Ankara, March 19 (SANA) Türkiye has joined an international task force supporting Syria’s efforts to eliminate remnants of chemical weapons inherited from the ousted regime, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources cited by Anadolu Agency.
The sources said the move came in response to an official invitation from the Syrian government, with a formal ceremony held in New York on Wednesday marking the start of the task force’s operations.
They added that the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) adopted a decision on Oct. 10, 2025, to support Syria in the rapid disposal of inherited chemical weapons remnants.
The sources noted that the Chemical Weapons Convention obliges each state to destroy its chemical weapons and related materials as a national responsibility. However, the deposed regime’s program was conducted in secrecy, with a lack of cooperation with the OPCW, unclear records, and limited technical capacity for disposal, prompting international support for Syria.
In coordination with the OPCW, the Syrian government established the task force to locate, verify and secure remnants of the program in preparation for their destruction, while receiving technical, logistical and training support.
The mechanism also aims to coordinate international efforts in this field.
Türkiye joins Qatar, the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Canada, along with the OPCW Technical Secretariat, in the task force.
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