UNSC to Meet Wednesday on Chemical Weapons’ Attacks in Syria – Haley

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.

New York, 08 Rajab 1438/05 April 2017 (MINA) – UN Security Council (UNSC) is to meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the latest alleged chemical weapons’ attacks in Syria.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, UNSC president, confirmed the time and place during an open meeting of the Security Council.

“In my capacity as president – we have all seen reports of the terrible chemical weapons attack in Syria, I would like to inform the Council that the presidency intends to convene a meeting – in briefing format here in the open chamber – tomorrow at 10 am to discuss the attack,” she said.

On the same issue, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed in a statement that he is deeply disturbed by the reports of alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in the Khan Shaykhun area of southern Idlib, Syria.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to victims of the incident and their families.

The UN is not currently in a position to independently verify these reports, the statement confirmed. However, the OPCW Fact Finding Mission has announced that it has begun gathering information to attempt to confirm if chemical weapons were used.

The Secretary General recalled that the Security Council previously determined that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a threat to international peace and security and, that it affirmed that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious violation of international law. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)