Latest news with #OrganizationfortheProhibitionofChemicalWeapons
Qatar Tribune
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Syria praises Qatar for support during OPCW meeting
QNA The Hague Syria, during its participation in the 109th session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, expressed its deep thanks and appreciation to the State of Qatar for its temporary sponsorship of Syria's interests at the organization, affirming that this support reflects the strength of bilateral relations and Qatar's commitment to supporting Syria's stability and its active return to international forums. Ibrahim Al Alabi, who serves Advisor to the Syrian Foreign Minister and Commissioner for the Chemical Weapons, emphasized in his speech the importance of progress made on the ground, as well as plans to launch internationally-led working groups under Syrian leadership to address the legacy of chemical weapons. The members of the Executive Council and the Director-General of the organization unanimously praised what they described as Syria's serious shift and effective cooperation, reflecting a clear break from previous obstruction. They stressed the importance of President Ahmad Al Shara's meeting with the Director-General of the organization in Damascus.
Nahar Net
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM visits Damascus
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 July 2025, 10:47 Britain reestablished full diplomatic relations with Syria on Saturday, more than a decade after cutting ties, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy met the country's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar al-Assad's crushing of pro-democracy protests plunged the country into civil war. London also joined sanctions against Syria and later closed its embassy in Damascus, going on to launch air strikes on Assad's forces. Assad was ultimately toppled in December after more than 13 years of fighting by a rebel offensive led by Sharaa, now Syria's interim president. "The UK is reestablishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians," Lammy said in a statement. Photos released by Sharaa's office showed him and Lammy meeting alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Their discussions addressed "bilateral ties... and ways of strengthening cooperation, as well as regional and international developments", the presidency said in a statement. The Syrian foreign ministry issued a similar statement following a separate meeting between Lammy and Shaibani. Lammy said a stable Syria would benefit Britain by "reducing the risk of irregular migration, ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons" and "tackling the threat of terrorism". Britain's Foreign Office said Assad's overthrow was an opportunity to "fully declare and destroy Assad's evil chemical weapons program," adding that London had contributed an additional $2.7 million to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to help Syria do so. In 2018, the UK joined US air strikes on Syria's chemical weapons in response to a suspected poison gas attack by Assad's forces. - Sanctions lifted - Syria has experienced a flurry of diplomatic activity in the months since Islamist-led forces ousted Assad. In May, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with an official British delegation, the defense ministry said at the time. In April, the British government announced it was lifting sanctions imposed on Syria's interior and defense ministries under Assad. It also said it was removing sanctions against various media groups and intelligence agencies, as well as on some sectors of the economy including financial services and energy production. A month earlier, it ended sanctions on 24 entities including Syria's central bank. The United States has also lifted sanctions on Syria and is planning to remove it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Last month, Damascus carried out its first electronic transfer through the international banking system since the imposition of sanctions. The growing international backing comes as Syria's new leaders attempt to rebuild the country and reboot its moribund economy, both ravaged by the conflict and crippling sanctions. Britain's Foreign Office said London had committed an extra $129 million to provide "urgent humanitarian aid" and support Syria's reconstruction as well as countries hosting Syrian refugees.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelensky approves appointments of new ambassadors, ex-Prosecutor General among them
President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed new Ukrainian ambassadors to seven countries on April 7, according to decrees published on the president's website. The appointments include Andriy Kostin, Ukraine's former Prosecutor General, who resigned in October 2024 amid a major corruption scandal involving hundreds of prosecutors who obtained disability benefits. Despite promises to bring Kostin to "political responsibility," Zelensky appointed him ambassador to . Previously, a source familiar with decision-making in the told the Kyiv Independent that Kostin wanted an ambassadorial post in the Netherlands. Kostin has also been appointed Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The various ambassadors have been appointed to represent Ukraine in Argentina, , Finland, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, and Norway. Andriy Melnyk was formally as the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations (UN). He was dismissed from his role as ambassador to Brazil. Kostin has been criticized for failing to reform the and not obtaining any notable achievements as Prosecutor General. He has been praised for not blocking or sabotaging any high-profile cases. Read also: As peace talks stumble, can Ukraine hold the line against Russia's spring offensive? We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Inspectors Say Around 100 Chemical Weapons Sites Remain in Syria
