Sabbagh: France and US seek to fabricate new pretexts to perpetrate more aggressive acts against Syria
NEW YORK, (ST)_Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations Bassam Sabbagh has reiterated that Syria has repeatedly condemned the use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone and under any circumstances.
“Syria has repeatedly affirmed that it has never used Chemical weapons,” Sabbagh said, addressing UN Security Council on Thursday.
He added that Syria has abided by cooperating with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW) and this led to the destruction of Syria’s entire chemical stockpiles under difficult circumstance.
“ Syria abides by organized dialogue with the OPCW Declaration Assessment team with the aim of addressing outstanding issues , thus a tangible achievement was made and many issues were closed,” he added.
The diplomat pointed out that Syria regrets that some countries criticized Syria’s initial declaration instead of appreciating what has been achieved and pushing forward the continuity in this direction.
“The OPCW Fact finding mission (FFM) investigated into alleged incidents that are informed by suspicious parties,” Sabbagh said, clarifying that the promotion to the draft decision that was submitted to the OPCW Conference of the States Parties by France and the US aims to fabricate new pretexts to perpetrate further aggressive acts against Syria.
“ I would like to ask Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs and the UN members, who recommended the OPCW for its professionalism, about its disturbing approach in the work of the FFM that is related to completing its investigations into alleged incidents in record time, I mean in a few months while the investigation is completed when the Syrian government requests it into a certain incident in more than three years??!” Sabbagh asked.
He referred to the statement issued by a group of 18 experts and notable personalities representing the Courage Foundation that called on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to regain its credibility, particularly after the manipulation practiced by the organization’s fact-finding mission regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian city of Douma in 2018.
Sabbagh underscored that the OPCW Declaration Assessment team held the 24th session of talks with the Syrian national committee in the second half of February and the team received assistance for the success of its mission.
He called on all member states of the OPCW to refuse the politicization of the technical character of the organization, and to address the serious defects in its work that would undermine the status and credibility of the organization.
Basma Qaddour