Welcome
Federal Foreign Office on the investigation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria
A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (25 October) on the failed attempt to extend the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), a joint investigative mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations (UN) to identify those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria:
The Federal Government cannot comprehend why the members of the Security Council were unable to agree on an extension of the JIM and thus further investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Those who voted against the draft bear the full responsibility. This equates to a devastating signal of impunity for those who are responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. At the same time, the right of the victims of chemical weapons in Syria and the investigation of these crimes are not being taken into account and here people had vested their hope in the international community.
The Federal Government will continue to work to ensure the perpetrators are identified and finally brought to justice. Key importance attaches to the next report to be issued by the JIM which is due to be published in the next few days.
