Delivered by Ms. Fatema Yousuf, First Secretary 

Please Check Against Delivery.

Thank you, Mr. President,

I would like to first thank Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for her briefing.

Mr. President,

We meet today only thirteen days following our last meeting on the Syrian Chemical Weapons file in the absence of developments on this important track. The October report, just like the previous reports before it, did not contain any new developments that warrant scheduling this meeting. Yet, these meetings are unfortunately still scheduled on the Security Council agenda every month, without any consideration for their usefulness.

Therefore, I would like to stress the importance of using the time and resources of this Council wisely, especially at a moment when the Security Council is seeking to find time to discuss urgent matters in its agenda as well as in its subsidiary bodies in light of current global developments. To ensure effectiveness and efficiency, we have a shared responsibility to reconsider the number of meetings that the Council holds on the Chemical Weapons track. The UAE will be supportive of convening any meeting on this matter if any relevant developments occur.

With this in mind, allow me to reiterate the UAE’s unwavering position on this file:

First, the UAE reiterates that the development, transfer, and use of chemical weapons by anyone, under any circumstances, is strictly prohibited under international law – whether in Syria or elsewhere, which   constitutes a serious threat to regional and international security and stability. In particular, we stress the need to ensure that these weapons do not fall into the hands of terrorist groups, who will not hesitate to use them for their own nefarious purposes.

Second, the UAE stresses the importance of a constructive and continuous dialogue between the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Syrian Arab Republic to address all unresolved issues. Consultations cannot be replaced by written correspondence, as this will not lead to the achievement of the desired outcomes.

Thank you, Mr. President.