Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani will attend a historic OPCW meeting following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. This participation signifies Syria’s commitment to international security and the quest to resolve concerns regarding undeclared chemical weapons. Meetings between OPCW officials and Syria’s new government have initiated hopes for better compliance and resolution of the chemical weapons issue.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is set to attend an International Chemical Weapons Watchdog meeting in The Hague, marking a significant moment in Syria’s history following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime three months prior. Shaibani expressed that his participation underscores Syria’s dedication to international security and serves as a tribute to the victims of the Assad regime’s chemical attacks.
Throughout Syria’s civil war, lasting over a decade, the Assad government faced repeated allegations of deploying chemical weapons. Concerns regarding the status of Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile have persisted, especially since his removal from power. In the past, Syria had committed to relinquishing its acknowledged stockpile; however, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) remains apprehensive that further undeclared weapons exist.
Last month, an important meeting was held between the OPCW director Fernando Arias and Syria’s newly appointed leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, marking the first such visit to Syria since the regime change. This meeting sparked optimism for a resolution in the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria, which has been hindered by years of regulatory bypass by the Assad administration.
Arias highlighted this visit as a significant opportunity to initiate a new phase in Syria’s dealings with the OPCW, postulating that the Syrian interim government has the ability to make meaningful progress. Additionally, the OPCW has noted concerns that critical evidence might have been compromised amid extensive Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian military sites, including those suspected to host chemical weapon materials, aiming to prevent these assets from possibly being acquired by extremist factions.
The attendance of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani at the OPCW meeting marks a potential turning point in Syria’s dealings with chemical weapons regulations. It signifies both Syria’s commitment to international norms and the prospect of addressing long-standing concerns about undeclared chemical weapons stockpiles. The changes in leadership and diplomatic engagements raise hopes for a cleaner slate in Syria’s compliance with chemical weapons regulations, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
