News

The United Nations Mission Report on 16 September stated in clear and unequivocal terms that chemical weapons were used in Syria affecting civilian population. The use of chemical weapons under any circumstances is a grave violation of international law, a war crime and a crime against humanity. The perpetrators of these attacks are to be held accountable.

The decision of the Syrian Government to join the Chemical Weapons Convention is the first step to make sure that such crimes will not be repeated. Lithuania welcomes the U.S.-Russia framework agreement that was concluded last weekend in Geneva on the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities and expects that it will be implemented in a transparent manner and within the agreed timelines. We are looking forward to a binding U.N. Security Council resolution on the issue. It is the responsibility of the international community to make sure chemical weapons are never used again in warfare.

We expect that this window of opportunity provided by the diplomatic process will be opened for finding the comprehensive peaceful solution to end bloodshed in Syria, grave violations of human rights and destruction of the country. We call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law and to ensure that civilians in Syria and Syrian refugees in the neighbouring countries can have access to humanitarian aid.