UN official: OPCW reinstates Syria's rights under convention; Security Council urged to back accountability

A representative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs told the Security Council that the OPCW Executive Council recognized recent progress and decided in July 2026 to reinstate the Syrian Arab Republic's rights and privileges under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The agency official said the Executive Council also encouraged Syria to continue constructive cooperation with the OPCW technical secretariat and to expedite work to identify, declare and verify destruction of any remaining chemical weapons. The speaker framed these steps as enabling verified destruction activities and international oversight.

Recalling the 2013 Ghouta attacks, the official said the anniversary underscored that "the use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone and under any circumstances is intolerable" and stated: "It is imperative that those who have used chemical weapons are identified and held accountable." The speaker urged Security Council members to show leadership and provide the support the verification and destruction work requires.

The representative reiterated United Nations support for the integrity, professionalism, impartiality and independence of the OPCW and said the UN stands ready to continue its part to uphold the norm against the use of chemical weapons.