YouSaid · the spoken record

Sabbagh

lines on the record: 652
first: 2021-06-03
most recent: 2023-09-27
sittings or episodes: 62
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We daily continue to learn facts pertaining to the OPCW report about the alleged Douma incident, which clearly demonstrate that the high-level officials of the OPCW have distorted the facts to correspond to the narrative of the United States, France and Britain in order to justify their tripartite aggression against the sovereignty and territorial Integrity of Syria. In his June briefing before the Council, the Director-General of the OPCW, Mr. Arias, attempted to undermine the credibility of the work done in the original report about the investigation of the Douma incident, where no evidence was found proving that there was a chemical attack there. His attempt will not succeed in restoring the credibility of the reports of the Fact-Finding Mission.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“The increased number of attempts by some terrorist groups, including Da’esh, Al-Nusra and other terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaida, such as the White Helmets, to use toxic chemical weapons and materials in Syria is not of concern to any of these countries. The same holds true with regard to those groups’ new charade, whereby they use chemical weapons and accuse the Syrian Arab Army of using them. That does not seem to warrant action by those States. In that regard, I note that the armed terrorist groups continue their attacks every now and then against civilians and the Syrian Arab Army forces in rural Homs, Hama, Latakia and Idlib through the use of missiles, artillery and drones, which makes the security situation in those areas relatively unstable.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“My delegation notes that the Team has conducted 24 rounds of consultations in Syria so far. In none of those rounds has there ever been an issue related to entry visas. We would like members to know that, so far, the two parties have not agreed on a date for the next visit of the Declaration Assessment Team. It was so regrettable to hear the Director-General of the OPCW say, in his June briefing in this Chamber (see S/PV.8785), that the deployment of the Team would be postponed, owing to the elevated summer temperatures in Syria. Addressing chemical terrorism presents a real challenge. However, it begs the question as to why that challenge is of no interest to some Western countries.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“The goal would be to exchange views, discuss the relevant developments pertaining to mechanisms and working methods and agree on the way forward, in line with Syria’s upholding its obligations under the Convention. Syria fully rejects the campaigns launched by some countries that call into question its cooperation with the OPCW while they level false accusations against Syria’s initial declaration. We condemn the fact that those countries jump to false conclusions, especially as some of the technical aspects being discussed are related to divergent scientific interpretations, which cannot be resolved swiftly or selectively. My delegation condemns allegations in the statements of the representatives of certain States that Syria denied entry visas to the members of the Declaration Assessment Team.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“However, we continue to witness repeated attempts by the same countries to use those technical aspects to serve their own political purposes. In its ninety-second monthly report (EC-98/P/NAT.1, dated 16 July 2021), Syria reiterates that, since joining the OPCW, it has been keen to cooperate with the Technical Secretariat. Regrettably, Syria’s eight years of cooperation have been totally disregarded by the Technical Secretariat. In that regard, I would like to point out that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic welcomed the 24 June invitation by the Director-General of the OPCW to a high- level meeting for an exchange of views. I would also like to state that, on 6 July, the Minister expressed a willingness to meet with him in person in Damascus, at a date convenient for the Director-General.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“My delegation notes the total disregard on the part of those countries of the fact that the Syrian Arab Republic voluntarily joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013 and that it has worked seriously, honestly and transparently to fulfil its obligations under the Convention. That has led to unprecedented success in the total destruction of its stockpile of chemical weapons and production facilities. It has become clear that those countries seek to ignore the cooperation of recent years between Syria and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the close consultations with its Technical Secretariat that have led to important progress, demonstrating that Syria has fulfilled its obligations under the Convention. Only a few technical aspects remain outstanding in this process.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and your friendly country on presiding over the Council this month. We are fully confident that your wise stewardship will bring success to the work of the Council. It is deplorable that the Council’s debates have become a platform for some Member States to level false and misleading accusations against my country, which we totally reject. We have repeatedly stressed our condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and note that we have fulfilled our obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“My country’s delegation regrets that the two humanitarian penholders did not consult with it on resolution 2585 (2021), thereby disregarding the point of view of the country concerned. This constitutes a breach of their obligations as two members of the Security Council and as penholders. The meeting rose at noon.”
