Letter of Transmittal

The Hague. 13 September 2013

Sir,

We have the honour to submit our report on the investigation of the alleged use of chemical weapons on 21 August 2013 in the Ghouta area of Damascus in the Syrian Arab Republic. We also confirm that, in accordance with our terms of reference, we are continuing our investigation of allegations of other incidents involving the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic and will report thereon as soon as possible. At your request, and taking into account the large scale of the 21 August events in the Ghouta area of Damascus and the continued loss of civilian life, we are issuing the Ghouta report without prejudice to our continuing investigation of, and final report on, other allegations involving the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Having arrived in the Syrian Arab Republic on 18 August 2013, we were in Damascus on the 21 August preparing to conduct on-site inspections in connection with our investigation into the allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Asal and in Sheik Maqsood and Saraqueb. Based on several reports of allegations on the use of chemical weapons in the Ghouta area of Damascus on 21 August 2013, you instructed us to focus our investigation efforts on the Ghouta allegations. We, therefore, proceeded to conduct on-site inspections in Moadamiyah in West Ghouta and Ein Tarma and Zamalka in East Ghouta.

On the basis of the evidence obtained during out investigation of the Ghouta incident: the conclusion is that chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in the Syrian Arab Republic, also against civilians, including children, on a relatively large scale. In particular, the environmental, chemical and medical samples, we have collected, provide clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used in Ein Tarma, Moadamiyah and Zamalka in the Ghouta area of Damascus. This result leaves us with the deepest concern.

We are grateful for the indispensable support provided by Ms. Angela Kane, the High Representative for Disarmament, and the innumerable UN Secretariat officials who have assisted us in Nicosia, Beirut, Damascus, the Hague, and New York.

Our work is only possible due to the indispensable contributions of the OPCW and the WHO. We also deeply appreciate the efficient and effective assistance provided by the OPCW-designated laboratories in Finland, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.

We also wish to thank you, Sir, for the confidence you have placed in us.

We count on your and the others continued support as we continue and hopefully soon complete our investigation into the other allegations.

Respectfully yours,
Professor Ake Sellstrom (Head of Mission)
Mr. Scott Cairns (Head of and signing for the OPCW Component)
Dr. Maurizio Barbeschi (Head of and signing for the WHO Component)