Syria has begun destroying materials for chemical weapons that were part of the previous regime’s program. The development marks the first time Syria has taken such action since 2014.
High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu told members of the U.N. Security Council this week that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has confirmed the destruction of 42 aerial bombs that were part of Syria’s weapons program.
“This is the very first destruction process since we have been liberated from the previous regime,” said Syria’s representative. He explained that the development demonstrates “a model of what diplomacy, coupled with determination, genuine political will and international cooperation, can achieve on the ground” and represents a “profound political transformation in Syria’s approach to safeguarding — and I repeat, safeguarding — the multilateral system.”
The United States’ representative celebrated the development and encouraged ongoing coordination between Syria and the OPCW. “Our work to eliminate the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme and to promote accountability is not just essential for international peace and security, it is also a way to honor the Syrian men, women and children whose lives were taken,” the representative said, adding, “Let their memory stir us onward as we work toward a Syria and a world finally free of chemical weapons.”
Earlier this week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that Syria was developing a nuclear reactor under the leadership of former President Bashar Assad. Upon visiting the Deir el-Zour site to “monitor progress on the excavation work,” the IAEA noted, “Based on observations made at the location, the Agency confirms that the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor.”
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told reporters, as per The Times of Israel that the materials “do not pose a risk” and will “remain in Syrian national custody and subject to the agency’s safeguards system.” He declared that Syria has the right to use nuclear energy “for civilian and peaceful purposes.”
