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2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council concerned about use of chemical weapons in Syria

Xinhua, February 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Monday voiced its concern about the use of chemical weapons by warring parties in Syria, including terrorists.

Ambassador Rafael Ramirez Carreno of Venezuela, who holds the rotating council presidency for February, made the remarks to the press here after the 15-nation UN body reviewed the first report by an investigative mechanism to identify the perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria, known as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).

The council members "express the concern for the use of chemical weapons by any of the parties involved in the conflict, including the terrorist group," he said.

The OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism was approved by the Security Council in September 2015, some 20 days after the council adopted a resolution last August, to identify the perpetrators of the deadly chlorine gas attacks in Syria.

For her part, Virginia Gamba, head of the OPCW-UN joint team, told reporters here after her briefing at the Security Council that the report she presented to the council features what she called "Phase One," or initial, findings.

"We have identified five potential cases. There was another one identified in February and last week a further one was also identified, so right now we are looking at seven potential cases," she said.

"The potential cases will be finalized by the 1st of March so we can start an in-depth investigation," she added.

"Any use of toxic substances weapons at any time anywhere and in any circumstances is totally abhorrent," she said, noting that "These acts will be identified and they will be held accountable for their actions."

The joint body, established for a period of one year with a possibility of future extension, will be tasked with identifying "individuals, entities, groups, or governments involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical" in Syria, according to the Security Council, which reiterated that those responsible must be held accountable. Enditem