Statement of Canada to the 103rd Session of the OPCW Executive Council

Check against delivery.

July 12, 2023

I congratulate you, Ambassador, on your new role as Chair of the Council. You can count on Canada’s full support and cooperation.

Canada also congratulates the United States on the occasion of the complete destruction of their stockpile. This is a historic occasion to celebrate the value of the Convention, and this organization.

Chair,

This is our first meeting since the Fifth Review Conference. We had constructive discussions over the last year allowing us to take stock of progress we’ve made in the implementation of the Convention.

We are particularly pleased with the growing recognition of mainstreaming gender perspectives in the implementation of the Convention.

Canada reaffirms its readiness to continue working constructively with States Parties and the Technical Secretariat on diversity and gender equality, and all other actionable matters.

A consensus outcome document at the 5th Review Conference would have demonstrated our collective desire to rid the world of chemical weapons. However, this is not the objective of every State in the room.

The Russian Federation and Syria still possess chemical weapons, and have demonstrated their willingness to continue using them. This is apparent by their ongoing disruptive actions in this organization.

Chair,

In February last year, more than one year after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues its illegal war of aggression. The catastrophic consequences continue to affect us all; no more than the people of Ukraine.

Recently, Russian state-controlled media reported that the Russian military used riot control agents on the battlefield in Ukraine. Article I prohibits the use of riot control agents as a method of warfare.

It was only two years ago that Russian agents poisoned Alexei Navalny with Russia’s signature nerve agent, a Novichok, with complete impunity.

For years, Russia has been shielding the Assad regime from accountability, effectively enabling Syria to use and retain chemical weapons.

The IIT established Russian and Syrian militaries were co-located at the Dumayr airbase at the same time the chlorine attack on Douma was launched.

Violations of the Convention have consequences. Canada supports all efforts, in the OPCW and elsewhere, to expose and hold perpetrators of chemical weapons use accountable.

Chair,

For over a decade, the Syrian regime has stalled in failing to produce an accurate and complete declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile. At the same time, it has used chemical weapons against civilians on at least nine confirmed occasions.

We note that the Declaration Assessment Team visited Syria in a reduced capacity to conduct limited in-country activities.

We appreciate the team’s professionalism in carrying out its duties under difficult circumstances. There are substantive outstanding issues in Syria’s declaration, and the DAT’s work is far from over.

The OPCW continues to be hindered in its ability to fully verify the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons program.

The Technical Secretariat is unable to confirm whether hundreds of tons of chemical warfare agents have been destroyed, or the whereabouts of thousands of chemical munitions.

It is Syria’s responsibility to abide by its international legal obligations.

Finally, Chair,

We look forward to the upcoming facilitations on the OPCW’s biennial programme and budget. Canada will participate constructively and reaffirms the importance of a well-resourced organization that is fit for purpose.

This organization continues to provide immense value to all member States, and serves our collective interest to make the world a safer and better place, for a future free of chemical weapons.

Thank you.