Ankara: Trkiye's UN Permanent Representative Ahmet Yildiz praised Syria's determination to address the country's chemical weapons legacy in close coordination with the international community.
According to Anadolu Agency, during a UN Security Council meeting on Syria's chemical weapons disarmament, Yildiz described the chemical weapons issue as 'one of the gravest legacies of the Assad era.' However, he expressed 'genuine cause for optimism' regarding Syria's ongoing efforts.
Yildiz emphasized that sustainable progress on the chemical weapons file could be achieved through practical, gradual, and well-coordinated cooperation with Syria, considering the realities on the ground. He welcomed the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council's decision in July to restore Syria's rights and privileges within the organization, along with recent agreements on verifying chemical weapons facilities.
Yildiz further noted the deployment of an OPCW Technical Secretariat team to Syria to inspect the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons, expressing Ankara's anticipation of the team's report. He acknowledged the challenges in identifying, securing, and preparing chemical materials for destruction, which have been complicated by the clandestine nature of the former regime's chemical weapons program.
Yildiz highlighted additional challenges posed by Israeli airstrikes targeting potential chemical weapons-related sites, stating that such strikes could release hazardous materials, endanger civilians, and destroy crucial evidence needed for establishing facts and ensuring accountability for past chemical weapons attacks.
He affirmed that Trkiye would continue supporting Syria's efforts to enhance its technical and logistical capacity in line with OPCW standards. 'We reiterate our strong support for the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned efforts to address the chemical weapons file,' Yildiz said, underscoring the shared objective of achieving 'a Syria that is permanently free of chemical weapons.'