P3 Letter delivered to UNSG Ban on chemical attacks in Syria

37 member states have so far signed this letter to UNSG Ban Ki Moon, demanding urgent investigation into alleged chemical attacks in Damascus Suburb Algouta, diplomats said.

21 August 2013

HE Mr Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General

United Nations

Syria: Chemical Weapons

We would like to bring to your attention credible reports of the use of chemical weapons on 21 August 2013 in Rif Damascus.

Given the gravity of these reports, we judge it essential that all the pertinent facts are swiftly investigated.

We therefore request that you launch an urgent investigation into these allegations as expeditiously as possible under the auspices of the Secretary General’s Mechanism for the Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons, as derived from the mandate established by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/42/37C of 30 November 1987, and report back to Member States as soon as possible.

We are aware that the UN Mission is now in Damascus. We urge you to do all you can to ensure that the Mission has urgent access to all relevant sites and sources of information.

To assist the investigation, we submit a selection of open source information (Annex A). 

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.

  

Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Ambassador, Charge d’affaires, a.i., United States Mission to the United Nations
Alexis Lamek, Deputy Permanent Representative, Chargé d’affaires, a.i., French Mission to the United Nations

Philip Parham, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom

Annex A

Open source reporting

Rif Damascus – 21 August

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/21/syria-poisonous-gas-attack-claim - Syrian activists claim hundreds killed in poisonous gas attack

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-crisis-activists-accuse-government-as-hundreds-die-in-chemical-weapons-attack-8777527.html - Syria crisis: Activists accuse government as hundreds die in 'chemical weapons attack'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10256236/Syria-denies-reports-of-deadly-Damascus-nerve-gas-attack.html - Syria denies reports of deadly Damascus nerve gas attack

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23777201 - Syria conflict: 'Chemical attacks' near Damascus

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-08/21/c_132650833.htm - Activists accuse Syrian forces of using "poisonous gases" in Damascus countryside

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