Statement by H.E. Mr. Andrejs Pildegovičs
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia
at the UN Security Council Arria – formula meeting on
the implementation of UNSC resolution 2118
28 September 2020
Thank you, Mr. Chair, dear Vassily,
I am honoured to participate in this Arria – formula meeting on pressing issue of the use of chemical weapons. My delegation was intrigued to hear about independent experts investigating OPCW’s methods and conclusions, but to our disappointment, the information on briefers was not released until the very day of this debate. Furthermore, their interventions did not fulfill our expectations for an objective and impartial assessment on today’s subject.
Latvia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Denmark on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic States, and supports the statement by the PR of Estonia.
We are gravely concerned by the repeated attempts by Syria and of a few States, including those of a Permanent Member of this Council, to challenge the authority and integrity of the OPCW. There is no doubt that the Director-General and the Technical Secretariat, in spite of challenges posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are fulfilling their duties in the service of the international community in a professional, objective and impartial manner. We express our strong political support to this important organization and encourage all States Parties to provide a predictable financial base for its future work in 2021.
We are deeply concerned about the continued non-compliance by certain States with their international obligations on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. This is why the EU strongly supported the establishment of an international attribution mechanism to identify and hold accountable the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons.
Latvia condemns the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Arab Air Force as concluded by the first report of the OPCW IIT this year. We support the decision that sets clear and verifiable parameters for action and we urge the Syrian Arab Republic to take all measures required to redress the situation in the given timeframe. Impunity for these heinous acts will not be tolerated.
The use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable under any circumstances.
Thus, we express our outrage about the hypocrisy and cynicism of one of the founding Member States of the UN holding a meeting on the implementation of UNSCR 2118[1] while independent specialized laboratories have confirmed the poisoning of opposition leader in Russia Alexei Navalny by a military chemical nerve agent of the “Novichok” group on its soil.
Instead of fully cooperating and stepping up transparency, we are once more witnessing a page from Russia`s disinformation playbook. We saw it in 2018 in the Salisbury case and we see it now. We deplore how Russia desperately attempts to allegedly link the origins of Novichok with other counties, including Latvia while trying to avoid disclosing the circumstances of the assassination attempt and bringing those responsible for this criminal act to justice.
The international Community cannot remain silent when the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law are manifestly violated. We call on the UN Security Council, all Member States to demand accountability, a prompt investigation and justice to be served. An adequate response from the international society and relevant bodies should follow immediately. Latvia, together with other Member States of the European Union will continue to follow these issues closely and consider their implications in the OPCW as well as in a wider international context.
Thank you, Mr. President.
[1] Upholding the Authority of the OPCW.