2021-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8817 (2021) · source
“In conclusion, my delegation stresses that the Syrian Government will spare no effort to meet the humanitarian needs of and provide support to those in need of it in order to alleviate the negative effects of the terrorist war that has been imposed on Syria. We will continue to support and facilitate access for United Nations agencies and national and international partners in the area of humanitarian work in order to ensure that assistance reaches all those who need it in the Syrian Arab Republic. My country stresses that improving the humanitarian situation requires positive and constructive engagement with the Syrian Government through the humanitarian assistance centre located in Damascus, free of all pressure, blackmailing and repeated refusals and dictates.”
2021-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8817 (2021) · source
“My delegation reaffirms its firm, principled position rejecting this politicized mechanism, which is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian territories. There are serious defects in the work of this mechanism, including lack of transparency, credibility and professionalism in controlling and distributing humanitarian assistance and the failure to direct this assistance to those in need of it, instead of directing it to terrorist organizations. In addition, the mechanism ensures that the Turkish regime profits financially while supporting the Al-Nusra Front/Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, which is on the sanctions list of the Security Council, and letting it control Idlib for a prolonged time.”
2021-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8817 (2021) · source
“Their objective is to manipulate the feelings of public opinion and blackmail its emotions. The promotional tours undertaken by representatives of some of those States to the areas adjacent to the Bab Al-Hawa crossing are flagrant expressions of unilateralism, selectivity and bias. They ignore the suffering of millions of Syrians in various Syrian provinces as a result of the unilateral coercive measures that they themselves have imposed. They are suspiciously silent about the withholding of water by the Turkish regime as a weapon of war against civilians, let alone the ongoing looting of Syrian wealth by American and Turkish occupation forces.”
2021-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8817 (2021) · source
“Indeed, humanitarian activities must also include support for projects involving such basic services as water, sewage, health care, education, shelter and early recovery that the Syrians need. That would help to provide an environment conducive to the dignified and voluntary return of refugees and displaces to their homes. However, Western States have focused their efforts only on the extension of a mechanism that serves their agendas while emphasizing once again their indifference to the suffering of the entire Syrian people. They explicitly continue to target my country politically and insist on violating its sovereignty and besieging its people. It is misleading by way of exaggeration on the part of those States when they promote the mechanism by saying that it is a lifeline.”
2021-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8817 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): The Security Council has met once again to adopt a resolution on the so called a cross-border mechanism for humanitarian aid (resolution 2585 (2021)). Undoubtedly, the Permanent Missions of Russia and China, along with other missions, made efforts during the negotiations to bring to light important elements to improve the humanitarian situation and deliver aid to those in need of it in Syria, in accordance with United Nations principles for delivering humanitarian assistance in emergency situations, as well as to support Syria in addressing the coronavirus disease pandemic and its effects on various aspects of life, lifting unilateral coercive measures and stressing that humanitarian activities are broader than merely responding to the emergency needs of affected populations.”
2021-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8817 (2021) · source
“Is it not time for them to follow the path of political dialogue and diplomacy to address differences, instead of following the path of aggression, threats to use force, pressure, diktats and coercive measures?”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“In conclusion, after 10 years of failure of some countries’ aggressive practices — which are known to all and which totally contradict those countries’ claims of concern to respect Syria’s sovereignty and independence, to achieve a political solution and support the restoration of security and stability in Syria — is it not time for these countries to review their policies and realistically consider the results of their hostile practices against Syria, in particular, and the region in general? Is it not time for these countries to lift their inhumane siege of Syria and put an end to their unilateral, coercive measures, which have denied Syrians their livelihoods and their ability to benefit from their country’s wealth?”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Turkish telecommunications and postal companies are operating in the area, the electric power grids have been linked to the Turkish grid, and the Turkish lira has replaced the Syrian lira as the local currency. Moreover, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is not allowed to operate in the humanitarian field, having been replaced by the Turkish Red Crescent. My question is: How long will the Security Council continue to remain silent on the Turkish regime’s violations, which its NATO allies are covering up?”