UN official: "Significant progress" in eliminating remnants of Syria's chemical weapons program
A UN official confirmed significant progress in the process of eliminating remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons program, noting that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had, for the first time since 2014, verified the destruction of Syrian chemical munitions. This statement was made during a briefing delivered by the UN High Representative for Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, at a session convened by the UN Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 2118 concerning the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons program.
Nakamitsu emphasized that cooperation and communication remain ongoing between the United Nations, the OPCW, and the Syrian authorities, citing continued consultations on ways to dispose of program remnants and achieving “significant progress” in this regard. She also highlighted ongoing efforts to address outstanding issues related to initial declarations submitted by the former Syrian authorities.
These issues include undeclared quantities of chemical warfare agents and munitions. She noted that the OPCW Technical Secretariat has conducted several visits to key sites, conducted interviews, and collected samples in full cooperation with Syrian authorities.
Nakamitsu explained that these efforts have yielded tangible results, as Syrian authorities revised their initial declaration last June following the discovery of previously undeclared chemical weapons. They also declared an additional chemical weapons production facility and two storage sites.
She stressed the need to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the use of chemical weapons, calling on Security Council members to demonstrate unity and leadership in supporting what she described as “unprecedented efforts.”
The UN official reaffirmed the international organization’s readiness to continue providing assistance and supporting efforts aimed at preventing the use of chemical weapons anywhere and under any circumstances.
For his part, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ibrahim Al-Alabi, described the start of the destruction process for some of the chemical materials found in his country as a “historic moment.”
In his address to the Council, Al-Alabi stated that this operation is the first since the fall of the former regime and the first to destroy chemical munitions on Syrian soil in more than a decade. He added that the operation demonstrates how an issue that has posed a threat to Syrians and the world for years can be transformed into a model of what diplomacy, combined with political will and international cooperation, can achieve.
Al-Alabi clarified that the operation is being carried out in accordance with verification procedures approved by the OPCW Technical Secretariat. He affirmed that his country is working to prevent the remnants of these weapons from falling into the “wrong hands,” thereby contributing to the protection of Syria, the region, and the world. He noted that securing each site and identifying each munition helps reduce the scope of the threat.
Al-Alabi highlighted Syria’s efforts to hold trials for users of chemical weapons, thereby reinforcing the principle of combating impunity and helping to prevent the recurrence of such weapons’ use.
At the same time, the Syrian envoy warned against “repeated Israeli attacks” that hinder search and destruction operations related to the file, stressing the importance of the international community playing its role in creating safe conditions for the continuation of this process.
