Chemical watchdog sees late Jan start for Syria chemical arms destruction

 The head of the world chemical weapons watchdog said on Tuesday the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons could begin in late January.

“We hope that by the end of January, the destruction on the American ship could start,” the director general of the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), AhmetUzumcu, told AFP.

The Syrian weapons are to be destroyed aboard the US Navy’s MV Cape Ray, a 200-metre (650-foot) cargo ship equipped.

“Much will depend in fact on the security situation and unfortunately the security situation has deteriorated over the past weeks. Some roads were not accessible,” Uzumcu said.

Uzumcu was speaking in the Norwegian capital Oslo, ahead of formally receiving the Nobel Peace Prize which was awarded to the OPCW in October.

To be shipped out of the country, Syria’s chemical arms must be transported through a war zone to the Mediterranean port of Latakia.

“There could be some slight delays but I’m not that worried about delays. For me what’s important is this operation takes place in the safest and most secure manner,” Uzumcu said.

R.S