Ambassador Usman Iqbal Jadoon, Deputy Permanent Member of Pakistan to the UN. Photo APP
THE UNITED NATIONS:
Welcoming Syria’s cooperation with the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Pakistan stressed the need for independent verification to eliminate suspected chemical weapons in Syria that were developed under the Assad regime and any risk of proliferation.
“We look forward to their continued cooperation, in full compliance with CWC and Security Council resolutions, to close the Syrian chemical weapons file as soon as possible,” Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, told the UN Security Council on Thursday.
The 15 members of the Council met to discuss Syria’s “chemical weapons file”, focusing on issues related to the use, monitoring and compliance with international obligations regarding chemical weapons.
As highlighted by the Technical Secretariat, the Pakistani envoy said it was also important to bridge the gap between “what the Syrian Arab Republic needs to provide and the capabilities it has.”
“Continued international support for Syria and the Technical Secretariat therefore remains of crucial importance,” he said.
At the same time, Ambassador Jadoon said Pakistan supports Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are essential for lasting peace and stability, while also supporting an inclusive, Syrian-owned and led political process.
The Pakistani envoy stressed that Syria’s security situation is seriously affected by Israel’s military occupation of parts of Syrian territory and its continued strikes against Syrian sites and installations, which have also hampered the technical work of the OPCW.
Pakistan, he said, appreciates the commitment of the Syrian authorities to fully implement the CWC, secure suspected chemical weapons sites and resolve outstanding issues, while reaffirming Islamabad’s opposition to the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances.
At the start of the debate, Director and Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo told the Council that since 2014, the OPCW has not been able to verify the accuracy of Syria’s initial statement on chemical weapons.
He said the new Syrian government is now cooperating with the OPCW Technical Secretariat to clarify the full scope of the program, including more than 100 additional sites beyond the 26 declared locations. Some sites are in hazardous areas, posing risks to inspection teams.
Hailing the government’s “commendable” cooperation, Ebo stressed that there is a “crucial opportunity” to achieve long-overdue clarification and eliminate all chemical weapons, urging Council members to “show leadership” and provide sustained international support.