More than 100 chemical weapons sites are suspected to remain in Syria, left behind after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said. That number is the first estimate of its kind as the leading international organization that tracks these weapons seeks to enter Syria to assess what remains of al-Assad's notorious military program, according to a report published by The New York Times. It said the figure is far higher than any that al-Assad has ever acknowledged. According to OPCW, the current estimate of more than 100 sites comes from the watchdog and has been circulated recently among experts and international nonproliferation analysts. The organization said it had arrived at the number based on outside researchers, nonprofit groups and intelligence shared by its member countries. The Times revealed that the sites are suspected to have been involved in the research, manufacturing and storage of chemical weapons. Assad used weapons like sarin and chlorine gas against opposition fighters and Syrian civilians during more than a decade of civil war, it noted. 'Some sites are probably hidden in caves or other places that are tough to find using satellite images, according to researchers, former organization staff members and other experts. That increases the likelihood that some weapons are not secured,' the newspaper wrote. Assad-led Syria joined the agency under a US-Russian deal following a 2013 sarin gas attack that killed hundreds. Around 1,300 metric tons of chemical weapons and precursors were destroyed. During the past decade, Syrian officials under Assad stonewalled OPCW inspectors. The number of sites, and whether they are secured, has been a mystery since opposition forces toppled al-Assad last year, The Times said. It said that in the early years of the civil war, Assad's government declared the locations of 27 sites to the OPCW, which sent inspectors to visit and shut them down. But Assad continued to use chemical weapons until at least 2018, and research showed that his government kept importing essential precursor chemicals. Inspectors had warned that the weapons are deadly, particularly when used in densely populated areas. Sarin, a nerve agent, can kill within minutes. Chlorine and mustard gas, weapons made infamous in World War I, burn the eyes and skin and fill the lungs with fluid, seemingly drowning people on land. In a surprise visit in March to the global chemical weapons watchdog headquarters at The Hague, Syria's foreign minister said that the government would 'destroy any remains of the chemical weapons program developed under the Assad regime' and comply with international law. The current government allowed a team from the watchdog to enter the country this year to begin work documenting the sites, according to people with knowledge of the file. But despite promises, the new government has not yet appointed an ambassador to the watchdog — a key first step that is seen as a sign of a country's commitment. Last week, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa receives a cable of congratulation from OPCW Director, Fernando Arias, on the formation of the new Syrian government. Arias expressed his sincere congratulations on the formation of the new government, wishing al-Sharaa success in implementing his program aimed at bringing stability to Syria and achieving prosperity for the Syrian people. The OPCW chief also extended his best wishes to Sharaa on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, following the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Arias affirmed his support for Syria during the transitional period which includes issues related to the efforts being made together to permanently end the dark chapter of Syria's former chemical weapons program.
New York Times
06-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Inspectors Say More Than 100 Chemical Weapons Sites Could Remain in Syria
More than 100 chemical weapons sites are suspected to remain in Syria, left behind after the fall of the longtime president, Bashar al-Assad, according to the leading international organization that tracks these weapons. That number is the first estimate of its kind as the group, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, seeks to enter Syria to assess what remains of Mr. al-Assad's notorious military program. The figure is far higher than any that Mr. al-Assad has ever acknowledged. The sites are suspected to have been involved in the research, manufacturing and storage of chemical weapons. Mr. al-Assad used weapons like sarin and chlorine gas against rebel fighters and Syrian civilians during more than a decade of civil war. The number of sites, and whether they are secured, has been a mystery since rebels toppled Mr. al-Assad last year. Now, the chemicals represent a major test for the caretaker government, which is led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, but it has renounced its links to Al Qaeda. The stakes are high because of how deadly the weapons are, particularly when used in densely populated areas. Sarin, a nerve agent, can kill within minutes. Chlorine and mustard gas, weapons made infamous in World War I, burn the eyes and skin and fill the lungs with fluid, seemingly drowning people on land. Experts are concerned about the potential for militant groups to gain access to poorly secured chemical weapons facilities. In a surprise visit in March to the global chemical weapons watchdog headquarters at The Hague, Syria's foreign minister said that the government would 'destroy any remains of the chemical weapons program developed under the Assad regime' and comply with international law. Experts are cautiously optimistic about the government's sincerity. The current government allowed a team from