Nordic, Baltic FMs urge UNSC to take appropriate act gaisnt chemical

The foreign ministers of eight Nordic and Baltic states issued a joint statement on Syria after their meeting in Visby, Sweden, Tuesday and expressed "grave concern" over reports on the use of chemical weapons. "We commend and join those who condemn their use in the strongest possible terms, and we are convinced a strong international reaction is required," said the statement. "While highly regrettable, we note that the UN Security Council has proved unable to address the broader perspectives of the tragic situation in Syria," they said and appealed to the UNSC to declare unequivocally that any use of chemical weapons represents a grave violation of international law. "Such use must be condemned in no uncertain terms, appropriate measures be taken, and those responsible must be brought to justice. Failing to respond will weaken the respect for the global prohibition against the use of chemical weapons, and the very authority of the Council itself," they warned. "The Security Council should assess all relevant facts and reports relating to the use of chemical weapons, and take appropriate action. The prohibition against chemical weapons is applicable in all circumstances," it stressed. "Moreover, breaches may entail criminal responsibility for war crimes and/or crimes against humanity under international law, also as set out in the 1998 Statute of the International Criminal Court," it added. The eight foreign ministers who issued the statement are Carl Bildt of Sweden, Villy Sovndal of Denmark, Urmas Paet of Estonia, Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson of Iceland, Edgars Rinkevics of Latvia, Linas Linkevicius of Lithuania and Espen Barth Eide of Norway.