OPCW chief is ready to rid Syria of chemical weapons

The head of the chemical weapons watchdog says the organization will move swiftly to help eliminate Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile.

Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu made the pledge Monday after UN inspectors reported finding “clear and convincing evidence” chemical weapons were used in an attack last month in Syria that killed hundreds of people.

Syria agreed to join the Hague-based organization last week in a deal brokered by the United States and Russia.

Uzumcu says the Chemical Weapons Convention goes into force in Syria on Oct. 14, and Damascus will quickly provide the OPCW with “a complete inventory of its chemical weapons” and production facilities.

The organization will inspect production and storage sites and help secure them ahead of the weapons’ destruction

CTV News

photo: Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu ( R) with UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced on Monday that his organization will move swiftly to help eliminate Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile.