Information on alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria requires thorough verification involving all interested sides - Astana
ASTANA. April 14 (Interfax) - Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov has explained Kazakhstan's stand on the UN Security Council resolution regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria in a phone call with British Secretary of State Boris Johnson, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said.
"Topical aspects of bilateral cooperation and the international agenda, including progress of the UN Security Council's debate on the Syria crisis, especially in the light of tensions escalating after the alleged use of chemical weapons, have been discussed with the British colleague," the ministry's website said in a report posted on Friday.
The media said on April 4 that toxic munitions had been used in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the Syrian Idlib province, killing at least 86 people. The opposition and a number of Western countries, among them the United States, pointed the finger at the Syrian government. Damascus said, in turn, it had never used chemical weapons on the Syrian territory.
The UN Security Council put to vote a draft resolution on the alleged use of weapons of mass destruction in the Syrian Idlib province on April 12 at the initiative of the United Kingdom, the United States and France. Russia vetoed the resolution. The resolution was voted down by Russia and Bolivia, and three countries, among them Kazakhstan, abstained.
"The Kazakh delegation condemned the use of chemical weapons and called for punishing the culprits in its speech at the UN Security Council," the Kazakh foreign minister said.
"At the same time, Kazakhstan decided to abstain for two reasons: first of all, Kazakhstan stands for an impartial, comprehensive and thoroughly investigation of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria under the aegis of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with the participation of all interested sides; second of all, Kazakhstan is hosting the intra-Syrian process in Astana, which an integral part of the international efforts towards the settlement of the Syria conflict," the report said.
"Kazakhstan deems this process to be unique, as it brings to the negotiating table conflicting sides, including the armed Syrian opposition, which had established a truce. Kazakhstan's impartiality is a key aspect of the Astana process, whose primary objective is a lasting cessation of hostilities in Syria," the report said.
According to the ministry, the phone call was initiated by the United Kingdom.
