Syria chemical deadline over, 8% of arsenal remains - OPCW

http://voiceofrussia.com/

Syria still holds nearly 8 percent of its chemical weapons arsenal as the deadline expired Sunday for it to be handed over, the task force charged with the operation said.

"We are talking of the remaining 7.8 percent chemical weapon material that is currently still in country in one particular site," Sigrid Kaag, head of the combined Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-UN task team, said, AFP reports. Damascus needs to "acquit itself of its commitments", Kaag said, adding that there has been "very constructive cooperation." "We also however need to... ensure the remaining 7.5-8.0 percent of the chemical weapons material is also removed and destroyed." Of that amount, 6.5 percent would be removed from Syria, she said.

"A small percentage is to be destroyed, regardless, in-country. That can be done. It's a matter of accessing the site," she added. Kaag, speaking at a press conference in Damascus, praised the "very constructive cooperation" of the Syrian government under difficult security circumstances.

"We are mindful that security has many faces and can be very challenging. However, as a state party (to the Chemical Weapons Convention), Syria also needs to acquit itself of its commitments," she said. Under a US-Russian deal negotiated last year, Syria signed up to the Chemical Weapons Convention and agreed to hand over its entire chemical weapons arsenal.

Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_27/Syria-chemical-deadline-over-8-of-arsenal-remains-OPCW-5879/