خبرگزاری جمهوری عربی سوریه Syrian Arab News Agency
London, SANA – Chief of the joint mission of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to Syria, Sigrid Kaag, affirmed that 100% of chemical materials declared in Syria have been disposed of.
In an interview with al-Hayat newspaper published Tuesday, Kaag said that the Syrian government have had all production, mixing and packaging equipment, ammunition and many facilities associated to “the declared chemical weapons program” dismantled
She expressed satisfaction at the accomplishing of shipping out the last shipment of chemical materials, estimated at 7,2% of the total arsenal, by the Syrian government via Lattakia Port, adding that the Syrian authorities “have always shown desire to work constructively to reach positive outcomes, and there have been actual security challenges”.
She added that the mission in Syria was carried out under the UN Security Council’s resolution No. 2118, adding that any effort to solve the crisis in Syria should stem from the region and the interests of the Syrian people.
Earlier, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad, who is head of the Syrian national committee charged with implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, discussed with Kaag the situation and accomplishments reached regarding disposal of the chemical materials in Syria after shipping operations had been completed.
Mikdad said Syria has always been adherent to its international obligations, adding that removing the chemical materials was completed in record time thanks to the directives of President Bashar al-Assad and the initiative proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He stressed that while Syria was working sincerely and responsibly concerning this issue, countries infamous for its amity to Syria were trying to politicize this issue and derail its accomplishment.
M. Nassr/ H. Said