Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani will attend an OPCW meeting in the Netherlands, marking a historic first since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. This engagement signifies Syria’s dedication to international security and comes amid concerns regarding the nation’s chemical weapons stockpile. Recent interactions between the OPCW and Syria’s new leadership increased optimism for a resolution to the chemical weapons issue.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced his participation in a significant meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Wednesday in the Netherlands. This meeting marks a historic moment following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime nearly three months ago. Shaibani expressed pride in attending this event, underscoring Syria’s commitment to international security and honoring those who suffered under Assad’s rule.
Assad’s administration faced multiple allegations of employing chemical weapons throughout Syria’s protracted civil war, raising alarms over the status of the country’s chemical stockpile since his departure. Over a decade prior, Syria pledged to dismantle its declared weaponry; however, the OPCW has continually raised issues regarding the completeness of this declaration, suggesting that undisclosed weapons may still exist.
In a pivotal development last month, OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias engaged with Syria’s recently appointed leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, marking the first such visit to Damascus since the fall of Assad. Arias’s visit catalyzed optimism for effectively addressing Syria’s chemical weapons situation, following years of obstruction from prior authorities.
Arias characterized his visit as a crucial opportunity for change, stating that the current government could potentially “turn the page” after enduring more than a decade of resistance by the former regime. The OPCW has also expressed concerns that critical evidence could have been lost due to intense Israeli bombardments targeting Syrian military sites after Assad’s removal, with Israel asserting that its strikes aimed to prevent chemical weapons from being acquired by extremist factions.
The participation of Syria’s Foreign Minister in the OPCW meeting signifies a critical shift towards accountability regarding the nation’s chemical weapons program following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. This meeting, alongside recent diplomatic engagements, raises hope for transparency and resolution of past chemical weapons utilization allegations, as the international community closely monitors Syria’s commitment to dismantling its stockpile.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
