Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, PR of Latvia to the United Nations at UN Security Council Briefing on Syria (Chemical Weapons)
New York, 8 January 2026
Thank you, Mr. President.
Let me thank Deputy High Representative Ebo for his informative briefing and Director-General of the OPCW for his report. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic at this meeting.
As this is our first statement on this important item, allow me to begin by reiterating Latvia’s commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. We support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition process that enables the government to foster stability domestically and in its relations with neighbours, combat terrorism, address the country's socioeconomic recovery and ensure inclusive governance for all Syrians.
The on-going transition and reform process is also crucial to Syria’s full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. A stable, inclusive and cohesive Syria is key to ensuring full transparency in eliminating all remnants of chemical weapons and to guarantee full accountability for all those involved in the illegal chemical weapons programme and in the heinous attacks on civilians under the Assad regime. It will not be easy, nor simple, but it must be done with the utmost zeal and urgency.
Mr. President,
We welcome the fruitful cooperation between the new Syrian authorities and the OPCW, and applaud the significant and on-going efforts of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW. This includes the establishment of the Office of Special Missions, tasked with implementing the mandates of the Declaration Assessment Team, Fact-Finding Mission, and Investigation and Identification Team, as well as re-establishment of a continuous presence in the country. We encourage the Syrian authorities to continue to provide full support to the OSM in all possible ways and to comply with all information requests accordingly.
Considering the scale of the challenge, with over a hundred additional locations potentially related to the programme, as well as the continuing threat posed by terrorist groups, regional and international support is key to assisting Syria in achieving full implementation of the Convention, including the verified elimination of all remnants of chemical weapons. The recent historic visit to Syria by the Security Council was a strong political signal and this should be followed by further international efforts. Whilst financial resources are the most obvious necessity, capacity building and sharing of technical expertise are equally urgent.
Mr. President,
Finally, allow me to reiterate that any use of chemical weapons is categorically unacceptable. It constitutes a breach of international law and causes immense suffering. It is crucial to maintain an unwavering commitment to strengthening the norm of prohibition of chemical weapons. We cannot allow impunity to prevail. All cases of use of chemical weapons, in Syria and elsewhere, must be thoroughly investigated, and perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes.
Thank you!