UN official affirms that Assad regime’s statements are full of discrepancies regarding chemical weapons

The United Nations disarmament chief, Izumi Nakamitsu, said that “about 20 issues related to the use of chemical weapons in Syria have not been resolved, and all Assad regime’s statements on this issue are full of gaps and discrepancies and cannot be considered accurate and complete.”

Izumi told the Security Council on Monday that all efforts by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Technical Secretariat to organize the 25th round of consultations between its Declaration Assessment Team and the authorities of the Assad regime are unsuccessful.

She made it clear that the members of the Council were previously informed and provided with the list of pending declarations and other documents requested by Declaration Assessment Team since 2019, but the Assad regime did not cooperate or give answers about all those gaps and outstanding points.

Izumi stressed that closing all outstanding issues around the use of chemical weapons requires the cooperation by the Assad regime with her organization and give real answers free of discrepancies, pointing out that the Assad regime has evaded and lied about the evidence he submits to exonerate himself.

She indicated that she remains committed to ensuring the full implementation of all Syria’s declaration requirements on chemical weapons, pointing out that her organization is professional, impartial, objective and independent with regard to the ongoing investigations on this matter.