Mr. President,

I would like to congratulate you on Niger’s assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council for December.

I also thank High Representative Madame Nakamitsu for her briefing.

As the 98th monthly report of the OPCW Director General clearly demonstrates, the Syrian regime continues to flout its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The identified gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies in the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons declaration persist. As a result, the OPCW still cannot confirm that the declaration is accurate and complete.

The regime consistently fails to provide the information needed in order to reveal the true nature and scope of its chemical weapons programme.

We continue to be seriously concerned with the discovery of an undeclared chemical weapons production facility in Syria and the regime’s refusal to declare the chemical warfare agents produced and/or weaponised at this site.

The fact that Assad regime had moved two chlorine cylinders related to the Douma chemical attack without prior notification or approval of the Technical Secretariat, only increases our concerns.

Furthermore, the regime has abused the visa issue in order to hinder the OPCW officials’ mandated activities on the ground.

We would like to underline once again that it is the obligation of the regime to provide immediate and unfettered access to personnel designated by the OPCW, in accordance with the Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) and the CWC.

We call on the Security Council members to act in unity and enforce the Council’s own resolution - resolution 2118 of 2013.

Mr. President,

Türkiye firmly supports the efforts to ensure accountability for the gruesome crimes committed in Syria for more than a decade, including chemical attacks.

This is why we have co-sponsored the OPCW Executive Council decision of July 2020, and the decision adopted during the second part of the 25th Conference of States Parties last April.

The Security Council must live up to its responsibility and uphold the authority of Chemical Weapons Convention.

Mr. President,

Türkiye strongly condemns the repeated use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime against innocent civilians.

As of now, the regime’s culpability in at least eight heinous chemical weapons attacks has been established with the reports of investigative bodies mandated by the UN and OPCW.

Türkiye looks forward to the completion of the current investigations by the IIT and the issuance of its next report.

We reiterate our support for the objective, impartial, and professional work of the OPCW Technical Secretariat and its investigative bodies.

Mr. President,

We need to act urgently to ensure full accountability for the chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Ending impunity and honoring the victims of chemical attacks is imperative to achieve lasting peace in this country.

The key responsibility lies with those who embolden the Assad regime in its non-compliance with its obligations.

Thank you.