OPCW moves to reinstate Syria's rights and privileges

The Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has adopted a draft decision to reinstate the rights and privileges of Syria at the OPCW that had been suspended since 2021, Report informs, citing the organization.

The decision was adopted by consensus at the council's 112th session and was co-sponsored by 67 States Parties from different regional groups.

The move follows what the OPCW described as a significant change in circumstances since the Conference of the States Parties suspended some of Syria's rights and privileges in 2021 over the former Syrian government's failure to declare the full scope of its chemical weapons program and the confirmed use of chemical weapons on Syrian territory.

Following the fall of the Assad regime, the new Syrian authorities committed to fulfilling Syria's obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and have taken steps to cooperate with the OPCW Technical Secretariat.

The Executive Council welcomed Syria's progress in addressing outstanding issues related to its chemical weapons program, including amendments to its initial declaration, the preparation of facility agreements, facilitation of verification activities, and initial steps toward the destruction of identified remnants.

The council also approved a detailed plan for verifying the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons at Al Qutayfah, as well as two facility agreements for the systematic verification of the Al Qutayfah and Homs chemical weapons storage facilities.

OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias said the decisions reflected tangible progress achieved through continued cooperation between the Technical Secretariat and Syria, with the support of States Parties.

"The decisions provide a robust framework for advancing the next phase of verification and destruction activities, under the aegis of the Executive Council, and mark another milestone in the OPCW's efforts to achieve the complete and verified elimination of all remaining chemical weapons associated with the former Syrian government," Arias said.

The OPCW said Syria will remain required to fulfill its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, while the Executive Council will continue to review progress and take the decisions needed to advance the verified elimination of the remaining chemical weapons program inherited from the former regime.