UNSC condemns usage of "chlorine" or any toxic chemical in Syria

NEW YORK, March 6 (KUNA) -- UN Security Council adopted Friday resolution 2209 condemning the use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in Syria.
The Security Council voted 14 in favor to the resolution, with one abstention from Venzuela.
The Council expressed via the resolution, deep concern that toxic chemicals have been used as a weapon in Syria as concluded with a high degree of confidence by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission, as well as how such use of toxic chemicals as a weapon would constitute a violation of resolution 2118 and of the Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC).
The resolution recalled a decision that Syria shall not use, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or, transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to other States or non-State actors. It also reiterated that no party in Syria should "use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain, or transfer chemical weapons." The Council expressed support for the OPCW Executive Council decision of February 4 2015, to continue the work of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission, in particular to study all available information relating to allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria. They also welcomed the intention of the OPCW Director General to include further reports of the Mission as part of his monthly reports to the Security Council.
Furthermore, the resolution stressed that those individuals responsible for any use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, must be held accountable, and called on all parties in Syria to extend their full cooperation to the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission.
Yesterday, the Security Council was briefed by the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane on the issue of chemical weapons in Syria mentioning the progress of the ongoing work to dismantle the Syrian chemical program.
Talking to the press, post-meeting, the French Permanent Represenative to the UN, and Security Council President for the current month, Francois Delattre affirmed that the Council remains committed to monitoring the compliance and implementation of resolution 2118 by the Syrian authorities.
"We have also tackled the important issue of allegations of use of chlorine in Syria, which is an issue of utmost concern for the Security Council, and the entire international community," he said.
Delattre then hoped for an unanimous adoption of the resolution.(end) mao.bs