NATO-Russia Council Foreign Ministers affirm their support for OPCW-UN mission in Syria
On Wednesday 4th December, the NATO-Russia Council issued a Statement of Support for the OPCW-UN Mission.
Wednesday's NRC meeting
Meeting in Brussels on 4 December 2013, we, the Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Russia Council affirm our support for the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118 (UNSCR 2118), the Framework for the Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons between the Russian Federation and the United States of America and the decision adopted by the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 27 September 2013, and for the significant work undertaken by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons.
We recall all elements of UN Security Council Resolution 2118 which inter alia condemns in the strongest terms any use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic in particular the attack on 21 August 2013, in violation of international law.
We welcome work done so far and note that important progress has been made in implementing the OPCW Executive Council decisions and UNSCR 2118. We urge all parties to fully cooperate with the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and underscore the importance of the complete and verifiable elimination of all chemical weapons, material and equipment, in the soonest and safest manner in accordance with the decisions of the Executive Council of the OPCW on 27 September 2013 and 15 November 2013 and the Framework for the Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons between the Russian Federation and the United States of America of 14 September 2013.
Noting that UNSC resolution 2118 recognises the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to ensure safety and security for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission, we urge all Syrian parties to cooperate with the OPCW-UN Joint Mission staff in the fulfilment of its mandate, including by providing unfettered access and a secure environment for its activities. We recall UNSCR 2118 which stresses that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process based on the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 and we welcome the decision to convene the International Conference on Syria (Geneva II) on 22 January 2014.
We welcome all support provided by the NRC member states to the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and stand ready to consider further assistance to the OPCW-UN Joint Mission if requested.