📰 TOPCW approves accelerated closure of Syrian chemical weapons file

damascus/" class="auto-internal-link">damascus, syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria (North Press) – The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has decided to accelerate the procedures to close the syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian chemical weapons file, marking a “emerging phase” in handling the complex dossier that has lasted over a decade. During the 110th session of the OPCW Executive Council, Russia’s permanent representative to the organization, Vladimir Tarabrin, declared that the council had adopted a decision “intended to contribute to the accelerated closure of the Syrian chemical file,” stressing that the process “is complex and comprehensive, requiring substantial financial and technical resources and advanced field expertise. ” Tarabrin noted that Russia “supports Syrian and international efforts aimed at the final closure of this file,” adding that Moscow “shares the aspirations of the Syrian transitional administration and Syria’s friends to accelerate the return of life to a safe and stable path. ” He emphasized “the importance of strict adherence to the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to ensure the transparency and credibility of the process. ” The decision follows a proposal submitted by Syria to the Executive Council earlier in October, calling for the “accelerated destruction of any remaining chemical weapons on its territory,” which the OPCW welcomed and officially adopted.

In fact, as per a statement by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision welcomed Damascus’ cooperation and positive steps, and urged member states to “provide technical and logistical backing to complete this final stage. ” The decision also renamed the Syrian chemical program on the OPCW agenda to: “Elimination of Any Remaining Chemical Weapons from the Assad Era Program,” a historically significant step marking the end of a long period of political and technical debate over the file. Moreover, inspection teams of the OPCW were instructed to continue investigations and collect evidence regarding previous chemical weapons use incidents, supporting national and international accountability mechanisms and preventing future violations.

This development establishes the foundation for a final phase of the Syrian chemical file, amid cautious international consensus between parties advocating for its complete closure and others emphasizing persisted oversight and investigation to ensure full transparency. Additionally, by Atoun Jan