- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

UN to Begin Syria Probe Only After Use of Chemicals in Idlib Attack Confirmed

© Flickr / UN GenevaPress conference of the Secretary-General
Press conference of the Secretary-General - Sputnik International
Subscribe
UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that the fact-finding mission of the OPCW began on the alleged use of chemical weapons in the province of Syria's Idlib.

A U.N. chemical weapons expert, wearing a gas mask, holds a plastic bag containing samples from one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Ain Tarma neighbourhood of Damascus, Syria. (File) - Sputnik International
White House Claims Preparations for Chemical Attack in Syria Began in March
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — A joint investigative mechanism of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is mandated to begin work in Syria only after the OPCW fact-finding mission confirms the use of chemical weapons in the province of Idlib, UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Tuesday.

"The fact-finding mission of the OPCW began looking into the incident that we saw, they are going in on with their work," Dujarric said. "The way that works is that once they are able to confirm that there has been use of chemical weapons than the UN-OPCW joint investigative mechanism kicks in."

On April 4, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces said some 80 people were killed and 200 injured in a chemical weapons attack in Khan Shaykhun in the Idlib province, and blamed the Syrian army for the incident.

Members of the Security Council meet to address the situation in Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at U.N. headquarters - Sputnik International
UN Security Council Must Condemn Chemical Attack in Syria, Launch Probe
The Syrian foreign minister denied his government’s involvement in the Idlib incident, while the Syrian army said it does not possess chemical weapons.

The OPCW announced in January 2016 that it had destroyed Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal per an agreement of the Syrian government.

Dujarric said that the joint investigation mechanism, once it starts its work, will try to find the perpetrators of the attack, rather than establish what type of chemicals was used.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала