On March 5, 2025, Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister addressed the OPCW, affirming Syria’s commitment to dismantle its chemical weapons program with international support. This follows a recent visit by OPCW Director-General, signalling renewed cooperation. The OPCW aims to assist Syria in fulfilling its Chemical Weapons Convention obligations, amidst ongoing verification challenges and historical issues surrounding Syria’s chemical weapons declarations.
On March 5, 2025, Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister, Mr. Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, addressed the 108th session of the Executive Council at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague, highlighting Syria’s commitment to addressing its chemical weapons legacy. He stated the new government is focused on transparency, justice, and cooperation with the international community to reconstruct Syria’s future.
Minister al-Shaibani reiterated Syria’s dedication to dismantling the chemical weapons program established during the previous regime. He affirmed the importance of adhering to international law and sought the international community’s support, particularly from the OPCW, to assist in fulfilling these commitments.
This participation followed a visit by OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, to Damascus on February 8, 2025, where he engaged with interim President Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa and Minister al-Shaibani, setting the framework for renewed cooperation.
Director-General Arias expressed that the OPCW appreciates Syria’s readiness to collaborate in eradicating chemical weapons, acknowledging it as a historic opportunity to fulfill Syria’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW Technical Secretariat plans to deploy technical experts to Damascus shortly after the Executive Council session.
Despite Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, the OPCW’s Declaration Assessment Team has struggled to verify the accuracy and completeness of Syria’s chemical weapon declarations. Multiple instances of documented chemical weapon use have implicated the former Syrian Arab Armed Forces, affecting Syria’s rights within the OPCW.
During his visit, Director-General Arias presented a 9-point Action Plan outlining the next steps for Syria, including compiling inventory, declaring all chemical weapons program elements, and ensuring long-term compliance with the CWC through enhanced cooperation.
The Executive Council oversees the Technical Secretariat to ensure effective compliance with the Convention, under which Syria became a State Party in October 2013. Following a joint OPCW-UN mission, all declared chemical weapons were removed and destroyed by September 2014, though questions about the initial declaration persist.
Currently, three OPCW missions actively address chemical weapons issues in Syria: the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). The OPCW, consisting of 193 Member States, plays a critical role in global disarmament under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Since its implementation in 1997, the Convention remains a successful treaty, having overseen the destruction of over 72,304 metric tons of chemical agents by 2023. The OPCW was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for its significant efforts in chemical disarmament.
The address by Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister at the OPCW marks a renewed commitment to dismantle the chemical weapons legacy of the Assad regime. With the support of the international community and the OPCW, Syria aims to restore compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The collaboration between the OPCW and the new Syrian authorities signals a crucial step forward in addressing historical chemical weapons issues and achieving compliance with international law.
Original Source: www.opcw.org
