UN Secretary-General, OPCW Director-General Meet in The Hague

28 August 2013

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, and the Director-General of the OPCW, Mr Ahmet Üzümcü, met today in The Hague and called upon all parties in Syria to extend their full cooperation to the UN investigation on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Taking serious note of the attack on 26 August on the UN convoy, they stressed that such incidents must not be allowed to happen again. The work of the UN investigation team represents an impartial and objective means to establish the facts on the allegations of use in Syria. Their work must therefore be treated as inviolable and all cooperation must be extended to the Mission that includes avoidance of hostilities by all parties.

They praised the courage and dedication of the UN, OPCW and WHO staff serving on the investigation team and welcomed the support extended by the international community.