Qatar has condemned in the strongest terms the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons, and called for those involved in these attacks to be held accountable.
This came in a speech delivered by Qatar’s Permanent Representatives to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Khaled Fahd al-Khater at the 83rd session of the OPCW Executive Council being held in The Hague.
Qatar, he said, appreciates the efforts of the OPCW with respect to the destruction of Syria’s declared chemical weapons, and supports what has been done by the organisation to investigate the use of chemical weapons against civilians in the war-torn country.
Al-Khater referred to a report issued by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and submitted to the Security Council on August 24, which concluded that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in the towns of Telmns and Srmin, and also concluded that IS militants used chemical weapons in the town of Mare’.
He described the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons as a flagrant violation of the Convention and the resolution of the Security Council No 2118 (2013) and a flagrant violation of the resolutions of OPCW Executive Council.
“It is reprehensible, unprecedented and contrary to the rules of international law,” he said.
Al-Khater expressed Qatar’s deep concern about the report of the OPCW director general which said that the organisation was unable to address the unresolved issues, including gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies, in Syria’s declaration and related submissions, and unable to verify the accuracy and completeness of Syria declaration in accordance with the requirements of the Convention and the Council’s relevant resolution.
“Two years ago we mentioned that the international community made an unprecedented effort in giving Syria one opportunity after another to correct the situation within a specific time, but the third report proves Syria’s non-compliance and its insistence on the use of chemical weapons,” he said
“Therefore, Qatar endorses and supports the draft resolution submitted by the United States to the Council which demanded the inclusion of the issue of (the removal of Syria’s chemical weapons program) in the agenda of all the sessions of the Council in the future.”
He stressed that Qatar attaches great importance to rid the world of chemical weapons, expressing its co-operation with the OPCW, especially in relation to the activities held by the Doha regional centre which will hold more than six regional workshops in collaboration with the Organisation this year.
Al-Khater called at the same time for adopting Qatar’s statement as an official document of the OPCW Executive Council and putting it on the official site of the Organisation.