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, 10 March 2026
Thank you, Madam President.
Let me begin by thanking Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Mr. Ebo for his informative briefing and also Director-General of the OPCW for the report. And let me thank the invited briefers Mr. Moore and Mr. Phillips for their contributions. And I welcome the participation of the representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic and Türkiye to this meeting.
Madam President,
Chemical weapons, as prohibited weapons of mass destruction under international law, pose a grave threat and a real danger to international peace and security. Recent repeated violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention therefore reinforce the importance of safeguarding the norm against their use anywhere.
In January of this year, the OPCW published the fifth report of the Investigation and Identification Team, which concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that on 1 October 2016 the Syrian Arab Air Force used chlorine gas. We also acknowledge and appreciate Syria's cooperation with the OPCW to conclude this investigation.
The findings of this report are deeply disturbing, but it is crucial that evidence of their use has seen the light of day. It is proof that accountability prevails and that the facts will be revealed. The use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable anywhere, at any time and by anyone. We must ensure that the taboo on the use of chemical weapons remains in force and that such cases are investigated promptly and thoroughly and perpetrators are identified and held to account.
Madam President,
We must also undertake all efforts to swiftly identify and eliminate all remnants of chemical weapons in Syria, thereby upholding international norms and preventing diversion of chemical weapons‑related materials to terrorists and other malign actors.
The recent situation in the Aleppo area, where the Technical Secretariat team and officials from the Syrian National Authority discovered that a dozen large-volume storage containers for chemical precursors had been emptied and 75 undeclared cylinders of potential chemical components had disappeared or were said to be destroyed, is a matter of concern. The work done by the Technical Secretariat in Syria is crucial, and robust cooperation with the new Syrian authorities has been key. We encourage both sides to maintain and strengthen their constructive cooperation, including for identifying and investigating the potential sites.
We are pleased to see the on-going political and economic reforms in the country and hope that they will contribute to fostering greater technical capabilities in addressing the threat of chemical weapons. It is clear that due to the secretive and complex nature of the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme, regional and international financial and technical support is needed to assist the OPCW and the new Syrian authorities in achieving their elimination.
Madam President,
In conclusion, let me reiterate Latvia's appreciation for the good work of the OPCW and its Technical Secretariat, as well as for the good faith cooperation of the new Syrian authorities as we strive towards a Syria free of chemical weaponry.
I thank you!