Statement delivered by H.E. Amar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, on behalf of the A3+, at the Security Council Briefing on 'The situation in the Middle East' (Syria-Chemical Weapons)
Madame President,
I have the honour to deliver this joint statement on behalf of the A3 Plus, namely, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my own country, Algeria.
We thank Mrs. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, for the briefing, and we welcome the participation in this meeting of the representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic and Türkiye.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and condemn the use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, and under any circumstances.
Madame President,
We note with satisfaction recent reports detailing significant progress in implementing resolution 2118 (2013). We recognize the enhanced and positive engagements between the OPCW and Syria, including the Director General's visit to Damascus and his meetings with the new Syria President and Foreign Minister.
We welcome the successful OPCW deployments in March, April, and May this year, achieving unprecedented access, cooperation, and collection of new documents and samples previously unrevealed by the former authorities.
We commend Qatar's instrumental role in representing Syrian interests before the OPCW and the Syrian Foreign Minister’s participation in the 108th OPCW Executive Council session.
We are encouraged by the commitment of the Syrian authorities to securing OPCW offices in Damascus, providing complete access, security escorts, and full cooperation during technical meetings with Syrian experts.
We stress the importance of ensuring that such cooperation remains consistent, thorough, and verifiable, as it is vital for building trust and confidence within the international community.
We welcome recent international economic developments concerning Syria, including the lifting of sanctions by major international partners and Syria's re-eligibility for loans from international financial institutions following debt clearances by regional partners.
The A3+ remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in some parts of Syria, notably the escalating Israeli strikes and 460-square-kilometer territorial occupation since December 2024. We are particularly troubled by the strikes near Syria's presidential palace on May 2 and the Latakia/Tartous attacks on May 30. We condemn these actions in the strongest terms.
The A3+ insists on an immediate halt to all aggressions against Syrian territory, emphasizing that Syria's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are inviolable
We call for regional de-escalation measures and reaffirm the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy to prevent further escalation and humanitarian suffering.
We welcome Syria's readiness for transparent OPCW relations, and our attention remains focused on the 19 outstanding issues involving quantities of potentially undeclared chemical warfare agents and munitions. In this regard, we support the work of the OPCW’s Technical Secretariat in addressing these outstanding issues.
We urge all parties to approach these outstanding issues with utmost seriousness, working collaboratively and transparently to address the gaps and ensure full compliance.
We commend the positive progress achieved in the collection of new documents and samples and the productive technical meetings held which provided insights into Syria's chemical weapons programme.
We also acknowledge OPCW's detailed cost estimates and its Note on the way forward in relation to Syria’s chemical weapons programme and encourage continued international support, noting enhanced cooperation and access.
Madame President,
The continued threats of ISIL underscored by ten attacks in northeast Syria last month remain a significant concern. The A3+ welcomes Syria's first anti-ISIL operation in Aleppo. We also welcome the formation of the National Transitional Justice and Missing Persons Commissions on May 18 as important steps toward accountability and reconciliation.
Finally, we underline that the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law must remain at the core of all counterterrorism efforts; and we encourage continued OPCW-Syria dialogue and cooperation toward permanently closing this file.
I thank you.
