Baird Concerned by Report of Syrian Gas Attack

Statement

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**August 21, 2013 -** Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“Canada is concerned by reports of a poison gas attack near Syria’s capital of Damascus that left hundreds of people dead, including children.

“Such reports are extremely concerning, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely with our allies and to seek further information.

“Canada is supporting a United Nations team, now in Syria to investigate the possible use of chemical weapons, by providing [up to $2 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons](https://www.canada.ca/en/sr/sra.html?cdn=canada&st=a&num=10&st1rt=1&langs=en&s5bm3ts21rch=x&hq=&_charset_=UTF-8&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_qdr=all&1s_s3t2s21rch=&as_occt=all&as_q=up+to+%242+million+to+the+Organisation+for+the+Prohibition+of+Chemical+Weapons#wb-land).

“Such an attack is completely unacceptable, and we call on the Assad regime to cooperate with the UN officials investigating these disturbing reports.”