(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) PARIS, July 10 (KUNA) -- The French Foreign Ministry welcomed the latest decisions taken on Syria by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Friday, and told Damascus it must cooperate with that body or face "collective measures," meaning sanctions, as of next November.
Syria is already under a raft of sanctions in different international contexts and additional punitive measures could be adopted by the 40 top members of the OPCW if Syria does not comply with its obligations.
The OPCW "Executive Council" on Thursday backed earlier reports detailing violations of international law by the Syrian government through its use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Air Force in March 2017 in the Ltemenah district.
Since that use, several other instances have been pinpointed by the OPCW, which noted uses of WMD both by the Syrian armed forces and to a lesser extent by rebel groups.
The OPCW has condemned such use of chemical weapons and has urged Syria "to comply with its obligations under penalty of collective measures, which may be adopted in November 2020," when the organization next meets at high-level and in full session.
"It is now up to Syria to cooperate with the OPCW technical secretariat and to rectify the situation within the reasonable period of time set by this decision," the French Foreign Ministry said in its statement.
A decision on measures against Syria will depend on what response Damascus brings to the OPCW, Paris noted, stressing France's position that use of chemical weapons is "unacceptable whatever the circumstances, location, time-frame or user," adding those responsible must be punished.
Separately, the Foreign Ministry welcomed a special report on Syria by the International Independent Commission of Enquiry which designated Syrian government forces as responsible for human rights violations in Idlib province, which was overrun several months ago.
"This independent report highlights the responsibility of pro-regime forces in Syria in acts likely to constitute war crimes during the recent offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia in Idlib," Paris stated.
Alleged crimes include "deliberate attacks by the Syrian and Russian air forces against health workers and medical and civilian infrastructure" as well as indiscriminate bombing of civilians, which could qualify as a crime against humanity.
The report also accuses certain rebel groups of abuses, including summary executions, torture and intimidation.
"France reiterates its firmest condemnation of these acts and of the policy of terror employed by the pro-regime forces and the terrorist organizations in Syria.
These crimes must not go unpunished," the Foreign Ministry said. (end)
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