Syria yet to declare chemical weapons program – US State Department
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Despite its international obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2118, Syria has yet to fully declare and verifiably eliminate its chemical weapons program, US Department of State said on Monday.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the chemical attack launched by the Syrian government forces on Ghouta district, east of the capital, Damascus, the State Department said the Syrian government has yet to clarify its chemical program adding, “Syria refuses to take any responsibility for its vile campaign of chemical weapons use, as is evident from Syria’s nine subsequent chemical weapons attacks confirmed by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Investigation and Identification Team and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism.”
On Aug. 21, 2013, rockets loaded with sarin warheads were launched into eastern Ghouta. Cooler weather allowed the nerve gas to permeate into lower levels of buildings as it spread across parts of the Syrian opposition stronghold.
More than 1,400 people were killed in the attack, which the Syrian government still denies being involved in, including women and children.
Following the attack, the US Department of State designated three officers of the government forces for committing “gross violations of human rights” and for their involvement in the Ghouta “deadly attack.”
In a press statement, the Department of State stressed that the US would continue to seek “justice and accountability for those responsible for these horrific acts.”
“We will continue to support the calls by the Syrian people and civil society for justice and accountability for atrocities committed in Syria, and to stand with Syrians in working for a future in which their human rights are respected,” the statement concluded.
After the attack, exactly in October 2013, the Syrian government submitted to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for “total and verified destruction” of its chemical weapons stockpile and production facilities.
On Oct. 2, 2013, the UN 19-membered team began to work to oversee timely elimination of the chemical weapons program of Syria. Syrian warfare of the outlawed weapons was estimated at 1,000 tons at nearly 45 sites on Syrian soil, according to reports.
Article 21 of the Resolution 2118 reads, in the event of non-compliance with this resolution, including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in the Syrian government, to impose measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter; 22.
The resolution stipulates Syria should not use, renew, produce, or possess, store, keep; transmit directly or indirectly to a country or party.