Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Saša Jurečko at the UNSC meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Syria

Thank you Madam President.

I would like to thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her informative briefing.

Let me begin by re-affirming Slovenia’s firm condemnation of the use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone, and under any circumstances.  And our firm belief in the need for accountability of those who use them.

The use of chemical weapons has always resulted in a human tragedy. Nobody knows that more than the Syrian people. And after all this time, justice still awaits to be served. What is more, many questions about the development, production, stockpiling and use of Chemical weapons in Syria remain unanswered.

However, in the last few months, we have been witnessing a rapidly evolving political and security situation, which presents new opportunities. In this regard, Slovenia welcomes the recent visit to Damascus by the OPCW Director-General and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT).

Slovenia remains concerned about the accuracy and completeness of the information about the Syrian chemical weapons program submitted so far. We are especially concerned with the possibility that undeclared chemical weapons production sites may still exist in the country.

However, after all the developments in recent months, Slovenia is pleased that an avenue towards Syria’s full compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is finally opening up. We particularly welcome the participation of the Syrian interim Foreign Minister Al Shibani at the OPCW meeting held in The Hague earlier this week (5 March), where he confirmed his commitment to relevant international norms and to dismantle the remnant stockpiles of chemical weapons in Syria. We encourage the Syrian authorities to seize the historic momentum and fully cooperate with the OPCW to swiftly address the unresolved questions under Syria’s initial declaration.

Slovenia expresses once again its steadfast support for the work of the OPCW, including its 9-point Action Plan for Syria. We are confident that only a multilateral approach, with the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW as its cornerstones, can prevent further use of chemical weapons and bring to justice those responsible for the attacks with such weapons in Syria and elsewhere.

I thank you.

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