Category: Press Releases

Mr Chairperson, Director General, Excellencies, colleagues,

We acknowledge the progress made in recent months towards the eradication of the use of chemical weapons, including the opening of the ChemTech Centre, the expansion of capacity building activities in support of States Parties and the destruction of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles, as set out by the Director General this morning. Thank you to the Director General, the Technical Secretariat and all those leading working groups and clusters of issues. Despite this progress, we know that challenges remain.

In August, we joined other States Parties in commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Assad regime’s horrific chemical weapons attack on Ghouta, which killed 1,400 innocent civilians – including hundreds of women and children. At the end of this week, we will recognise another important date – 10 years since Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention. This should be a moment to mark, as a step towards a world without chemical weapons. Instead, we reflect on at least 9 subsequent Assad regime chemical weapons attacks and the further, significant loss of innocent life in egregious violation of international law in Syria.

These attacks confirm beyond all doubt that, in spite of repeated Syrian Regime assurances, Syria did not declare and destroy all of its chemical weapons in 2013. The Syrian Regime has continued to obfuscate and block progress to resolve serious outstanding issues with its declaration. Until these outstanding issues are resolved, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Assad regime will use chemical weapons again.

Mr Chair,

We acknowledge the contents of the Noted Verbale submitted by Syria, but note that without meaningful engagement with the OPCW, its chemical weapons programme will continue to pose a threat to regional and international security. We must uphold the Convention by fortifying our pursuit of: Syrian compliance with the CWC, accountability and risk reduction.

Mr Chair,

Russia continues to make baseless allegations of chemical attacks in Ukraine and the prospect of Ukrainian ‘chemical provocation’. Considering Russia’s recent track record of using chemical weapons, we are gravely concerned that these allegations could be used as the pretext for Russian use of chemical weapons in their illegal and abhorrent violation of Ukraine’s sovereign and internationally recognised territory. Any use of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine would have severe consequences.

Ukraine’s Notes Verbale to the Technical Secretariat and a Russian state media report indicate widespread Russian use of riot control agents in the prosecution of its illegal war, in contravention of Article I of the CWC.  We look forward to Russian answers to Article IX questions posed in a Note Verbale submitted to the Technical Secretariat on 6 October. The UK will remain steadfast in its support of Ukraine’s efforts to protect itself against the threat of chemical weapons and to investigate possible use, noting the option set out in the Convention and in decisions of policy-making organs.

Mr Chair,

We recognise important work, supported by the majority of states, to enhance the effectiveness of the OPCW and ensure its continuing viability. We commend progress made to establish the Working Group on Geographical Representation and to drive discussions on tenure policy.

We also welcome States Parties’ spirit of cooperation and the work of the Technical Secretariat to finalise the biennial budget. We recognise that the trade-offs are difficult, but we remain committed to supporting efforts to achieve affordable outcomes that protect OPCW core activity. Let me close by acknowledging all the hard work by the Director General and colleagues that has gone into pursuing these outcomes. Thank you Mr Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Deputy High Commissioner,

We thank you for your report and appreciate the continued cooperation of the Haitian authorities. We strongly support the Haitian people’s demands for security, stability and justice. Accordingly, we welcome the recent resolution of the United Nations Security Council authorising the deployment of a multinational security support mission led by Kenya.

The widespread human rights violations such as abductions, sexual violence and murder by armed gangs outlined in this interim report are alarming. The increasing number of internally displaced persons as a result of gang violence, the vast majority of which are women and children, is a further pressing concern.

The UK stands in strong support of the vital work on human rights being carried out by the international community in Haiti.

The Haitian government must fulfil its obligation to protect its citizens: gang violence against innocent civilians must end, and those responsible for these human rights violations must be held accountable.

Deputy High Commissioner,

We would like to ask whether you see opportunities for greater collaboration between the Haitian government, national and international entities in the response to the growing internal displacement crisis.

Thank you.

Thank you President. Let me begin by extending the UK’s condolences to the families of all of those killed and injured in the tragic fire at Qaraqosh on the 27th of September.

I’d also like to express thanks to SRSG Plasschaert and Ms Al-Jarahi for their briefings today, and in particular to Ms Al-Jahari for highlighting the vital issues of women’s rights and meaningful participation. I’d also like to express thanks to all the staff at the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq for the important work. The positive partnership between UNAMI and the Iraqi Government, and the Iraqi people and civil society, on issues from regional stability to women’s rights and participation, is playing a vital role in its success.

The UK remains committed to supporting the Iraqi Government and the implementation of its ambitious reform agenda. In particular, we welcome the passing of the budget in June, a crucial step in delivering the Government’s priorities including on economic reform and energy diversification.

President, we share the SRSG’s concerns about the Kurdistan region, and we urge the Kurdistan Regional Government to take all necessary steps to ensure that the planned elections take place on 25 February 2024 next year without further postponement. It is incumbent on all political parties to exercise unity, compromise and engage in constructive dialogue to ensure an electoral process which adheres to international standards and upholds the rights of all citizens, including women and minorities, to participate in the democratic process.

President, we also welcome Iraq’s commitment to tackling climate change, including through ending gas flaring by 2030. Iraq’s exposure to multiple climate hazards, including floods, droughts and sandstorms, climate-related epidemics, and earthquakes makes this an important shared priority. Progress here will bolster Iraq’s security and we stand ready to support.

We welcome the SRSG’s update on missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property. Regarding Khor Abdullah, we would like to strongly echo the point made by the SRSG. We welcome Prime Minister Sudani’s recommitment at High Level Week to international law and to the Resolutions of this Council, and like others we would like to recall in particular the importance of SCR 833. We look forward to the resolution of our standing issues through dialogue between Iraq and the Kuwaiti government.

Finally, President, following the extension of UNITAD’s mandate last month, we are committed to ensuring that UNITAD’s legacy is preserved and that international efforts to deliver justice for Da’esh atrocities continue. Noting Iraq’s recent request, we will work closely with the Government of Iraq, the UN and this Council to improve evidence sharing arrangements in accordance with UNITAD’s Terms of Reference, as well as options for the future of UNITAD’s work.

Once again, I’d like to renew the UK’s commitment to the stability and security of Iraq and to the essential role the Mission plays in support. Thank you.