and the recent findings of the OPCW team raised concerns that the Assad regime continues to possess chemical weapons.”
Ebo added: “The Assad regime’s declaration regarding its chemical weapons stocks cannot be considered accurate and complete, given the unresolved gaps and discrepancies that were identified according to the assessments of the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”
Ebo stressed that “The lack of accountability for the use of chemical weapons continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, and urged the Council to unite on this issue.”
In the ensuing discussion, several delegates expressed support for the work of the OPCW and called on the Assad regime to resolve outstanding issues.
He added: “The Assad regime’s declaration regarding its stockpiles of chemical weapons cannot be considered accurate and complete, given the unresolved gaps and contradictions that were identified according to the assessments of the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”
He stressed that “The absence of accountability for the use of chemical weapons continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, and urged the Security Council to unite on this issue.”
Many representatives expressed their support for the work of the OPCW and called on the Assad regime to resolve outstanding issues.
