Brussels, 05/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 4 and 5 June, France and the United Kingdom stated that they had proof of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius stated on 4 June that France is “certain that sarin gas has been used in Syria on several occasions and in a localised way”. He said that he had given analyses the same day to the head of the United Nations investigation mission that is in charge of establishing the facts on the allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The analyses were carried out by a French laboratory designated by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and they “show the presence of sarin in the samples in our possession”. “It would be unacceptable for those guilty of these crimes to go unpunished”, he added. On French television, Fabius said that one of the cases studied left “no doubt” that the regime is responsible for the use of the gas. He said that Paris is holding discussions with its British and American partners about “what it will be necessary to do as a possible response”, stating that “all options are on the table”, including an “armed” response (our translation).
London has also said that it has proof that the gas has been used. On 5 June, a British government spokesperson said they had obtained physiological samples from Syria which had been tested in England, and the substances obtained in Syria revealed the presence of sarin gas. According to British estimates the use of chemical weapons in Syria is very probably the work of the Damascus regime.
In a report published on 4 June, the United Nations commission of inquiry on Syria listed the use of chemical agents on at least four occasions - in March and April - although the nature of these agents and their users are not currently known.
EU gravely concerned. “The EU is following with grave concern all reports of a possible use of chemical weapons by any side of the conflict in Syria”, said Michael Mann, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. The reports “indicate with varying certainty that limited quantities of toxic chemicals may have been used, but make no conclusions on perpetrators”, he stated, stressing that “sound evidence is needed to consider the EU response”. “The EU reiterates that any use of chemical weapons under any conditions is unacceptable”, he added. Mann recalled that it is “of the utmost importance” that the UN mission of inquiry start it activities “as soon as possible” and have the full support of the regime and other actors in Syria. It must also be granted all access needed to carry out its investigation on the ground and collect the evidence needed, he said.
Washington wants more proof. The USA has always said that the use of chemical weapons was its “red line”. It has now said that there must be an increase in the body of evidence in its possession before taking a decision. Barack Obama's spokesperson, Jay Carney, said that he had noted that, according to the French information, more work needs to be done to establish who is responsible for the use of the gas and how much was used. He said that it is necessary to gather more detail on the circumstances of the chemical weapons' use.
Sarin gas, a very volatile neurotoxic compound, is forbidden by the United Nations, which considers it as “a weapon of mass destruction”. (CG/transl.fl)