Nigerien army officers inspect a car belonging to a group of French aid workers who were killed by unidentified gunmen in the Kouré Reserve in August, 2020. (Photo: AFP/VNA)New York(VNA) – Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of Vietnam at theUN, reiterated that Vietnam categorically condemns the use of chemical weapons inany form, by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances during an UN SecurityCouncil (UNSC)’s open video teleconference (VTC) on February 3.
Itis a violation of international law, Anh told the event concerning thesituation in the Middle East.
During the event, Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and HighRepresentative for Disarmament Affairs, briefed about the cooperation betweenthe UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) andSyria.
Anh noted there is continued engagement between the OPCW andSyria in order to put an end to this protracted issue of chemical weaponsin Syria.
“Tofurther progress, it is our strong belief that there is no other option thanensuring cooperation between the two sides,” he said, adding that it is amatter of course that the support of the international community to theirendeavours remains of great importance in this matter.
Helater called for the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the Syrian NationalAuthority to further enhance their technical consultations in order to close allthe remaining outstanding issues.
Earlierthe same day, the UNSC adopted a presidential statement on the situation in WestAfrica and the Sahel which condemns in the strongest term the terrorist attacksin two villages in Niger and against civilians in Borno State as well as theabduction of more than 300 children in Katsina State in Nigeria over the lastfew months.
The statement expresses concern over thedeterioration in the humanitarian situation in the region, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and notably characterized by the impact of extreme poverty, foodinsecurity and violence.
It called for safe, sustained and unhindered accessfor the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid, including access tocomprehensive health care and services for survivors of sexual violence inconflict and post-conflict situations, without discrimination./.
