17 May 2013 13:35

UN secretary general regrets lack of opportunity to investigate chemical arms use in Syria

SOCHI. May 17 (Interfax) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he regrets that experts investigating the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria were unable to visit this country.

It is regrettable that the team in charge of this investigation was unable to visit Syria and conduct its inquiry on the spot, Ban said at a press conference after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi on Friday.

The UN secretary general said he had received requests from three UN member states demanding an inquiry into the incident.

According to Ban, the first request arrived from Syria, and the United Kingdom and France followed suit, prompting him to order this investigation.