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“We have also addressed dozens of letters to the President of the Security Council on the Erdoğan regime’s sponsorship of terrorist organizations in the areas it occupies in northern and north-western Syria, as well as its Turkification practices there, where it seeks the obliteration of the Syrian identity through a change in the demographic and administrative character of those areas, raises the Turkish flag over Government offices and service institutions, and appoints a governor and Turkish Government employees to supervise them. It is also confiscating lands, building a so-called separation wall, changing the names of roads and public squares and giving them Turkish and Ottoman names. The Turkification extends to school curriculums and related documents and license plates.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Does this behaviour reflect a commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria by a country that is supposed to be entrusted with contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security? My country will soon submit a request to compel the United States to pay the value of what it has stolen in terms of oil, wheat and other assets belonging to the Syrian State, pursuant to the principle of accountability. We want compensation for what the Syrian people have lost as a result of the United States looting of their wealth.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“These Governments are violating the sovereignty of my country by seeking to establish an illegal and artificial status quo through their support for separatist militias and by infiltrating their delegations into Syrian territories like thieves, without the permission or prior approval of the Syrian Government. The most recent of these was the United States delegation headed by the acting Assistant Secretary of State. In that regard, I would like to ask if it is permissible for United States forces to cross the Iraqi-Syrian border — as if they were crossing from New York to New Jersey — to loot Syrian oil and wheat and kill Syrians in flagrant defiance of the resolutions of the Security Council and the Charter of the United Nations?”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“My delegation has continued to brief the Security Council and the Secretariat on the aggressive practices carried out by the occupying forces of the United States and Turkey on the territories of my country, in cooperation with their proxy separatist militias and terrorist entities. It also continues to report on the repeated Israeli attacks, all of which represent flagrant violations of international law, the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the sovereignty and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic, as affirmed by all the relevant resolutions to the situation in my country. In this context, and on behalf of my country’s Government, I have addressed official letters to the President of the Council about the conduct of several Western Governments, including those of three permanent members of the Security Council.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“It has continued to make every effort to secure the release of the hostages and abductees held by terrorist organizations and to ensure their safe return to their families. Unfortunately, these efforts have been met with the Turkish regime’s repudiation of its commitments under the Astana process and its obstruction of any progress in conducting serious exchanges by deliberately reducing the number of hostages and abductees proposed to be exchanged. It is unacceptable that some members of the Council deal selectively and discriminately with this humanitarian issue by continuing to accuse the Syrian authorities, ignoring the situation of hostages and abductees held by terrorist organizations and their various entities, and the need to identify the fate of thousands of missing persons in areas under the control of these organizations.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“We stress that any attempt to that end is aimed at hindering the work of the Committee and preventing its progress. Within the framework of the Syrian Government’s efforts to establish national reconciliation and settle the conditions of detainees, on 2 May the President of the Republic issued Legislative Decree No. 13, granting a general amnesty to perpetrators of misdemeanours, violations and felonies occurring before the date of its issuance, and falling within a series of decrees that have been issued in this regard. The Syrian Government has also released dozens of detainees in a number of towns in the countryside of Damascus, including Douma, Irbeen, Kafr Batna and others.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“In this context, the Syrian Government continues to follow up on the efforts of Special Envoy Geir Pedersen as a facilitator of this process, and looks forward to soon holding the sixth round of the Constitutional Committee to discuss the constitution, stressing the need for no interference in its work and no attempts to impose artificial timetables or preconceived conclusions on its work. We also affirm that Syria, represented by its national team in the Constitutional Committee, has met all requirements for the continuation of the work of the Committee, as presented by Mr. Pedersen, and that there is no need for any party to distort the facts, falsify what has been agreed or complicate the work of the Committee with pretexts that do not stand up to facts.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“We therefore call on those countries to conduct an honest review of the catastrophic repercussions of their policies and to put an end to their practices that violate the principles of international law, the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the foundations of friendly relations among States. My country, Syria, is committed to a political solution that is based on the Syrian national dialogue and is Syrian-owned and Syrian-led, and has been positively engaged in working to achieve it and provided support and facilities for its success, in the light of its full commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, which represents a firm and constant principle that cannot be conceded.