Syria Chemical Weapons: Statement During Briefing

Thank you madame Izumi Nakamitsu for your briefing.

Kenya takes note of the monthly report of the Director-General and the submission by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic of its report.

As a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Kenya's position is clear. The use of chemical weapons anywhere and by anyone constitutes a grave violation of international law and cannot be justified under any circumstance.

We reiterate our support for the mandate of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as the technically competent international authority in its area of work.

With regard to today's briefing, I re-emphasis Kenya's conviction that an expeditious closure of investigations into the use of chemical weapons in Syria will allow the Council to support the Syrian people more meaningfully in their quest for lasting peace. We therefore continue to encourage cooperation and engagement in good faith between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Secretariat particularly regarding the identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies that remain unresolved.

In conclusion, Kenya remains convinced that there can be no military solution to the Syrian conflict. We support an inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process as the only avenue to a sustainable solution.

I Thank you.