OPCW to Review Request from Syria

The Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü received a letter on 12 September sent by the Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr Walid al-Muallem, informing him of the decision by the Syrian Government to join the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and of the transmission of a legislative decree to the UN Secretary General.

Syrian Deputy Minister Mr Faisal Mekdad called the Director-General today in the context of Syria’s decision and requested technical assistance from the OPCW.

The Director-General informed the Deputy Foreign Minister that the Syrian request for provisional application of the Convention to Syria prior to its formal entry into force has been forwarded to the States Parties to the CWC for their consideration. In that context Syria’s request for assistance is also likely to come under review by the States Parties.