Baird Condemns Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

News Release

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**September 11, 2014 -** Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement in response to the release of the second report of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ fact-finding mission in Syria:

“This report contains compelling evidence which leaves Canada with no doubt that the Assad regime is responsible for using chlorine as a chemical weapon in numerous attacks over the last few months. We condemn the horrific use of chlorine gas against civilians: it is a clear war crime and a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

“Canada is also appalled by the use of barrel bombs filled with toxic chemicals that have been dropped from helicopters, which is also confirmed in the report. The fact that the Assad regime continued these brutal attacks against its own people during efforts to eliminate Syria’s declared arsenal of chemical weapons shows once again its complete disregard for the international community.”