7 March 2025
Checked Against Delivery
Let me first thank High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu for her very timely and informative briefing.
I welcome the Representatives of Syrian Arab Republic and Türkiye in today’s meeting.
Colleagues,
Today, we discuss chemical weapons in Syria for the first time since the fall of the Assad-regime.
After years of deadlock, we can now approach this file with a newfound optimism.
Now is the time to engage actively and constructively to finally free Syria from these atrocious weapons.
Weapons that have tragically killed and injured far too many Syrians.
Denmark welcomes signals that the interim government is committed to destroying all chemical weapons in Syria.
As we heard this morning from the High Representative, this was reiterated by the Syrian Foreign Minister’s message to the Executive Council of the OPCW in The Hague earlier this week.
We strongly support this commitment and acknowledge the special role of the OPCW. In this regard, we acknowledge the invaluable role of Qatar in assisting the Syrian mission to the OPCW over the past months and facilitating the first visit of the OPCW Director General to Syria after the fall of Assad.
However, we should not underestimate the scale of the task ahead of the OPCW.
More than 100 sites still need to be inspected. This will stretch the OPCW’s already limited resources.
We urge all donors to scale up support to the OPCW – both financially and operationally – in order to rapidly close this file.
We urge the OPCW and Syria to continue and advance cooperation related to Syria’s obligations under CWC and Security Council Resolution 2118.
Resolution 2118 is clear. All chemical weapons-related locations must be secured. So too must evidence of the crimes committed by the Assad regime.
The victims of the Assad regime’s horrific chemical attacks have waited years for justice. Now, is the time to show that we have not forgotten them. There can be no impunity for the perpetrators of these attacks.
Colleagues,
As this new day dawns in Syria, it is important that these weapons do not fall into the hands of terrorist groups, such as ISIL.
We must all work to ensure that none of these dangerous agents are ever used again, by anyone, anywhere.
The clashes reported in recent days in north western Syria are worrying. As are the continued incursions and attacks by the IDF.
We reiterate the importance of maintaining Syria’s security, independence, and territorial integrity. Syria needs stability now, more than ever.
In closing,
We have an opportunity now to make real progress.
To destroy the remaining chemical weapons in Syria. To uphold the obligations of the Chemical Weapons Convention. To support the vital work of the OPCW, in words and deeds. And to ensure accountability for the crimes committed.
It is incumbent upon on all of us, individually and collectively, around this table, to grasp it. Count on Denmark’s full support to this end.
Thank you.