The new political reality in Syria provides an opportunity to clarify the chemical weapons program, completely eliminate chemical weapons, normalize relations between Syria and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and ensure long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, during a Security Council meeting on Friday.
Nakamitsu praised the new government's engagement with the OPCW. According to the organization's data, two missions were conducted in the country between March and April. Syria's interim officials provided essential support for the organization's team activities, including unimpeded access to facilities and personnel, visa issuance, and ensuring on-site security. During the April mission, OPCW experts also met with representatives of the interim authorities.
In the course of the work, new information previously not submitted by the former government was obtained.
Nakamitsu emphasized that ensuring chemical disarmament in Syria remains a challenging task. She called on states party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the entire international community to provide additional assistance, including enhancing capabilities to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons and training Syrian specialists to respond to incidents.
