Secretary-General Sends Security Council Advance Copies of Latest Joint Investigative Mechanism Report

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary‑General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General today transmitted advance copies of the seventh report of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)‑United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism to the Security Council, pursuant to Security Council resolutions 2235 (2015) and 2319 (2016).  The report provides the assessments and findings by the Mechanism’s Leadership Panel in relation to the two cases:  the use of sulfur mustard in Umm Hawsh on 15 and 16 September 2016 and the use of sarin in Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017.

The Secretary-General looks forward to the Security Council’s consideration of the Joint Investigative Mechanism’s report on 7 November.

The Secretary-General reiterates his full confidence in the professionalism, impartiality and objectivity of the Joint Investigative Mechanism and thanks the Leadership Panel and staff for their hard work and dedication.  The Secretary-General appreciates the continued support of OPCW and the Office for Disarmament Affairs to the Mechanism, as well as assistance, including financial support, by Member States.