United Nations, November 30 (Prensa Latina) The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, called today for a decisive end to the use of chemical weapons, in view of the date dedicated to the memory of their victims.
This is a solemn occasion to remember those who died or were injured by these terrible weapons, said the UN chief in his message on the date.
The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the deadly chemical weapons attack in the Ghouta district of Damascus, Syria, which caused numerous civilian casualties, including many children, he recalled.
According to the Syrian authorities, this incident was a provocation by Western intelligence services to shift the blame for the incident to the government of the Arab country.
Today we remember this terrible incident and others that occurred in the United Kingdom and Malaysia, he added.
Remembrance Day should also be a day of determination to put an end to the use of these vile weapons once and for all, he wrote.
According to the High Representative, this purpose means meeting the requirement of the Chemical Weapons Convention to prevent any use while putting an end to the impunity of those who use them, particularly against civilians.
“In the name and memory of all who suffered, let us leave chemical weapons in history,” said Guterres.
The Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare was established by the Conference of the Parties at its twentieth session.
The date represents an opportunity to pay tribute and reaffirm the Organization’s commitment to the prohibition of chemical weapons and the elimination of this type of weapon, thereby promoting the goals of peace, security and multilateralism.
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