Swedish Statement at the UN Security Council Briefing on Letter from the United Kingdom

Thank you Madam President and thank you to the United Kingdom for this very timely update to the Security Council today.

Madam President,

We note the significance of the new information stemming from the British investigation, and we underline our confidence in the British findings.

We call on Russia to change course and fully cooperate with the on-going investigation and prosecution, and fully disclose any nerve agent programs to the OPCW. This latest information provides further evidence of the high likelihood of Russia’s responsibility for the attack, as previously stated by the European Council.  

We regret that since the Council last discussed these developments, a British national in Amesbury has tragically died following contact with a substance, that OPCW has confirmed to be the same Novichok nerve agent that poisoned Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

We reiterate our strong condemnation of the use of a nerve agent on UK soil and express our full solidarity with the United Kingdom, our close friend and EU partner.

Madam President,

Once again in this chamber, we condemn in the strongest term all use of chemical weapons, strictly prohibited under international law. It is a common responsibility to ensure that the chemical weapons ban is respected. And it can be argued that permanent members has special responsibilities when it comes to curbing the weapons of mass destruction. The rules-based international system protects us all and we must ensure its integrity in all its parts. In this regard, we reiterate our full support to the OPCW -  the independent international organization charged with overseeing the chemical weapons ban.

Thank you.