Syria’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations has called on the UN Security Council to change its approach vis-à-vis his country’s chemical file, deal with the related developments objectively, and preserve its technical nature by standing away from any politicization.
Faraan: Speaking at a UNSC meeting on “The situation in the Middle East” in New York, al-Hakam Dandi said Syria has voluntarily acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroyed all stockpiles of chemical weapons and their production facilities, and agreed to extend the Tripartite Agreement for six months.
He argued that certain Western countries insist on flouting the Security Council’s resources and time instead of discussing pressing issues about maintaining international peace and security and upholding the goals and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Dandi dismissed accusations leveled by certain Western countries against Syria, saying such false claims are rooted in unprofessional and non-objective reports that come out as a result of the political pressure being exerted on the technical secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its various teams.
Syria, he noted, also renews its demand on the OPCW to rectify its course of action and stay clear of any politicization, which has dominated its activities and adherence to the principles of professionalism and impartiality. Dandi reiterated Syria’s categorical condemnation of the use of chemical weapons by anyone, at any time or place and under any circumstances.
On April 14, 2018, the United States, Britain, and France carried out a string of airstrikes against Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack on the city of Douma, located about 10 kilometers northeast of the capital Damascus. That alleged attack was reported by the White Helmets group, which published videos showing them purportedly treating survivors.
