Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus

The Republic of Belarus strongly condemns strikes launched on the Syrian Arab Republic on April 14, 2018.

The situation in Syria essentially turns into an interstate armed conflict with the risk of further uncontrolled escalation that might go beyond the continent.

We call upon all parties involved to refrain from the use of military force against other states and seek ways to settle the conflict through peaceful means at the negotiating table. 

The use of prohibited weapons of mass destruction should not be left without consequences. However, the counter measures should be based on unequivocal and verified facts and should be taken in strict compliance with international law. None of these criteria were observed by those who launched a strike on Syria today.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should be provided with the possibility to urgently check the information of the use of chemical weapons in Syria and report the results of the investigation to the UN Security Council. 

We believe that all members of the UN Security Council need to make best efforts to fulfill the task they were entrusted with by the international community to restore and maintain international peace and security.