Canada – Thematic Debate Statement on Other Weapons of Mass Destruction – First Committee of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly

Mr. Chair,

This year, 2017, marks the 20^th anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the international community can proudly say that 192 countries are now States Parties. But even as we celebrate this important benchmark, we must also acknowledge that 2017 was tarnished by the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Iraq and Malaysia. The world was particularly shocked by the April 4 attack on Khan Shaykhun in Syria which took the lives of at least 83 persons, including many children.  Our Prime Minister said then, “President Assad’s use of chemical weapons and the crimes the Syrian regime has committed against its own people cannot be ignored. These gruesome attacks cannot be permitted to continue with impunity.” Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances, anywhere, by anyone and demands that those responsible be held accountable. The hard fought taboo against the use of chemical weapons must be preserved and reinforced.

Earlier this year, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs announced an additional financial contribution of CAD $2.5 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the investigation of chemical weapons’ use in Syria. This new funding was unveiled the same day that the OPCW’s Fact-Finding Mission’s report confirmed the use of sarin in Khan Shaykhun. Canada’s additional contribution further underscores our deep commitment to the OPCW and its dedication, professionalism, and impartiality in working to rid the world of chemical weapons.

Now that the Fact Finding Mission has concluded its work on Khan Shaykhun, the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) will seek to identify those responsible for the attack. Canada notes the concerns expressed by the Head of the Mechanism regarding pressures exerted on the JIM by some governments. We expect all States to respect the JIM’s impartial and evidence-based inquiry.

We call on all States to comply with their obligations under the CWC and international humanitarian law, and cease any activity that may contravene these obligations.

And, we call on the Syrian regime to fully disclose the extent of its chemical weapons program, to comply with the CWC and UN Security Council Resolution 2118, to resolve all ambiguities in its declaration, and to destroy its remaining chemical weapons facilities.

Canada’s commitment to eliminating chemical weapons goes beyond words. Since 2012, Canada has contributed more than CAD $30 million to help destroy chemical weapons in Libya and Syria, to support special missions and contingency operations in Syria and to strengthen the OPCW’s Rapid Response Assistance Mission.

Canada looks forward to further improving the operation of the CWC during next year’s Review Conference. We welcome the opportunity to review the role of the OPCW and further international efforts to fully destroy the world’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and to prevent their further proliferation.

As I conclude, Mr. Chair, let me express Canada’s frustration with the outcome of the Eighth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. It is critical that the upcoming Meeting of States Parties take a decision that results in a stronger Convention by 2021. 

In the interim, we will continue doing all we can to mitigate significant threats posed by biological weapons and biological terrorism. Thank you.