Syrian gov’t grants OPCW access to research centers

“We have approved all visits requested by the OPCW, including this one. It is an official inspection that pursues a specific goal. We will by no means hinder the OPCW and will let it get acquainted with our achievements – which is our commitment to obligations,” Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said.

Currently, the minister who is a former Syrian top diplomat in the UN, heads a state committee that guarantees that Syria remains in compliance with a UN convention banning nuclear weapons after it destroyed them in a verified process in 2013.

Earlier this month, the United Nations announced that it had picked two research centers in Barza and Jamraya, north of Damascus, for inspection by a UN-OPCW joint mechanism.

In addition, Syria’s Foreign Ministry urged earlier the UN to investigate the use by the US-led coalition of internationally banned white phosphorus in its recent bombing of the southeastern Syrian town of Hajin.

The US-led coalition is conducting military operations in Syria against the Daesh* terrorist group (banned in Russia). The coalition’s strikes have not been authorized by the Syrian government or the United Nations.