Iran Press/ America: Politicizing the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and exploiting the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for politically driven national goals bring about major negative consequences for the Convention's authority and credibility as well as those of the Organization, said Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Majid Takht-Ravanchi before the Security Council in a statement.
He criticized the world body for its unnecessary focus on Syria while the Western media and governments have repeatedly accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons.
Syria, however, surrendered its stockpile of chemical weapons in 2014 to a joint mission led by the United States and the OPCW, which oversaw the destruction of the weaponry.
The full text of the statement read by the ambassador is as follows:
Mr.President,
Politicizing the implementation of the CWC and exploiting the OPCW for politically driven national goals bring about major negative consequences for the Convention's authority and credibility as well as those of the Organization.
We renew our call for the complete, effective, and non-discriminatory implementation of the Convention, as well as the preservation of the OPCW's authority.
Syria has complied with its obligations under the Convention and continues to cooperate with the OPCW, submitting its 98th report on operations linked to the destruction of chemical weapons and associated production sites on its territory on January 17, 2022. In addition, Syria regularly provides information to the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW and the General Secretariat of the UN about the possession and use of chemical materials by some terrorist organizations, as well as the fabrication of chemical incidents in order to blame the Syrian Army for such heinous acts. Recently in the Idlib governorate, members of the terrorist group "Al-Nusra Front engaged in the fabrication of a chemical incident.
Mr. President,
Mindful of the disastrous and horrific repercussions of the systematic use of chemical weapons by Saddam, Iraq's ex-dictator during his aggression against our country, Iran reiterates its opposition to the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, at any time, and under any circumstances.
Only the complete destruction and elimination of all chemical weapons on a global scale, as well as the implementation of all essential measures to prevent their production, can ensure that chemical weapons are never used again.
We reiterate once again our call on the Security Council to utilize its meetings on Syria. Dedicating one monthly meeting of the Council to the repetition of positions and unfounded allegations against the Syrian government is not conducive to the Security Council's efficiency.
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