Türkiye praised Syria's efforts to address the legacy of its chemical program
Türkiye's permanent representative to the UN, Ahmet Yildiz, at a meeting of the UN Security Council praised Syria's determination to resolve the issue of the legacy of its chemical weapons program in close coordination with the international community. He called the issue one of the most burdensome legacies of the Assad era, while stating that there are grounds for optimism.
Cooperation with the OPCW
Yildiz stated that sustainable progress on chemical weapons can be achieved through practical, gradual and coordinated cooperation with Syria, taking into account the situation on the ground.
As Anadolu Agency reports, the Turkish diplomat welcomed the July decision by the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to restore Syria's rights and privileges in the organization. He also positively assessed the recent arrangements concerning the verification of facilities related to chemical weapons.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Yildiz also welcomed the dispatch to Syria of a team from the OPCW Technical Secretariat to inspect the destruction of category 3 chemical weapons and said Ankara is awaiting its report.
Statement on the consequences of strikes
According to Yildiz, identifying, securing and preparing chemical materials for destruction is complicated, in particular, by the covert nature of the previous Syrian regime's program. He said these difficulties were exacerbated by Israeli airstrikes on potential chemical weapons-related sites after the fall of the former regime.
The Turkish representative warned that such strikes could lead to the release of hazardous materials, create risks for civilians and destroy evidence important for establishing the circumstances and ensuring accountability for previous chemical attacks. He added that Türkiye would support strengthening Syria's technical and logistical capabilities in accordance with OPCW standards.
