Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, PR of Latvia to the United Nations at UN Security Council Briefing on Syria’s Chemical Weapons
New York, 3 September 2026
Merci, Monsieur le Président.
Je vais aussi commencer par adresser nos vives félicitations à la France en ce début de présidence du Conseil pour le mois de septembre. Donc, ma délégation vous souhaite toute la réussite, et vous pouvez compter sur notre soutien. I will also take this opportunity to thank Denmark for their dedicated, professional and exemplary steering of Council’s work last month, and I thank the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Ms. Nakamitsu for her informative briefing, and also the Director-General of the OPCW for the report. And I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to this meeting and thank him for the update.
Mr President,
The political transition in Syria has been truly impressive. Perhaps the most striking illustration of this positive reversal has been in the chemical weapons track. An area in which Syria, under the brutal Assad regime, had long been the worst example globally, has transformed into an example of transparent and constructive cooperation with the international community in efforts to rid the country of any remnants of chemical weapons, paving the path towards accountability for those responsible. The pursuit of justice for the victims and survivors of these crimes is an integral part of Syria’s transition and recovery, as highlighted a couple of weeks ago during the commemoration of atrocious chemical attack against Syrian civilians - men, women and children - in Ghouta.
Mr President,
Syria’s commitment is demonstrated by numerous investigations, both nationally and in cooperation with international partners, such as the UN and the OPCW.
The important work being done by the OPCW on the ground through its Technical Secretariat in cooperation with the Syrian authorities cannot be overstated. We have already seen significant results with new findings of previously undeclared chemical weapons and facilities, along with a wealth of information for further analysis. We therefore welcome continued submissions of amendments to Syria’s initial declaration and further deployments of the Technical Secretariat. These efforts are yielding progress, but further regional and international support is needed to fully eliminate any trace of the Assad-era chemical weapons programme. The “Breath of Freedom Task Force” is an important platform for achieving exactly this and we applaud Syria’s leadership in coordinating these efforts.
The recent decision of the OPCW Executive Council to reinstate the rights and privileges of the Syrian Arab Republic under the Convention is a well-deserved success of the Syrian authorities and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compliance with international norms. State Parties to the Convention must uphold the essential norm of a complete and total ban on chemical weapons, and recognize that the use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable. Other important decisions relating to Syria were also taken by the Executive Council, including on the agreed plan for the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons. This is a strong vote of confidence in the growing capabilities of the Syrian authorities.
Mr President,
The practical efforts undertaken by Syrian experts on the ground are being matched by the country’s international outreach. The request to join the International Partnership Against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons is the latest meaningful step. We also welcome the determined compliance of the Syrian authorities with non-proliferation norms beyond the Chemical Weapons Convention. In an age of renewed threats to nuclear non-proliferation, Syria has volunteered information on nuclear material that was previously undeclared under the Assad regime. Immediate cooperation with the IAEA followed and we’re pleased to note an agreement on practical steps to bring this material under the safeguards of the Agency in accordance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement. We look forward to further developments in this regard.
In conclusion, allow me to reiterate Latvia’s full support to our common goal – a Syria free of chemical weapons and prohibition of use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, and at any time.
I thank you!