UNSC briefing on Syria (Chemical Weapons)

[5 January 2022]

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Madam President,

At the outset, allow me to extend my felicitations to you and extend our full support to your Presidency. I also welcome our five new colleagues to the Council and thank the five outgoing colleagues for their contribution.  We would like to 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 99^th monthly report by DG-OPCW submitted to this Council pursuant to UNSCR 2118. We look forward to the report on the Secretariat’s latest (eighth) round of inspections of facilities of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC). We have noted the submission by Syrian Arab Republic on 16^th December of its 97^th monthly report detailing activities undertaken to implement its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). We have also noted that the Tripartite Agreement between the Syrian Arab Republic, UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) and the OPCW that facilitates the Secretariat’s activities in Syria, has been extended for a further period of six months.

Madam President,

3. We encourage continued engagement between Syria and the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW to address and resolve all relevant issues relating to chemical weapons.

4. India’s position on issues related to Syria acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention is well known. It is our principled stand that CWC is a unique, non-discriminatory disarmament instrument for elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. India attaches high importance to the CWC, and stands for its full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation. We support the collective efforts by all the parties to ensure that the credibility and integrity of this Convention is maintained to the fullest.

5. 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 procedures 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. This should be adhered to.

6. India has also been repeatedly cautioning against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons, including in the region. The reports of UNITAD have also referred to the repeated deployments of chemical weapons by UN proscribed terrorist groups and those affiliated to ISIL against civilian populations between 2014 and 2016. ISIL remains active in Syria, where the group is seeking to rebuild its combat capabilities. Therefore, allegations of the use of chemical weapons need to be dealt with utmost attention.

7. India continues to believe that progress on other tracks could help with potential forward movement in respect of the political process in Syria as advocated by UNSCR 2254.

I thank you, Madam President.

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