The UN appoints Swiss expert Stefan Mogl to the Leadership Panel of the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism charged with investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria
Bern, 08.05.2017 - In 2015, the UN Security Council set up the Joint Investigative Mechanism to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. At the beginning of May, the UN appointed Stefan Mogl, head of the chemistry division of the Spiez Laboratory of the Federal Office for Civil Protection, to the Joint Investigative Mechanism’s three-person leadership panel for the second phase of the investigations until the end of 2017.
The Joint Investigative Mechanism is tasked with identifying, based on previous investigations conducted by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the individuals or groups involved in several chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
Switzerland welcomes the appointment of Stefan Mogl to the OPCW’s Leadership Panel. Stefan Mogl has proven professional expertise in this field, including as a former OPCW inspector and head of the OPCW laboratory. As an independent expert based in The Hague, Stefan Mogl will be responsible mainly for the technical coordination of the investigations and for the investigation report.
Switzerland has for years actively promoted respect for international standards against chemical weapons and for strengthening the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW. The appointment of Stefan Mogl also strengthens the presence of Swiss nationals in key international organisations.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
http://www.vbs.admin.ch
Federal Office for Civil Protection
http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/
