ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 24 April issued a statement on the situation in Syria, in which they urged all involved parties to work towards a sustainable political solution through dialogue and negotiation.

Illustrative image (Source: Xinhua/VNA)

“ASEAN Member States condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons by any party under any circumstances as this constitutes a serious violation of international law," said the statement.

ASEAN Member States take our international obligations as States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) seriously, it added.

“We fully support the current work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Syria and encourage the concerned Parties to extend their full support, in line with their obligations under the CWC, so that the OPCW’s work may be carried out in a comprehensive, objective and impartial manner,” it said.

The situation in Syria is of serious concern to international peace and stability, the ministers said in the statement. They expressed their concern about the deterioration of the situation and urged all parties to exercise restraint and settle the dispute by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).

“All Parties must take steps to avoid escalation and ensure the safety and security of civilians.”

The ministers also urged all parties to work towards a sustainable political solution through inclusive, meaningful and non-sectarian dialogue and negotiations.

(Source: VNA)