the watchdog to enter the country this year to begin work documenting the sites, according to people with knowledge of the trip. But Syria remains in a precarious spot, as violence erupted in the coastal region in recent weeks between government forces and groups aligned with Mr. al-Assad. And despite promises, the new government has not yet appointed an ambassador to the watchdog — a key first step that is seen as a sign of a country's commitment. Syria's defense ministry declined to answer written questions about the weapons, saying without elaboration that the questions were not under its purview. In the early years of the civil war, Mr. al-Assad's government declared the locations of 27 sites to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or O.P.C.W., which sent inspectors to visit and shut them down. But Mr. al-Assad continued to use chemical weapons until at least 2018, and research showed that his government kept importing essential precursor chemicals. The current estimate of more than 100 sites comes from the watchdog and has been circulated recently among experts and international nonproliferation analysts. The organization said it had arrived at the number based on outside researchers, nonprofit groups and intelligence shared by its member countries. Some sites are probably hidden in caves or other places that are tough to find using satellite images, according to researchers, former organization staff members and other experts. That increases the likelihood that some weapons are not secured. 'There are many locations that we don't know about because the old regime was lying to the O.P.C.W.,' said Raed al-Saleh, the leader of the Syria Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, a volunteer group that says it is working with the government to try to dismantle chemical weapons sites. Nidal Shikhani, who leads the Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria and has worked with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for years, said his group had identified dozens of new locations that could be chemical weapons stockpiles or former research sites based on interviews with Syrian government scientists living in Europe. Finding and taking control of these sites is important for reasons beyond security. Inspectors also want to collect evidence for their investigations into Mr. al-Assad's repeated use of chemical weapons. International observers, independent researchers and Syrian humanitarian groups have documented dozens of attacks, with thousands of people, including children among the victims. The most notorious was a 2013 sarin gas assault on the area of Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, the capital. Last year, Israel launched airstrikes on several Syrian regime facilities where chemical weapons were known to have been held. But it is unclear whether those strikes destroyed chemical weapons. Mr. Shikhani and others said they worried that the strikes merely created environmental contamination and destroyed evidence. International groups hope that chemical evidence will answer key questions about the Assad government's research and help with international prosecutions. 'The Israeli attacks that happened right after the fall of Assad are probably likely to not have put a dent in some of this, and potentially also obscured efforts toward accountability,' said Natasha Hall, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Sarin gas is prohibited under international law. The rules are murkier for other chemicals. Chlorine gas, for instance, can be created using common household cleaning products. That makes it nearly impossible to regulate the sale of precursors. Syria's chemical weapons program began in the 1970s with the help of hundreds of government scientists, many of whom were trained in Germany and other parts of Europe, according to a Syrian former senior government chemist who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. The scientist worked in the chemical weapons division of the military's Scientific Studies and Research Center. That center, which is under international sanctions, worked on conventional, chemical and nuclear arms. Many scientists, he and others said, fled the country during the war, but others remain in Syria. The United States has imposed sanctions on more than 300 people and entities in connection with Syria's chemical weapons program. Despite the assurances of the new government, weapons inspectors are tempering their optimism. They have heard such assurances in Syria before. Syria first agreed to get rid of chemical weapons more than a decade ago. But as inspectors conducted their work, they became convinced that Mr. al-Assad had no intention of revealing complete information about his stockpiles. Former staff members say they were perpetually hamstrung by the government. In one episode in 2014, inspectors and Syrian staff members were investigating a potential site when a car in their convoy struck a roadside bomb. Two Syrians who were in the convoy blamed the government for misleading them and assuring them the route was safe. Other staff members recalled being constantly afraid that the government was eavesdropping on their conversations or spying them. Mr. al-Assad's government also covered up attacks in which it used sarin and chlorine gas on its own people. In the town of Zamalka, near Damascus, headstones mark the names of many residents killed during the war, and the dates of their death. On the other side of the cemetery sits a mound of dirt, piled high to the ground, its significance unmarked. It was there, a local official said, that the town had buried the local men, women and children who were killed in a 2013 suspected chemical weapons attack. When Mr. al-Assad's government recaptured the town in 2017, the official said, the government removed the headstones and covered up the gravesites.
