Joint Statement from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations (UN)

The OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria has been established today. This follows close consultations between the Director-General of the OPCW and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. It also conforms with the provisions of the decision taken by the OPCW Executive Council on 27 September 2013 which was followed by the adoption by the UN Security Council of its resolution 2118 (2013). 

The Joint Mission has been established in order to achieve the timely elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme in the safest and most secure manner possible.  It will continue the work undertaken by the OPCW and the UN in Syria since the beginning of this month.

Ms. Sigrid Kaag has been appointed as the Special Coordinator for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The OPCW and the UN have established separate but complementary Trust Funds which have been launched today at the Headquarters of the respective organizations. 

The establishment of the Joint Mission, the appointment of the Special Coordinator and the arrangements related to the Trust Funds are based on the recommendations made by the UN Secretary-General, with the advice and support of the OPCW Director General, in accordance with the letter by the Secretary-General to the Presidency of the Security Council dated 7 October 2013.