The Czech Republic welcomes the Security Council resolution as the strong expression of a consensus of the international community in support of an effective implementation of the OPCW Executive Council decision – including free movement and unrestricted access for the international team of inspectors to all sites on the Syrian territory, as well as measures to guarantee their security and safety.  The Czech Republic hopes that in addition to complying with all conditions necessary for the implementation of the plan, Syria will, as soon as possible, ratify the Convention on Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.

The Czech Republic is ready to participate in the mission through its capabilities in the field of chemical, biological and radiological defence, and has indicated its readiness to place its experts at the UN’s disposal.

The elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons must be accompanied by undiminished international diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict in general, which continues to cause massive human suffering and material destruction. Similarly, the ongoing diplomatic efforts should not overshadow the fact that the chemical weapons attack in Damascus on 21 August 2013 was a serious violation of international law and its perpetrators must be held accountable.