Thank you, Madam President.

I also thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing.

The use of chemical weapons is a grave violation of international law and it is our collective
responsibility to address this issue with utmost diligence.

Considering the Syrian regime’s track record of the use of chemical weapons, we believe that this Council should remain actively seized of this matter.

In that regard, the OPCW also plays a pivotal role. Türkiye supports a close cooperation between the Council and the OPCW on this file.

We commend the impartial, independent and professional work of the OPCW Technical Secretariat and investigative bodies of the OPCW towards the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme.

Yet, we are concerned that the efforts of the Technical Secretariat and investigative bodies have not been reciprocated by the Syrian regime.

The Technical Secretariat is awaiting the decision of the regime to proceed with the planning of the next round of consultations.

The Secretariat has yet to receive a response from the regime regarding the unauthorised movement of two cylinders used in Douma chemical attack in 2018.

Furthermore, the regime has yet to provide sufficient technical information or explanations concerning the detection of a Schedule 2 chemical at the Barzah facilities in November 2018.

As a result and as we have heard once again from the High Representative, the declaration submitted by the Syrian regime still cannot be considered accurate and complete due to the identified gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies that remain unresolved.

Madam President,

We would like to reiterate that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a major threat to international peace and security.

We call on the regime to comply with its obligations and fully cooperate with the Technical Secretariat and the investigative bodies of the OPCW in line with the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013).

Thank you Madam President.