In a press launch on Saturday the Group for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) mentioned Director-Common Fernando Arias and his staff had met interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and caretaker Overseas Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, at their invitation – drawing a line underneath “11 years of obstruction” by the Assad regime, which was pushed from energy in early December.
The conferences have been described as lengthy, productive, and open, with an in-depth trade of data. This dialogue goals to interrupt the lengthy stalemate over use of the banned weapons throughout Syria’s brutal civil battle, and obtain tangible outcomes.
Optimistic first step
This go to marks step one in re-establishing a direct working relationship between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria.
Discussions targeted on Syria’s obligations underneath the Chemical Weapons Conference (CWC), the OPCW’s function and mandate, and the help the Technical Secretariat can present to get rid of the remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.
“This go to marks a reset. After eleven years of obstruction by the earlier authorities, the Syrian caretaker authorities have an opportunity to show the web page and meet Syria’s obligations underneath the Conference,” mentioned Director-Common Arias.
“My presence in Damascus displays the OPCW’s dedication to rebuilding a relationship based mostly on mutual belief and transparency. For over a decade, Syria’s chemical weapons file was at a impasse. Immediately, we should seize this chance collectively and break that deadlock for the great of the Syrian folks and the worldwide group.”
Failure to confirm
Since 2013, Syria’s declaration of its chemical weapons programme has been incomplete, with vital portions of outlawed weaponry unaccounted for.
Mr. Arias emphasised the OPCW’s readiness to work with Syria’s transitional authorities to deal with these open questions and implement its duties to regain good standing inside the organisation.
He introduced the Secretariat’s nine-point Motion Plan for Syria to the interim President and caretaker Overseas Minister.
Dedication to Assist
The Director-Common reiterated the OPCW’s dedication to help the nation and produce it again into compliance as a member state.
By doing so, the caretaker authorities will safeguard the Syrian folks, maintain accountable any recognized perpetrators of chemical weapons use, and bolster the nation’s status as a dependable and trusted member of the worldwide group.
“This go to lays the bottom for working collectively in the direction of closing the Syrian chemical weapons file for good and fostering long-term compliance, regional stability, and contributing to peace and worldwide safety,” mentioned Mr. Arias.
Questions raised
Syria grew to become a State Celebration to the CWC and a Member State of the OPCW in October 2013. A joint OPCW-UN mission in cooperation with the previous Syrian authorities led to the elimination and verifiable destruction of all declared chemical weapons.
Nevertheless, questions concerning the accuracy and completeness of Syria’s preliminary declaration have persevered.
The OPCW Motion Plan, based mostly on the Technical Secretariat’s in depth expertise, outlines the subsequent steps: drawing a list of websites, gear, munitions, chemical compounds, paperwork, folks, and services; declaring all components of the Syrian chemical weapons programme; and making certain its verifiable elimination.
Lengthy-term compliance with the CWC will probably be established by means of bolstered cooperation.
Groundwork for achievement
Because the implementing physique for the Chemical Weapons Conference, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States goals to completely get rid of chemical weapons.
For the reason that Conference’s entry into pressure in 1997, it has been essentially the most profitable disarmament treaty on file, eliminating a complete class of weapons of mass destruction.
In 2023, the watchdog verified that every one chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Events to the CWC since 1997 have been irreversibly destroyed underneath the OPCW’s strict verification regime.
For its in depth efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW acquired the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
