The Netherlands For the first time after the fall of Assad: chemical weapons control authority in Syria
For the first time since the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is in Syria. It was received in Damascus by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaybani, as reported by the state news agency Sana. The team is led by OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias.
08.02.2025, 19:36
SDA
OPCW speaks of a "breakthrough"
The Hague-based monitoring authority spoke of a breakthrough and a new beginning in the efforts to destroy Syrian chemical weapons. The talks had been long, productive and very open. They formed "a basis for achieving tangible results".
"This visit marks a reset," said OPCW chief Arias. "After eleven years of obstruction by the previous authorities, the Syrian authorities in charge now have the chance to make a fresh start and fulfill Syria's obligations under the Convention."
Authority had concerns
A Syrian TV station close to the government reported on Friday that the OPCW also wanted to identify parties and individuals who had used chemical weapons in the country.
In December, the OPCW expressed its concern about the dangers posed by large stocks of chemical weapons and production facilities in Syria. It warned that it was not known where the weapons were stored or manufactured and that "significant quantities of chemical weapons" had not been recorded.
Syria obstructed inspections
Under strong international pressure, Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013. The country committed itself to reporting all stocks of banned weapons and production facilities. These were then to be destroyed.
According to the OPCW, Syria had reported around 1,300 tons of banned chemical weapons, which were subsequently destroyed. However, doubts about the information remained.
According to the OPCW, Syria had obstructed the work of its inspectors for a good eleven years.
Dozens of attacks
Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria in 2011, there have been dozens of attacks using chemical weapons, including sarin and mustard gas. The OPCW has repeatedly determined that the Syrian air force was responsible for bombings with sarin and chlorine gas. The Assad government has always denied the accusations.
