Director-General: Removal of Priority Chemicals in Syria Marks “Important New Phase” in Work of Joint Mission

The Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü informed the OPCW Executive Council today about the commencement of the removal of priority chemicals from Syria for destruction outside the country and described it as  “an important new phase” in the work of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission.    

The Director-General noted that this movement has occurred after some delays in December caused by security concerns, the procurement and delivery of large quantities of packaging and transportation materials and equipment, and adverse weather conditions. He stated that despite these challenging circumstances, Syria has now received “virtually all of the necessary logistical resources for the ground transportation” of priority chemicals to the port of Latakia for removal from Syria by maritime vessels and underlined the importance of maintaining progress.  

The Executive Council in its report has noted “that, not withstanding the technical difficulties resulting in delays, the transportation of priority chemicals began on 7 January 2014, and encouraged all States Parties in a position to do so to maintain the momentum.”