I have the honour to transmit herewith the twentieth monthly report of the

Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

(OPCW), submitted pursuant to paragraph 12 of Security Council resolution

2118 (2013) (see annex). The present letter covers the period from 23 April to

21 May 2015.

On the destruction of the remaining 12 chemical weapons production facilities

in the Syrian Arab Republic, I am pleased to note that the export licence for the

explosives required to destroy the five hangars has now been issued and that the

delivery of these explosives is expected to take place by mid-June. I also note that

the installation of monitoring equipment at the first of the four accessible

underground structures will take place at the end of this month. I regret, however,

that the prevailing security situation continues to render one underground structure

and two hangars inaccessible.

There is continuing dialogue between OPCW technical experts and the Syrian

authorities with regard to the initial declaration by the Syrian Arab Republic and

subsequent amendments, and the Declaration Assessment Team of OPCW is

currently undertaking its ninth visit to the Syrian Arab Republic to continue its

clarification of outstanding issues. I welcome the continued consultations between

OPCW and the Syrian authorities, and reiterate my previous calls for ongoing

cooperation in this regard.

The work of the fact-finding mission that is looking into allegations of the use

of toxic chemicals as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic is also continuing and

OPCW experts are closely examining all available information. I note that the

fact-finding mission that is looking into allegations brought to the attention of the

Director-General of OPCW by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic is

preparing to deploy imminently to Damascus. Such a deployment follows agreement

to that end that has now been reached between OPCW and the Government of the

Syrian Arab Republic.

In spite of such progress, however, I must express my continuing and deepest

regret that allegations of the use of these weapons have not ceased, even since the

time of my last letter on this subject. This is utterly deplorable. There can be no

excuse or justification whatsoever for the use of such weapons.

I should be grateful if you would bring the present letter and its annex urgently

to the attention of the members of the Security Council.

I have the honour to transmit to you my report entitled “Progress in the

elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme”, prepared in accordance

with the relevant provisions of Executive Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 of the

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and Security Council

resolution 2118 (2013), both dated 27 September 2013, for transmission to the

Council. My report covers the period from 23 April to 21 May 2015 and also

covers the reporting requirements contained in Executive Council decision

EC-M-34/DEC.1, dated 15 November 2013.