New York, 6 September 2024 (TDI): Dmitry Polyanskiy, Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Federation, addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to share Russia’s perspective on the ongoing Syrian Chemical File under Resolution 2118.
Concerns Over OPCW Bias in Syria Reports
He highlighted Russian concerns over the bias within the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reports. He said that the reports present an unbalanced narrative against Syria.
It unjustly labels Syrian “uncooperativeness” as the reason behind the failure of the OPCW and SAR dialogue. He reaffirmed that the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) has cooperated with the OPCW, despite accusations of non-compliance.
Furthermore, he underscored Syria’s continued commitment to its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
He said that Syria welcomed the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) and expressed its willingness to continue the discussion to agree on the necessary modalities, including the dates that would suit both parties.
Moreover, Syria has hosted 150 technical meetings, and 45 facility visits, and submitted 350 documents for review in the last ten years, he said.
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In this regard, the OPCW’s handling of technical details, including the issuance of visas and consultation plans intentionally aims to paint Syria in a negative light.
The continued criticism of Syria, despite its demonstrated progress, appears politically motivated. It aims to prolong the Syrian chemical file’s relevance on the international stage.
Call for Fairness and Depoliticization in Handling the Syrian Chemical File
Dmitry Polyanskiy said that it is troubling to observe that Syria continues to be treated differently from other countries facing similar situations.
This selective approach remains unaddressed, despite our repeated calls for a consistent and balanced application of international standards, he added.
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Finally, he said that the Council need to have a more objective understanding of what is happening. Polyanskiy called for fairness in addressing the Syrian Chemical File.
He stressed the need to depoliticize the OPCW’s efforts to preserve the integrity of the chemical weapons prohibition regime.