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“The statements of certain countries about the confusion between this constitutional entitlement and the implications of resolution 2254 (2015) are wrong and misleading. We have stressed over and over again that the holding of the presidential elections on time is in line with the constitutional entitlement to ensure the continuity of the Syrian State and its various institutions, while preventing any constitutional vacuum. There is thus no link between the elections and resolution 2254 (2015). The insistence of some countries on not listening to the voice of the Syrian people and not deviating from their erroneous policies in Syria and in our Arab region has only brought terrorism and chaos, the destabilization of security and stability, the plundering of wealth, and harm to the lives and welfare of civilians.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“They have also demonstrated the Syrians’ support of their leadership and rejection of occupation practices, aggression, terrorism, sanctions, pressures and dictations, which are still being defended and glossed over with deceptive slogans by some countries within the Council and beyond it. The results announced by the Speaker of the People’s Assembly in the Syrian Arab Republic showed that Mr. Bashar Al-Assad had obtained an absolute majority of votes, with a percentage of 95.1 per cent of the number of valid ballots. The Supreme Constitutional Court also indicated that the total number of voters who were entitled to vote inside and outside the Syrian Arab Republic is 18,107,109 voters, while the total number of voters who voted at home and abroad reached 14,239,140 voters, representing 78.64 per cent of those eligible to vote.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): On 26 May, the Syrians raised their voice and sent a clear message to the whole world that it must acknowledge the choice of the Syrian people, who supported the re-election of Mr. Bashar Al-Assad as President of the Syrian Arab Republic by an absolute majority of votes. The significant success in achieving this national constitutional entitlement, and the impressive public participation inside as well as outside the country, have clearly demonstrated the Syrians’ ability to uphold the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of their country, and of their independent national choices.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Those who question that mechanism are seeking to promote their ways of delivering aid across our borders. In conclusion, my country renews its commitment to doing its utmost to improve the humanitarian situation of the Syrian people and alleviating their suffering, which has resulted from the defective policies and hostile practices of some countries. We stress that we will continue to facilitate the work of the United Nations and our humanitarian partners to ensure the timely delivery of assistance to those who are really in need. We also stress that the Syrian Government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of humanitarian convoys and workers.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“Fifthly, it will require supporting the efforts of Syrian State institutions to alleviate suffering and provide support and services to the Syrian people, including by supporting development goals and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure to ensure the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons. The key and most effective United Nations humanitarian relief operations in Syria have been mounted from within Syrian territory, in coordination and cooperation with the Syrian Government and humanitarian partners. That mechanism is the most viable, is in the fullest compliance with international law and is the most respectful of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, as provided for in all United Nations resolutions on the situation in Syria.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“First, it will require supporting the efforts of the Syrian Government to combat terrorism and eradicate the threat of the terrorist groups Da’esh, the Al-Nusra Front and associated entities. Secondly, it will require putting an end to the illegal foreign military presence of the United States and Turkey on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic and their hostile practices and looting of national resources. Thirdly, it will require the immediate lifting of the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people. Fourthly, it will require putting an end to the politicization of humanitarian action and refraining from linking humanitarian action to conditions, loyalties and dictates that run counter to the principles of humanitarian action.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“At the same time, we find it surprising that the report fails to mention that secessionist militias in the north-east, acting as a proxy for United States forces, recently obstructed a COVID-19 vaccination campaign undertaken by Ministry of Health teams in Deir ez-Zor governorate. They prevented those mobile teams from entering camps in Al-Hasakah governorate. They spread false rumours about the safety of vaccines and, as a result, people have become less willing to get vaccinated, and that has affected our ability to reach the desired objective. The humanitarian situation in Syria cannot be improved through empty words and pretence but will require the following.