Delivered by: Mr. Saod AlMazrouei, Alternate Political Coordinator

UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

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Mr. President,

I thank Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for her briefing.

In the context of today’s discussion, we reiterate the UAE’s explicit rejection and condemnation of the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances. And we all agree that the use of such weapons constitutes a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention and international law.

Mr. President,

When discussing the Syrian chemical file, I would like to remind everyone that the ultimate goal is to address the gaps and outstanding issues between the Syrian authorities and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. This goal should continue to guide our discussions. In this regard, we regret that both sides were not able to reach a conclusive decision on the Declaration Assessment Team’s visit to Syria as well as on holding limited consultations in Beirut. While we understand the concerns of the relevant authorities regarding the necessary arrangements for this visit, the question of the participation of one expert in the consultations should not be reason enough not to hold them. We understand that every organization includes personnel with extensive experience, and while it is difficult to avoid relying on them for certain tasks, this does not mean that the work cannot be accomplished in their absence, especially considering that the continuation of the work should be the principal objective. We also regret that written correspondence is the only means of communication between the two sides, instead of conducting the visit and engaging in constructive discussions between the sides, which is why we look forward to the upcoming meeting between the Syrian Foreign Minister and the Director-General of the OPCW.

In conclusion, the UAE affirms the need to make tangible progress in the chemical file, in accordance with UNSC resolution 2118. We will continue to support the Council’s efforts to achieve these goals and we look forward to convening productive discussions about the Council’s meetings on the chemical track.

Thank you, Mr. President.