Illustrative image (Source: Xinhua/VNA)Jakarta (VNA) - ASEAN Foreign Ministers on April 24 issued a statementon the situation in Syria, in which they urged all involved parties to worktowards a sustainable political solution through dialogue and negotiation.
“ASEAN Member States condemn in the strongest possible terms the use ofchemical weapons by any party under any circumstances as this constitutes a seriousviolation of international law," said the statement.
ASEAN Member States take our international obligations as States Parties to theChemical Weapons Convention (CWC) seriously, it added.
“We fully support thecurrent work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)in Syria and encourage the concerned Parties to extend their full support, inline with their obligations under the CWC, so that the OPCW’s work may becarried out in a comprehensive, objective and impartial manner,” it said.
The situation in Syriais of serious concern to international peace and stability, the ministers said in the statement. They expressed their concern about the deterioration of the situation and urged all parties to exercise restraint and settle the dispute by peaceful means inaccordance with international law, including the UN Charter and the relevant UNSecurity Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).
“All Parties must take steps to avoid escalation and ensure the safety andsecurity of civilians.”
The ministers also urged all parties to work towards a sustainable politicalsolution through inclusive, meaningful and non-sectarian dialogue andnegotiations. - VNA
VNA
