Equipo Nizkor - UNSC S/2016/577 - 33rd report of the Director-General of the OPCW on the progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme.

United Nations
Security Council

S/2016/577

Distr.: General
28 June 2016
English
Original: French

Letter dated 27 June 2016 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council

I have the honour to transmit herewith the thirty-third monthly report of the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), prepared pursuant to paragraph 12 of Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) (see annex). This report covers the period from 24 May to 23 June 2016.

With respect to the destruction of chemical weapons production facilities declared by the Syrian Arab Republic, the security situation continues to prevent access to destroy the remaining hangar. For the same reason, the OPCW Technical Secretariat remains unable to confirm the condition of two other stationary above-ground facilities.

With respect to the initial declaration and subsequent submissions from the Syrian Arab Republic, a team from the OPCW Technical Secretariat visited the Syrian Arab Republic from 30 May to 3 June. Discussions took place regarding issues remaining to be resolved, and on the latest analytical results from the 23 samples collected by the OPCW Declaration Assessment Team during its visit to the Syrian Arab Republic in January. The Director-General of the OPCW and representatives of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic met in The Hague from 20 to 22 June, again with the aim of resolving all outstanding issues in that regard. This will be the final round of consultations prior to the Director-General's report on this matter to the OPCW Executive Council in advance of its next session from 12 to 15 July.

With regard to the continuing allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, I once again reiterate my deep concern. I reaffirm my total condemnation of the use of such weapons by any party to the conflict.

Pursuant to Security Council resolution 2235 (2015), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons -United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism is proceeding with the investigation of the nine selected cases. During the reporting period, the Mechanism continued to receive technical briefings and information relevant to its investigation from a number of Member States. As part of its consultations, the Leadership Panel is scheduled to visit two capitals, upon invitation by the Member States, before the end of June. The Mechanism's investigators are preparing for their third technical visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, scheduled to start on 28 June. The Mechanism also continued its engagement with non-governmental organizations that possess information about the nine cases under investigation. The Security Council considered the Mechanism's second written report on 16 June.

I reiterate my call on Member States and relevant stakeholders, including from the region, to share promptly information that may help the Mechanism fulfil its mandate. I also stress again the importance of continued cooperation by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic with the requests of the Mechanism for information and/or access.

(Signed) BAN Ki-moon

Annex

[Original: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish]

I have the honour to transmit to you my report entitled "Progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme" prepared in accordance with the relevant provisions of OPCW Executive Council Decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 and United Nations Security Council resolution 2118 (2013), both dated 27 September 2013, for transmission to the Security Council (see enclosure). My report covers the period from 24 May to 23 June 2016 and also covers the reporting requirements of Executive Council decision EC-M-34/DEC.1, dated 15 November 2013.

(Signed) Ahmet Üzümcü

Enclosure

[Original: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish]

Note by the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme

1. In accordance with subparagraph 2(f) of the decision by the Executive Council (hereinafter "the Council") at its Thirty-Third Meeting (EC-M-33/DEC.1, dated 27 September 2013), the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter "the Secretariat") is to report to the Council on a monthly basis regarding the implementation of that decision. In accordance with paragraph 12 of United Nations Security Council resolution 2118 (2013), the report by the Secretariat is also to be submitted to the Security Council through the Secretary-General.

2. The Council, at its Thirty-Fourth Meeting, adopted a decision entitled "Detailed Requirements for the Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons and Syrian Chemical Weapons Production Facilities" (EC-M-34/DEC.1, dated 15 November 2013). In paragraph 22 of that decision, the Council decided that the Secretariat should report on its implementation "in conjunction with its reporting required by subparagraph 2(f) of Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1".

3. The Council, at its Forty-Eighth Meeting, adopted a decision entitled "Reports of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria" (EC-M-48/DEC.1, dated 4 February 2015) noting the Director-General's intent to include reports of the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), along with information on the Council's discussion thereof, as part of the monthly reporting pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 2118 (2013). Similarly, the Council, at its Eighty-First Session, adopted a decision entitled "Report by the Director-General Regarding the Declaration and Related Submissions by the Syrian Arab Republic" (EC-81/DEC.4, dated 23 March 2016), noting the Director-General's intent to provide information on the implementation of that decision.

