On March 5, 2025, Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister addressed the OPCW, emphasizing the new government’s commitment to eradicating chemical weapons and fostering international cooperation. Following an earlier visit by the OPCW Director-General, discussions focused on a 9-point action plan for compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. Ongoing OPCW missions aim to validate and address Syria’s chemical weapons status for future accountability.
On March 5, 2025, Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister, Mr. Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, presented an address during the 108th session of the Executive Council at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. He asserted the new Syrian government’s commitment to rebuilding Syria through transparency and collaboration with the international community.
In his statement, Minister al-Shaibani underscored the intention to eradicate remaining elements of the chemical weapons program established under the previous Assad regime. He committed Syria to this task while calling for international support, particularly from the OPCW, to ensure compliance with international law and seek justice for victims of chemical weapon utilization.
Minister al-Shaibani’s attendance at the Executive Council follows a previous visit from OPCW Director-General Ambassador Fernando Arias to Damascus on February 8, 2025. This meeting included discussions with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and was instrumental in initiating renewed cooperation between the Syrian authorities and the OPCW.
Ambassador Arias expressed approval of Minister al-Shaibani’s participation, highlighting it as evidence of the new Syrian government’s dedication to collaborating with the OPCW for the total eradication of chemical weapons. He deemed the current political climate in Syria as a significant opportunity for the OPCW and the international community in this critical disarmament effort.
Following the actions agreed upon during the Executive Council session, a team of OPCW technical experts is scheduled to travel to Damascus to facilitate further progress. Since Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, the OPCW has struggled to validate the accuracy of Syria’s initial declarations regarding chemical weapons, leading to previous suspensions of certain rights within OPCW’s policy-making bodies.
During his visit, Director-General Arias also shared a comprehensive 9-point Action Plan aimed at ensuring compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. This outlined the necessary steps for documenting inventory, declaring all elements of the Syrian chemical weapons program, and establishing long-term compliance.
The Executive Council oversees the Technical Secretariat and promotes the Convention’s implementation. Syria became a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention in October 2013, and between 2013 and 2014, a joint OPCW-UN mission facilitated the removal and destruction of declared chemical weapons. Questions regarding the completeness of Syria’s initial declarations, however, remain unresolved.
The OPCW currently operates three missions focused on chemical weapons issues in Syria: the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). The OPCW is recognized globally for its leadership in eliminating chemical weapons since the Convention’s enactment in 1997 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts in this regard.
The address by Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister at the OPCW signifies the new government’s commitment to transparency and international cooperation in eradicating chemical weapons remnants. The OPCW’s support and strategic action plan are crucial for successful compliance with international obligations. Continuous efforts from the international community and the OPCW are vital to ensure the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons program and to uphold global standards of security and justice.
Original Source: www.opcw.org
