The Hague, SANA – Due to the insistence of the US and some Western states to include controversial and politically-motivated issues in it, the Fourth Review Conference of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) failed to adopt a closing document.
The Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons (Fourth Review Conference) was held at the Hague on November 21-30.
Syria’s Permanent Representative at the OPCW, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, told SANA that this conference, which is held every five years, was an opportunity for bridging division among member states which is caused by politicization and double standards practiced by the West, particularly regarding the use of chemical weapons by terrorists in Syria, like what happened on November 24 in Aleppo.
Sabbagh said Syria took part in negotiations regarding the closing document and stressed the importance of constructive dialogue, unifying positions, and enforcing the treaty in a balanced and unbiased manner.
The Ambassador regretted that Western states led by the US insist on using the OPCW to serve political goals against states including Syria, saying such behavior is worrying and could undermine the future of the organization, citing the failure of the conference to reach consensus on the closing document as an example.
Sabbagh concluded by affirming that Syria has fulfilled its commitment as per the treaty, adding that Syria has disposed of its chemical weapons and production facility in record time, which is a unique example and a success story for Syria, the OPCW, and the states that supported this process.
Hazem Sabbagh