Ban Ki-moon: Elimination of Chemical Weapons in Syria Progressing Steadily

NEW YORK- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised steady progress in the process of eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons despite a “limited delay” in moving most dangerous chemical agents out of the country by the December 31 deadline.”

“The Secretary-General stresses that the international effort to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria continues to make effective progress, as demonstrated by the steady achievements in meeting all previous milestones in the past three months,” Ban’s official spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.

The United Nations acknowledged Saturday that the December 31 deadline to transport most dangerous chemical agents from out of Syria is “unlikely” to be met.

The UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said important progress has been made on Syria’s banned weapons, but called on the Syrian government to “intensify efforts” to meet internationally set deadlines to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria.

H. Mustafa