In a significant announcement, Syria's foreign minister stated the country's determination to destroy all Assad-era chemical weapons as they seek international assistance.
Syria Commits to Eradicating Chemical Weapons From Assad's Regime
Syria Commits to Eradicating Chemical Weapons From Assad's Regime
Syria's new government pledges to eliminate remnants of chemical weapons in a bid for justice and compliance with international law.
In a pivotal address to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani expressed the new government's commitment to fully eradicating any remaining stockpiles of chemical weapons produced during Bashar al-Assad's regime. Shibani emphasized the importance of this action in "putting an end to this painful legacy" and ensuring compliance with international law.
While Syria has historically denied using chemical weapons throughout the sixteen-year civil conflict, various activists and organizations have accused the Assad government of conducting numerous chemical attacks against civilians. Shibani recognized the need for "support from the international community" to accomplish this task.
In a historical context, the use of chemical weapons gained notoriety during the 2013 attacks in Eastern and Western Ghouta, where thousands of innocent lives were lost due to the nerve agent sarin. Although Syria agreed to the Chemical Weapons Convention and cooperated with the joint OPCW-UN mission to dismantle its declared chemical stockpile, doubts linger regarding the accuracy of the disclosures made by the Syrian government.
The OPCW's investigation has linked the Syrian military to several confirmed chemical weapon assaults, including a deadly attack in Douma where chlorine gas killed 43 individuals. Last month, OPCW director general Fernando Arias met with Syrian officials and underscored the "historic opportunity" to complete the disarmament of Syria’s chemical weapon program, with plans for a technical team to assess sites suspected of harboring chemical weapon caches.
In recent discussions with International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan, Shibani explored potential frameworks for accountability regarding wartime atrocities, signaling the new administration's willingness to engage with international justice norms, even though Syria is currently not a member of the ICC.
As the situation unfolds, the global community watches closely, hopeful for a new era of cooperation from Syria regarding its past use of chemical weapons.
While Syria has historically denied using chemical weapons throughout the sixteen-year civil conflict, various activists and organizations have accused the Assad government of conducting numerous chemical attacks against civilians. Shibani recognized the need for "support from the international community" to accomplish this task.
In a historical context, the use of chemical weapons gained notoriety during the 2013 attacks in Eastern and Western Ghouta, where thousands of innocent lives were lost due to the nerve agent sarin. Although Syria agreed to the Chemical Weapons Convention and cooperated with the joint OPCW-UN mission to dismantle its declared chemical stockpile, doubts linger regarding the accuracy of the disclosures made by the Syrian government.
The OPCW's investigation has linked the Syrian military to several confirmed chemical weapon assaults, including a deadly attack in Douma where chlorine gas killed 43 individuals. Last month, OPCW director general Fernando Arias met with Syrian officials and underscored the "historic opportunity" to complete the disarmament of Syria’s chemical weapon program, with plans for a technical team to assess sites suspected of harboring chemical weapon caches.
In recent discussions with International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan, Shibani explored potential frameworks for accountability regarding wartime atrocities, signaling the new administration's willingness to engage with international justice norms, even though Syria is currently not a member of the ICC.
As the situation unfolds, the global community watches closely, hopeful for a new era of cooperation from Syria regarding its past use of chemical weapons.
