UNITED NATIONS, New York—The United Nations remains concerned about the use of chemical weapons by ISIS or any other state or non-state actors and that the organization’s Security Council will continue to keep an eye on that subject, says the UK ambassador to the UN and President of the Security Council Mathew Rycroft. “Yes, definitely, this is an issue which is of significant concern to all Security Council members,” Rycroft told Rudaw in a brief interview. “The UK position is clear, which is that any use, anywhere, by any actor, of any weapon of mass destruction is completely unacceptable and must be stopped.” Rudaw spoke with ambassador Rycroft shortly after reports out of Mosul suggested that ISIS had used chemical weapons against advancing Iraqi troops. “And the UK will continue to lead the way to ensure that Daesh is unable to use such weapons with impunity in Iraq and everywhere else,” said the UK ambassador. Rycroft said the war in Syria is an appalling tragedy and that it has continued to this day due to divisions in the organization and the use of veto powers by some members of the Security Council. “From the UK it is an appalling tragedy that the war in Syria goes on,” he said. It has now entered its 7th year. We know why it has been allowed to carry on, which is that the Security Council has been divided. It has been divided because Russia has used its vetoes to block unity. We need unity. We need a political transition away from Asad so that the people of Syria can finally have the leadership they need and deserve. And when that happens peace can come back to Syria.” The head of the Security Council said only through a political process could a solution be found for Syria, while stressing that the current ceasefire must hold in order for that to work. “In the meantime we have a ceasefire, so that ceasefire needs to be upheld.” Ambassador Rycroft said. “There needs to be much better humanitarian access so that the poor people, particularly in besieged areas are able to get the medicines and foods that they require. But in the end there will only be one way of solving this crisis which is through a political process, led by the Syrians facilitated by the United Nations.”
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