UN chief calls for access to chemical weapons probe mission to Syria

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the offer by the Syrian government to discuss the UN chemical weapon investigation, in the hope that Syria would grant access to the mission.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the offer of the Government of Syria to continue discussions on the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic,” said a statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson.

Pending its on-site access in Syria, the Mission has continued to monitor developments as well as to collect and analyze information made available by member states, said the statement, adding that the Mission has also conducted fact-finding activities in a neighboring country.

Ban hopes that Syria will grant access to the Mission to conduct its comprehensive on-site investigation, said the statement. “Cooperation from Syria in this regard will be essential for the Mission to establish facts in a credible manner regarding any use of chemical weapons in Syria.”

The UN chief also remained seriously concerned about all allegations on the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Bashar Ja’afari, Syria’s permanent representative to the UN, on Monday invited chief UN chemical weapons investigator Ake Sellstrom and the UN high representative for disarmament to Damascus to discuss allegations of chemical weapon use in Syria’s civil war.

In March, the Syrian government accused the rebels in northern Syria of firing a rocket with poison gases at the town of Khan al- Asal, killing more than 26 people, while Britain, France and the United States suspected the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government.