On Tuesday, June 17, Syria’s transitional government held two separate meetings in the capital, Damascus, with a visiting delegation from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to discuss avenues for cooperation.
According to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Minister of Emergencies and Disasters in the transitional government, Raed al-Saleh, met with a delegation headed by Nihad Ali Kofishi, Director of the OPCW’s Special Office.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Syria and the OPCW and supporting efforts to eliminate chemical weapons from the country, SANA reported. Both sides emphasised the importance of joint efforts to protect civilians and prevent any recurrence of chemical weapons use.
Separately, Chief of the General Staff Major General Ali al-Naasan welcomed the OPCW delegation at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Damascus.
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SANA stated that the meeting addressed ways to enhance coordination and cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the OPCW, in a manner that supports mutual commitments and promotes transparency and understanding.
The discussions come amid ongoing international concern about chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria. On April 6, the OPCW reported that over 100 chemical weapons sites remain in Syria, some of which are difficult to locate.
According to a report in The New York Times, the OPCW said several of these sites were concealed during the rule of the ousted regime, hidden in caves in remote mountainous areas or other hard-to-identify locations.
The chemical stockpiles reportedly include sarin gas, as well as chlorine and mustard agents, the OPCW said.
The organisation also confirmed that Syria’s transitional administration had granted access to an oversight team earlier this year, allowing experts to begin documenting suspected chemical weapons sites across the country.
