The Syrian government, under Asaad al-Shibani, pledges to eliminate any remaining chemical weapon stockpiles from the Assad regime, seeking international help to fulfill this commitment.
Syria's New Government Commits to Eradicate Remaining Chemical Weapons Stockpiles
Syria's New Government Commits to Eradicate Remaining Chemical Weapons Stockpiles
Asaad al-Shibani reaches out to OPCW for support in a renewed campaign for justice.
Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, addressed the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, emphasizing the government's commitment to dismantle any residual chemical weapons amassed during the tenure of former President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Shibani pledged to rectify the country’s past failures, aiming to "close this sorrowful chapter" while urging the global community for support in enforcing international compliance.
The Assad administration has long disputed accusations of employing chemical weapons throughout the brutal 14-year civil conflict, despite multiple activist claims of repeated chemical strikes. Notably, a devastating 2013 chemical attack in Eastern and Western Ghouta resulted in significant loss of life, involving sarin gas; UN investigators confirmed the incident without assigning blame.
Though Assad initially accepted the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and sanctioned a cooperative OPCW-UN operation to destroy Syria’s known chemical reserves, concerns have lingered over the fidelity of Syria’s disclosures. The OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team has implicated the Syrian military in several instances of chemical weapon use, particularly referring to a controversial airstrike in Douma in 2018, which led to fatalities.
Fernando Arias, the OPCW Director-General, highlighted the evolving political circumstances in Syria during Wednesday's meeting, indicating that they present a "historic chance" for the comprehensive dismantling of Syria's chemical weapons program. A technical delegation from the OPCW is set to be dispatched to Damascus soon to initiate assessments of potential chemical weapons sites.
In a significant step towards accountability, Al-Shibani also conferred with Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in The Hague. Despite Syria's non-member status with the ICC, discussions implied potential acceptance of the court's jurisdiction, similar to Ukraine's relation with ongoing crimes related to its conflict with Russia.