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“The Council must ensure that the Allouk water station is not used for political purposes and is operated by employees of the Al-Hasakah Drinking Water Corporation. The existing irregularities affecting electricity lines that feed water stations must be removed, and the water flow of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers must be ensured. The report claims that the extension of the cross-border mechanism will contribute to making coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines available. That is incorrect. The report acknowledges that the vaccines made available to Syrians in Government- controlled areas to date have only covered 0.5 per cent of the population.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“The crimes of the Turkish occupation and its proxy terrorist groups have gone so far as to prevent more than 2,600 students from Idlib governorate from travelling to Hama governorate to sit primary and secondary education examinations. They confiscated the students’ bags, identification cards and personal belongings and attacked the bus drivers who were supposed to transport the students. Our request to the Secretariat has not succeeded in dissuading the Turkish regime from its position, which threatens the future of Syrian children by preventing them from pursuing their education. My Government calls on the Security Council to intervene immediately and decisively stop the crimes of the Turkish regime, which are exacerbating the humanitarian suffering of millions of Syrians.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“The Turkish regime continues to deprive more than 1 million citizens in Al-Hasakah governorate and its surroundings of drinking water by cutting off water supply for the twenty-fourth time from the Allouk water station. The Turkish regime is also violating bilateral agreements between the two countries and international relevant treaties by reducing the flow of the Euphrates River. That has severely affected water reserves and drinking and irrigation water supplies in Syria. It has also resulted in the cutting off of the electricity supply to the north and the east as hydroelectric power generation through the Tishrin and Tabaqah dams has been halted.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“Their purported concerns contradict their policies, which aim to cover up the crimes of the terrorist organizations and secessionist militias they sponsor. They remain silent about the practices of United States occupation forces in the north-east and the Al-Tanf area and their looting and stealing of the resources of the Syrian people and of their oil, agricultural crops and cultural artefacts. What is most outrageous is that the Secretary- General’s report (S/2021/583) praises the Turkish side, while the practices of the Turkish regime have been one of the most serious and dangerous causes of the crisis in Syria. Turkish forces are occupying Syrian territory in the north and north-west. They are committing crimes against humanity against the Syrian people, including by using water as a weapon of war against civilians.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“The question here for those who defend the extension of the work of the mechanism is: how do they justify allowing the use of a crossing that is controlled by an organization designated as a terrorist organization by the Council — Hayat Tahrir Al-Shams — to deliver aid across the border? The representatives of Western countries claim that they are concerned about the humanitarian situation of the Syrian people. That contradicts the unilateral, coercive and destructive measures imposed by their countries, which have led to humanitarian suffering as a result of acute shortages of food, medication, medical supplies, water and basic services. In addition, those measures have affected the delivery of humanitarian and relief assistance.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“It violates Syrian sovereignty and serves the interests of the Turkish occupation and terrorist organizations loyal to it, notably the Hayat Tahrir Al-Shams/Al-Nusra Front, which controls Idlib and its surroundings. In addition, there are major flaws committed by this mechanism, such as not coordinating with the Syrian Government, the lack of transparency of its supervision procedures and measures and the final destination of the aid, most of which ends up in the hands of terrorist organizations that control the Bab Al-Hawa crossing and is then used, as has been stated time and again, to finance criminal activities, win loyalties and recruit new terrorists.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“That is a very short- sighted and highly selective view that discriminates against Syrians and obscures the facts and the main reasons for the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria, in particular the crimes of occupation, aggression and terrorism, including economic terrorism manifested in the unilateral coercive measures. In that context, my delegation reaffirms its principled position of rejecting that politicized mechanism. It was an exceptional temporary measure. The reasons and conditions that led to its adoption no longer exist. My delegation stresses that the practical implementation of the mechanism has proven what Syria had been warning about, namely, the serious violations the have dominated its work.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): After listening to the statements of certain States today, it has become apparent that they still persist in exploiting the Security Council and using it as a platform to politicize the humanitarian work being conducted in my country, practise political hypocrisy and promote a misleading approach to divert our discussion from its main topic so as to serve their goal of prolonging the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Today we are once again witnessing the insistence of those Western countries on claiming that extending and strengthening the so-called cross-border mechanism for the delivery of aid will ensure the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Syria.”
