Syria – Chemical weapons - Q&A - From the Press Briefing (27 September 2019)

Q: The United States announced on Thursday that it had confirmation that a chemical attack was carried out by the Syrian regime on 19 May in Idlib. Does France also have this confirmation and if so, how does it intend to respond to it?

A: We have noted with concern the information regarding the use of chemical weapons in May in Kabana, in Latakia Province in Syria, disclosed by the U.S. secretary of state. Full light must be shed on the possible use of chemical weapons.

We have every confidence in the International Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in this regard. The OPCW has recently, with our support, adopted new capacities to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. We call on the international community as a whole to fully cooperate with this organization.

President Macron reaffirmed again in May that we remain extremely vigilant with respect to the use of chemical weapons. France reaffirms its constant position against the use of chemical weapons and in support of ensuring that the perpetrators of chemical attacks are punished.

It was with this in mind that France launched, on 23 January 2018, the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, which now brings together 39 countries, as well as the European Union.