UNSC briefing on Syria (Chemical Weapons)

(Thursday, 2 September 2021)

India Statement

By

Ambassador R. Ravindra

Deputy Permanent Representative

Madam President, at the outset, I join others in congratulating your delegation on assuming the presidency of the Council and extend our best wishes. I also thank you and others for kind words towards to my delegation for our August Presidency of the Council.

I thank Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for her update.

2. We have taken note of the contents of the latest 95^th monthly report by DG-OPCW. We note the recent announcement by DG-OPCW to deploy the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) to resolve outstanding issues regarding Syria’s initial declaration and subsequent submissions and the response from the Syrian National Authority proposing to receive the DAT team in October 2021. We encourage the two sides to work out mutually acceptable dates at the earliest.

3. Our views on the Chemical Weapons Convention have been consistent. The CWC is a unique, non-discriminatory disarmament instrument. It is a model for the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. We attach high importance to the CWC, and stand for its full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation.  We support the collective efforts by all to ensure that the credibility and integrity of this Convention is maintained to the fullest.

4. India is against the use of chemical weapons by anybody, anywhere, at any time and under any circumstances. India has consistently maintained that any investigation into the use of chemical weapons must be impartial, credible, and objective, following scrupulously the provisions and procedure embedded in the Convention, and in conformity with the delicate balance of power and responsibility enshrined under it to establish facts and reach evidence-based conclusions.

5. Since we joined the Council in January this year, India has been repeatedly cautioning against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons. We are concerned at the frequent reports of resurgence of terrorist groups in Syria and the region. As we have learnt from the consequences of complacency against terrorism in the past, the international community cannot afford to ignore terrorist activities in Syria and beyond.

6. When the Council came together in July this year, by unanimously voting in favour of resolution 2585, we showed the world that progress on the Syria file, after a decade of conflict and impasse, is possible, provided we were all willing to walk that extra step and work in tandem while taking cognizance of each other’s concerns. Let us continue to advance the same constructive spirit with regard to the chemical weapons discussions.

I thank you, Madam President.

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