4. This, the thirty-third monthly report, is therefore submitted in accordance with the aforementioned Council decisions, and includes information relevant to the period from 24 May to 23 June 2016.

Progress achieved by the Syrian Arab Republic in meeting the requirements of EC-M-33/DEC.1 and EC-M-34/DEC.1

5. Progress by the Syrian Arab Republic is as follows:

(a) With respect to the 27 chemical weapons production facilities (CWPFs) declared by the Syrian Arab Republic, the Secretariat has verified the destruction of 24, and three remain to be verified as destroyed. The security situation continues to prevent safe access to destroy the remaining aircraft hangar, which stands ready to accept the explosive charges. The condition of the two stationary above-ground facilities remains unconfirmed, also due to the poor security situation.

(b) On 17 June 2016, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted to the Council its thirty-first monthly report (EC-82/P/NAT.4, dated 17 June 2016) regarding activities on its territory related to the destruction of its CWPFs, as required by paragraph 19 of EC-M-34/DEC.1.

(c) The Syrian authorities have continued to extend the necessary cooperation in accordance with the implementation of subparagraph 1(e) of EC-M-33/DEC.1 and paragraph 7 of United Nations Security Council resolution 2118 (2013).

Progress in the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons by States Parties hosting destruction activities

6. As reported previously, all the chemicals declared by the Syrian Arab Republic that were removed from its territory in 2014 have now been destroyed.

Activities carried out by the Secretariat with respect to Executive Council decision EC-81/DEC.4

7. In accordance with the Council's decision at its Eighty -First Session (EC-81/DEC.4), the Director-General, in parallel with the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), has held a series of consultations with senior officials of the Syrian Arab Republic to address the issues identified by the Secretariat in the "Report on the Work of the Declaration Assessment Team Regarding the Declaration and Related Submissions by the Syrian Arab Republic" (EC-81/HP/DG.1, dated 22 February 2016).

8. The most recent rounds of consultations were convened at the expert level in Damascus from 29 May to 4 June 2016, and at the senior level at OPCW Headquarters from 20 to 22 June 2016. Participants in the latter meeting included the Director-General; H.E. Dr Faisal Mekdad, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic; experts from the Secretariat; and experts affiliated with the Syrian chemical weapons programme.

9. As requested by the Council, the Director-General will issue a report that summarizes the outcome of this engagement with officials of the Syrian Arab Republic. The report is currently under preparation and will be distributed to the Council in advance of its Eighty-Second Session, which will be convened from 12 to 15 July 2016.

Other activities carried out by the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic

10. As requested by the Council at its Seventy-Fifth Session (paragraph 7.12 of EC-75/2, dated 7 March 2014), the Secretariat, on behalf of the Director-General, has continued to brief States Parties in The Hague on its activities.

11. With the contract in place for the maintenance and repair of the remote monitoring systems installed at four of the CWPFs already destroyed (four underground structures) as previously reported, the OPCW is working with the Syrian Arab Republic and the contractor to implement a maintenance schedule and protocol for repairs.

12. As at the cut-off date of this report, one OPCW staff member was deployed as part of the OPCW mission in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Supplementary resources

13. As previously reported, a Trust Fund for Syria Missions was established in November 2015 to support the FFM and other remaining activities, such as those of the DAT. As at the cut-off date of this report, contribution agreements totalling EUR 7.8 million had been concluded with Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United States of America, and the European Union. Pledges from other donors have been made and are currently being processed.

Activities carried out with respect to the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria

14. In the reporting period, the FFM continued to study all available information relating to allegations of use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and will be guided in its work by Council decisions EC-M-48/DEC.1 and EC-M-50/DEC.1 (dated 23 November 2015), and United Nations Security Council resolution 2209 (2015). The OPCW also continued to extend its full cooperation and support to the Joint Investigative Mechanism.

Conclusion

15. The main focus of the future activities of the OPCW Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic will be on the implementation of the Council's March 2016 decision (EC-81/DEC.4), as well as on the destruction and verification of the remaining aircraft hangar, confirmation of the status of the two stationary above-ground facilities, and annual inspections of the underground structures already verified as destroyed.

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28Jun16

33rd report of the Director-General of the OPCW on the progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme