Syria Cooperation with Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Convention, Huge, Unprecedented _ Ambassador
The Hague, (ST)_ Syria stressed that, thanks to the decisive will and determination of the Syrian leadership on chemical weapons disarmament and despite all the challenges surrounding the process, Syria following its accession to the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on September 14th, 2013 completed a huge, important and unprecedented task in the history of this Organization.
This came in Syria statement at the Executive Board of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons delivered by Syria’s Permanent Representative to the organization Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, in which he emphasized Syria’s implementation of its obligations under the Convention, in close collaboration with the organization away from politics practiced by organization’s certain member states
The statement also stressed Syria’s condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and chemicals by anyone, anywhere, anytime and under any circumstances and that on this ground, Syria welcomed the initiative to create a fact-finding mission into the allegations of the use of toxic chemicals, claimed as chlorine gas in some Syrian areas and presented in last December in important documents which confirm that the armed terrorist organizations, possessed and used chlorine in many areas in Syria.
He also expressed deep concern over news about terrorist organizations use of toxic chemicals in the areas of conflict, including, “Daesh” terrorists using of packed toxic chlorine gas bombs in attacks against Iraqi forces, and the suicide terrorist attacks in January in west of Mosul, a matter which makes it imperative for an international action to counter the risks of acquiring and using these weapons by terrorist organizations in different parts of Syria and Iraq, alike.
The Syrian ambassador explained that Syria’s joining the organization has contributed to reaching a global agreement, stressing that such an achievement, calls to intensify efforts to speed up the accession of “Israel” the only party, which did not join any of the international conventions on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, so as to make the Middle East a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction.
For its part, the Non-Aligned Movement and China, welcomed, in a statement, Syria’s cooperation in the implementation of the Executive Council relevant resolutions to remove chemical weapons.
Also welcomed was the substantial progress that has been achieved in Syria’s removal of chemical weapons, especially the destruction of its chemical weapons production facilities.
T. Fateh