2021-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8803 (2021) · source
“In an unprecedented and exemplary manner, we have disposed of our stockpiles of these weapons and destroyed our production facilities in record time and under difficult and complex conditions. Syria regrets that its continuous cooperation with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW has been met only with ingratitude and denial.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“Accordingly, his observations and report are excluded, whereas the observations of the leader, who did not visit the site, are taken into account. I would have also liked to ask him why it takes years to issue reports on the investigations into incidents reported by the Syrian Government? We have five or more incidents that have been investigated since 2017 — it is now almost four years without a report having been issued by the Technical Secretariat — while priority is given to reporting on investigations of alleged incidents raised by hostile or suspicious parties. This is a clear indication of a double standard, In conclusion, I reiterate that Syria has fulfilled its obligations arising from its voluntary accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“In that regard, I would like to ask the Director-General again: Why does the Technical Secretariat insist on refusing to listen to the substantive observations and valid inquiries made by Syria, Russia and others, along with eminent persons, specialized experts and prominent academics? The Director-General mentioned that the Fact- Finding Mission that went to investigate the Douma incident was delayed in Beirut for several days. Could he explain the reasons for the delay? I would like to ask why the team leader — who reached Syria on Saturday, 13 April, and left on the morning of the following day, Sunday, 14 April — did not visit the site of the incident in Douma, while Investigator A went to Douma and carried out the investigation?”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“How can those reports be credible if their sources are suspicious, witnesses are terrorist agents, samples are collected by While Helmets and investigations are carried out remotely? Are these normal methods under the Convention? Does basing ourselves on “reasonable grounds” and “most likely” create credibility? The Director-General says that 193 States do not question the report. I would like to remind him that I personally, during my numerous statements before the Executive Council, presented many aspects of the flawed methodology, which is far from credible and professional. And Syria has rejected the conclusions of the report. Accordingly, we face a case of non-compliance by the Technical Secretariat with the parameters governing its work.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“The report indicated that the inspections found “no substances or activities that are inconsistent with the Syrian Arab Republic’s obligations under the Convention” (S/2021/514, annex, para. 17). We would have hoped that the report not to ignore the assistance, logistical support and facilitation provided by Syria. Despite that, the Centre is not relevant to the chemical programme. Concerns about procedural flaws and professional irregularities in the working methods of the Fact- Finding Mission still exist. They raise many questions about the professionalism and credibility of the mission’s reports; the latest report on the alleged incident in Douma continues to resonate in various capitals.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“Fourthly, finding traces of a chemical agent in a test sample is not evidence of prohibited chemical activity. The continuation of technical consultations on such issues requires refraining from prejudgement or jumping to unrealistic conclusions and false perceptions. In the light of this, we categorically reject the insistence of some to question Syria’s initial declaration and its cooperation with the Technical Secretariat and the deliberate disregard of any progress made. My delegation took note of what was referred to in the Director-General’s report on the results of the seventh round of inspections of the two facilities of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“First, the Declaration Assessment Team is not an investigation team; rather, it was established to assist the Syrian authorities. Secondly, the holding of consultations between the Declaration Assessment Team and the Syrian National Authority and the dates of the Team’s visits to Damascus are subject to arrangements agreed upon between the two sides, in line with the obligations of each party. Therefore, any round of consultations will of course be postponed if a date is not appropriate. Thirdly, the experts of the Syrian National Authority, during their mutual rounds of consultations, provide the Declaration Assessment Team with many technical explanations that fully support the information announced by Syria. Accordingly, it is unacceptable for anyone to make pre-accusations about issues that are still under discussion.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“I would also like to draw the attention of the Security Council to the fact that we recently provided the Secretary-General with information we obtained regarding the incident of terrorist organizations’ use of chemical weapons in Khan Al-Assal in 2013 — the Director-General completely forgot that information — that confirmed the involvement of the so-called National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces in that terrorist crime, which claimed the lives of 25 martyrs and injured more than 110 civilians and military personnel. Unfortunately, despite our many demands, that remains without investigation. Regarding comments made in some statements concerning Syria’s initial declaration, I would like to make the following clear.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“The Director-General referred to more than 197 memorandums from Syria about the possession, transfer and attempts to use chemical weapons. However, the Fact-Finding Mission did not carry out investigations into any of that information swiftly or seriously, whereas it would promptly act upon any information contained in open sources or received from suspicious sources about accusations against the Syrian Government.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“This behaviour is in stark contrast to those countries’ responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security. In that context, I would like to refer to the important information that we have frequently provided the United Nations and the OPCW regarding the possession and transfer of chemical weapons and toxic chemicals by terrorist organizations to stage incidents of chemical attacks with the aim of accusing the Syrian Arab Army. Dealing seriously with such terrorist threats requires the OPCW and relevant United Nations organs to deal with this information with the utmost care and to coordinate with the relevant Syrian authorities to conduct the necessary investigations. But unfortunately, none of that has happened.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source
“It is reprehensible that the States sponsoring those terrorist organizations worked during the past eight years to divert the attention of the States Members of the United Nations and the States parties to the CWC from confronting this chemical terrorist threat, and simultaneously put pressure on the various international investigation teams to impose their agendas and get them to carry out their activities in violation of the working methods stipulated in the Convention and in the terms of reference document. This deliberate subversive approach to the rules and principles of the work of the OPCW — followed by some members of the Council — has led to wrong conclusions that undermined the credibility and professionalism of their work and limited the ability of the international community to truly confront this terrorist threat.”
2021-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8785 (2021) · source