UN chemical weapons inspections in Syria were postponed for one day today due to safety and security concerns.
Inspections will resume tomorrow if 'confirmation of access' is obtained by the UN.
Yesterday on its first attempt to reach the inspection site the UN Chemical Weapons Investigation Team's convoy was attacked by sniper fire in the buffer zone after it had passed through the Syrian government's check-point.
The convoy then had to return to the Government check-point and then to Damascus to replace one of their vehicles because it had been badly damaged by the sniper fire.
This resulted in a four hour delay, so the inspectors were only able to be on site for about two hours of what had been planned to be a six hour inspection.
Statement of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon regarding this postponement:
Note on the work of the Chemical Weapons Team in Syria
Damascus/New York, 27 August 2013
Further to the visit by the Chemical Weapons Team led by Professor Sellstrom to investigate alleged chemical weapons use in the area near Damascus, the Team was to continue their investigation in a different site today.
Following yesterday's attack on the UN convoy, a comprehensive assessment determined that the visit should be postponed by one day in order to improve preparedness and safety for the team. Considering the complexities of the site, confirmation of access has not been obtained but is expected later today.
The Secretary-General again urges all sides in the conflict to give safe passage and access to the Team. It is in the interest of all sides to bring factual evidence and clarity to a situation which has brought great suffering to the people of Syria. The United Nations is there to assist, but it needs the cooperation of all in order to fulfill the mandate given by the Member States.
http://www.un.org/...
Statements of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon concerning events yesterday:
Secretary-General's remarks on Syria
Seoul, Republic of Korea, 26 August 2013
Following is a transcript of remarks on Syria made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a press conference in Seoul:
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, It is a great pleasure to see you.
Let me begin by addressing the alarming crisis in Syria.
The United Nations team on the ground, led by Dr. Sellstrom, has been working intensively around the clock to respond to the latest reports of alleged use of chemical weapons.
I have been in constant contact with many world leaders as well as my senior staff at New York Headquarters and in Damascus.
The UN Investigation Mission was in Syria before this most recent horrific attack. Now, following talks in the country between my High Representative for Disarmament, Ms. Angela Kane, and top Syrian officials, the Mission is expected to begin conducting on-site fact-finding activities today, 26th of August, in just a matter of hours.
And every hour counts. We cannot afford any more delays. We have all seen the horrifying images on our television screens and through social media. Clearly this was a major and terrible incident.
We owe it to the families of the victims to act.
All those in Syria have a stake in finding out the truth. The whole world should be concerned about any threat or use of chemical weapons. And that is why the world is watching Syria.
I demand that all parties allow this mission to get on with the job so that we can begin to establish the facts. The team must be able to conduct a full, thorough and unimpeded investigation. I have total confidence in their expertise, professionalism and integrity.
Their success is in everyone’s interest – all parties in Syria and all concerned States. It will address the recent allegations in the Damascus area and its success can have a deterrent effect on possible further use of chemical weapons in Syria and elsewhere.
We are determined to answer the call of our Member States, fulfill our mandate and resolve deeply disturbing unanswered questions.
If proven, any use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances is a serious violation of international law and an outrageous crime. We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity.
At the same time, it remains essential to achieve a complete cessation of hostilities, so that humanitarian assistance can urgently be delivered. All parties to this conflict should agree on an indefinite ceasefire.
http://www.un.org/...
Note to Correspondents on the UN Chemical Weapons Investigation Team in Damascus
Seoul/New York, 26 August 2013
The Spokesperson for the Secretary-General has the following update on the UN Chemical Weapons Investigation Team in Damascus:
The first vehicle of the Chemical Weapons Investigation Team was deliberately shot at multiple times by unidentified snipers in the buffer zone area.
As the car was no longer serviceable, the Team returned safely back to the Government check-point. The Team will return to the area after replacing the vehicle.
It has to be stressed again that all sides need to extend their cooperation so that the Team can safely carry out their important work.
http://www.un.org/...
Note to correspondents: Remarks by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after speaking to Under-Secretary-General Angela Kane
New York, 26 August 2013
I just spoke to my Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament, Ms. Angela Kane, who is now in Damascus to oversee the investigation. The first day of investigation was carried out by Dr. Sellstrom and his team. What I am told at this time is that their vehicle was attacked by an unknown sniper, but despite such very difficult circumstances, our team returned to Damascus and replaced their car and proceeded to a suburb of Damascus to carry on their investigation. They visited two hospitals, they interviewed witnesses, survivors and doctors, they also collected some samples. They are now returning to Damascus. I will have to wait a little bit more to get the first view of Dr. Sellstrom, but in the meantime I have instructed Angela Kane to register a strong complaint to the Syrian Government and authorities of opposition forces so that this will never happen and the safety and security of the investigation teams will be secured from tomorrow. And I am awaiting a fuller report.
http://www.un.org/...
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Regarding "Too Little. Too Late."
The chemical weapon attack occurred at about 2:00am Wednesday August, 21st local time (about 5:00pm Tuesday, August 20th New York time).
~24 hours after the event: The UN Security Council calls for inspections and requests that the UN Secretary-General organize them.
The office of the UN Secretary-General then begins the process of getting agreements and guarantees of safety from, and working out the logistics details of, inspections with both the Syrian Government and al-Nusrah.
~82 hours after the event - The U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, arrives in Damascus with the formal UN request.
~104 hours after the event - The Syrian Government and the U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs complete a formal agreement.
~128 hours after the event (about 10:00am Monday August, 26th local time) - Inspections begin.
UN inspections don't happen until all parties agree to the inspections, guarantee the safety of the inspectors/experts (which in this case included a ceasefire during the inspections), and agree to the logistical details of the inspections.
Much has been made of Syrian government forces' continuing, until the inspections began, their offensive against al-Nusrah in the areas where the chemical weapon attacks occurred, with claims made that the Syrian government is trying to hide something and/or destroy evidence.
It's interesting to note that those who make these claims fail to mention that al-Nusrah also continued it attacks in and around these areas during this time.