The Spokesperson has the following update:

The Secretary-General discussed with Dr. Ake Sellström on Sunday how to expedite the process of analyzing the samples according to established international standards and regulations.

Since the return of the Mission last Saturday, the UN team worked around the clock to finalise the preparations of the samples in view of their shipment to the designated laboratories. The samples were shipped this afternoon from The Hague and will reach their destination within hours.

The designated laboratories are prepared to begin the analyses immediately after receipt of samples.

The Secretary-General continued to be in close contact with the five permanent members of the Security Council and will brief the 10 non-permanent members of the Council on the latest developments at 10:00 AM on Tuesday [3 September]. Also tomorrow, Ms. Angela Kane, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, is due to brief Member States that wrote to the Secretary-General requesting the investigation of the alleged use of chemical weapons in Ghouta area of Damascus on 21 August 2013.