CROATIA STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR ANDREA GUSTOVIĆ-ERCEGOVAC PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CROATIA TO THE OPCW AT THE FIFTY-EIGHTH MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

CROATIA STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR ANDREA GUSTOVIĆ-ERCEGOVAC PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CROATIA TO THE OPCW AT THE FIFTY-EIGHTH MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Mr Chairperson, Director-General, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, Croatia fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Ambassador of Bulgaria on behalf of the European Union. Furthermore, the following remarks will be in my national capacity: Croatia strongly condemns the repeated use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, as confirmed by the OPCW–United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism and supports partners and allies in efforts to prevent any further use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic and to protect civilians. Any use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances is completely unacceptable and represents the violation of international law and breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Croatia supports the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism within the United Nations framework to ensure accountability for perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks. Those responsible for the use of chemical weapons must be held accountable. Furthermore, we commend the OPCW and its staff for continuous professional, impartial and independent work in carrying out its tasks under the Chemical Weapons Convention and fully support the Fact-Finding Mission’s work on the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the Declaration Assessment Team on the Syrian declaration. I would kindly ask that this statement be issued as an official document and placed on the OPCW public website. Thank you.