Damascus, Oct. 13 (SANA) Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said that Syria has submitted more than 100,000 official documents to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and granted it access to records and witnesses.
“Last June, we took the initiative to correct the declaration we inherited, adding to it a production facility, two storage facilities and munitions that the deposed regime had concealed,” al-Shaibani said during a joint press conference with Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Sabrina Dallafior in Damascus.
Al-Shaibani added that the process culminated last August in the destruction of 42 declared chemical aerial bombs under the organization’s supervision, marking the first verified destruction of its kind on Syrian territory since 2014.
“That process led to Syria regaining all its rights and privileges in the organization on July 9, a historic milestone that received unprecedented consensus among member states,” the Minister added.
A roadmap to help Syria move from the progress achieved toward the final closure of the file
“Today, we discussed a roadmap to help us move from the progress achieved toward the final closure of the file. We also discussed a proposed joint plan with steps measured for tangible milestones, and we look forward to working hand in hand with the Technical Secretariat ahead of next month’s Conference of the States Parties,” al-Shaibani said.
He added that closing this file begins first with achieving justice for the victims of Assad’s chemical massacres, ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated, taking into consideration that eighteen suspects are currently in custody, including senior officers who appear before a specialized court.
“We have joined the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, convinced that holding those responsible for these crimes accountable is an inherent imprescriptible right,” the Minister said.
He went on to say that Syria’s Permanent Representative in The Hague, Dr. Mohammad Kutub, who lived through the terror of the night of the 2013 Ghouta massacre, is the same person now leading our diplomatic efforts to close this file and secure justice.
Syria faces challenges posed by landmines, damaged sites and files hidden or destroyed by the deposed regime
“We are moving forward steadily along this path with our trusted partners in the “Breath of Freedom” team, led by Syria alongside seven other countries, and our sisterly State of Qatar, which sponsored the resolutions on accelerated destruction and the restoration of rights,” al-Shaibani said.
He added that Syria faces challenges posed by landmines, damaged sites and files hidden or destroyed by the deposed regime. These challenges require sustained efforts to complete the information and uncover the full scope of its chemical weapons program.
Syria condemns repeated Iranian attacks on brotherly countries
“We reiterate our strong condemnation of repeated Iranian attacks on the sovereignty of our brotherly countries, from Jordan to the Arab Gulf states,” the Minister said.
He added that Syria also condemns the attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the latest of which targeted Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport, leaving hundreds of innocent people killed or injured.
“The security of our brothers is a natural extension of our own security. Targeting civilian facilities is a flagrant violation of all norms and conventions, and the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a fundamental pillar of Arab and Islamic national security,” al-Shaibani said.
He added that Syria, its leadership and people, stands alongside the Kingdom through all diplomatic, legitimate, legal and moral means, and supports the legitimate Yemeni government in its efforts to restore national sovereignty over the country’s entire territory.
The Israeli occupation continues to seek to destabilize Syria
The Israeli occupation continues to seek to destabilize Syria internally, from Dec. 8, 2024, to the present, through systematic strikes on infrastructure, the occupation of additional Syrian territory along the southern border, and the displacement of residents and arbitrary detention of Syrian citizens, the Minister said.
He affirmed that the fate of dozens of Syrian citizens detained by the Israeli occupation remains unknown to this day.
“Israel supports armed militias operating outside the law in the city of Sweida, providing them with weapons and funding to pursue an agenda of chaos in the region,” the Minister added.
We call on the international community to put an end to these reckless actions, which threaten to plunge the region into chaos, and to return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and enable UNDOF to implement it, al-Shaibani affirmed.
“We call on Israel to engage seriously in the negotiation process sponsored by the United States over the past year and a half. Syria has participated in these negotiations responsibly, seeking an agreement that respects its security and sovereignty,” the Foreign Minister added.
Visiting Syrian sites is a priority from a non-proliferation perspective
Dallafior, for her part, said that since taking office two months ago, my priority has been to visit Syria, assess the situation on the ground, discuss matters with my counterparts, meet with victims and visit Syrian sites.
“Visiting Syrian sites is a priority from a non-proliferation perspective, to secure any remnants of the chemical weapons program under the Assad regime and help protect the Syrian people and the region,” the Organization director said.
She added that in July, the Organization destroyed a number of chemical weapons in cooperation with the Syrian government. This was a landmark achievement and a result of the multilateral system working successfully.
“The Organization continues to investigate past attacks and identify those responsible, with the aim of preventing the use of chemical weapons again, amid strong support from the international community for addressing this legacy,” Dallafior concluded.
Mazen
