Allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria should be addressed through consultation: India at UNSC

India has told UN that concerns and allegations over use of chemical weapons in Syria should be dressed through consultation among all concerned parties, cautioning that "politicisation" of issue is neir helpful r productive. India also told UN Security Council that terrorist groups have taken vant of dece-long conflict in Syria to entrench mselves and pose a threat to entire region.

"Regarding allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria and investigations conducted, India has consistently underlined need for an impartial and objective investigation into any alleged use of chemical weapons, scrupulously following provisions and procedures laid down in Convention," India’s Permanent Representative to UN Ambassor T S Tirumurti said on Tuesday at UN Security Council meeting on Syria Chemical Weapons.

"Any concerns should be dressed on basis of consultation among all concerned parties. In our view, politicisation of issue is neir helpful r productive," Tirumurti said.

UNSC virtual meeting on Syria Chemical Weapons was India's first open meeting in Council as country began its tenure as n-permanent member for 2021-22 term. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu also dressed meeting. Council congratulated and welcomed new incoming members - India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and rway.

"India remains concerned about possibility of such weapons falling into hands of terrorist organisations and individuals. world cant afford to give se terrorists any sanctuary or dilute its fight against se terrorist groups," Tirumurti said.

He also underlined that India attaches high importance to Chemical Weapons Convention, which is a unique, n-discriminatory disarmament instrument and serves as a model for elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. "India has been firmly opposed to any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, and under any circumstances. We strongly condemn use of chemical weapons; and re can be justification for ir use," he said.

15-nation Security Council considered latest report on activities of Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in implementing Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) and relevant provisions of OPCW Executive Council decisions in relation to elimination of Syrian chemical weapons programme.

Through resolution, Security Council h called for full implementation of decision of OPCW Executive Council, which contains special procedures for expeditious and verifiable destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. Tirumurti said India has consistently called for a comprehensive and peaceful resolution of Syrian conflict through a Syrian-led dialogue, taking into account legitimate aspirations of people of Syria.

He ted that India has also contributed to return of rmalcy and rebuilding of Syria through humanitarian assistance and human resource development. Tirumurti voiced India’s appreciation for commitment of OPCW Technical Secretariat in performing its responsibilities during challenging times of pandemic.

India has taken te of findings mentioned in two recent reports of OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria. He said India also takes te that OPCW is in process of analysing information collected from its most recent deployments for cases related to alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. “We te with satisfaction that three issues relating to Syria’s initial declaration have been resolved during last six months,” he said.

India encourd continued engment and cooperation between Syria and OPCW Technical Secretariat towards an early resolution of all outstanding issues. India has provided a financial contribution of one million dollars to OPCW Trust Fund for activities relating to destruction of chemical stockpiles and related facilities in Syria, he said.

Tirumurti also voiced support for both Geneva and Astana processes for an expeditious resolution of conflict in Syria. Nakamitsu said that re is justification for use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances. “ use of such weapons with impunity and without accountability is a threat to international peace and security and a danger to us all. It is, refore, imperative to hold accountable all those who have used chemical weapons,” she said.

She ded that “identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies” that remain unresolved have brought into question true extent of elimination of chemical weapons during Syria’s conflict. declaration that Syria h submitted on its chemical weapons status “cant be considered accurate and complete in accordance with Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)”. “Until se outstanding issues are closed, international community cant have full confidence that Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons programme has been eliminated,” she ded. 

(Im: Twitter/@ambtstirumurti)