Syria’s newly appointed permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Mohammad Katoub, pledged full cooperation with the chemical-weapons watchdog during the 30th Conference of States Parties in The Hague.
Speaking before delegates, Katoub thanked the OPCW for its work and singled out Qatar for its support in efforts to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria. Drawing on his first-hand experience witnessing chemical attacks in Eastern Ghouta, he said Damascus is committed to active engagement with the organization.
Katoub emphasized that Syria seeks a “mutual and positive” cooperation with the OPCW, aiming to regain full membership rights and take its place as an active member of the international chemical-weapons community.
He detailed the steps taken by the OPCW in Syria since the fall of the deposed regime at the beginning of the year, including seven field deployments, inspections of 23 suspected sites, collection of more than 6,000 documents, interviews with at least nine witnesses, and the retrieval of over 30 samples.
Syrian teams are working closely with the OPCW Secretariat to facilitate verification, gain access to suspected sites, and resolve cases complicated by the collapse of the previous regime, he said.
Describing the cooperation as more than a procedural formality, Katoub said it represents “a major transformation” in Syria’s approach to chemical-weapons oversight. He added that Damascus is pushing to restore its rights and privileges within the OPCW without waiting for the next annual session.
