Turkey expects steps taken against Syria after proven use of chemical weapons

“Considering the fact that the regime has heedlessly continued to use chemical weapons up to now, Turkey expects steps will be taken regarding the regime, which is a party to the CWC [Chemical Weapons Convention], so that it is held accountable by necessary sanctions called for by this crime,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement on Aug 27. 

Turkey’s statement after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)–United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) ascertained the liability of the Syrian regime in some of the cases under investigation. The mechanism was established pursuant to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2235, in order to identify perpetrators using chemical weapons in Syria. 

It also found that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) also used chemical weapons in one incident. 

“JIM’s findings also clearly indicate that Turkey has been justified by its previous warnings,” read the statement. 

“The use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity and constitutes a war crime. As a responsible member of the international community, Turkey expects the OPCW, which is responsible for supervising the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to continue monitoring and reporting on the gaps and discrepancies in the declaration of the Syrian regime pertaining to its chemical weapons program,” it added. 

Recalling that the report also cited ISIL using chemical weapons, Turkey said: “The use of chemical weapons by DEASH [ISIL] amid its vicious terrorist acts has also been established by the JIM in its report. Our efforts to counter DEASH will continue with resolve.”