Short ceasefires needed in Syria, says OPCW
16 Oct 2013 6:40 AM IST
Fighting is preventing access to chemical sites in some rebel-held areas in Syria and short-term cease-fires can help UN-appointed chemical arms inspectors to work, according official.
‘Chemical experts had already reached five out of at least 20 facilities capable of producing chemical weapons,’ Ahmet Uzumcu, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said in an interview.
However, routes to some of the sites went through opposition-held territory and this prevented access, Uzumcu said.
He added that one abandoned site is located in a rebel-held area, and that his team is hoping to access it. Uzumcu called for local, short-term ceasefires to allow experts to work.
Syrian officials have been cooperating and facilitating the experts’ work, he added.
According to a UN resolution, Syria’s chemical weapons production equipment must be destroyed by 1 November.
‘Chemical experts had already reached five out of at least 20 facilities capable of producing chemical weapons,’ Ahmet Uzumcu, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said in an interview.
However, routes to some of the sites went through opposition-held territory and this prevented access, Uzumcu said.
He added that one abandoned site is located in a rebel-held area, and that his team is hoping to access it. Uzumcu called for local, short-term ceasefires to allow experts to work.
Syrian officials have been cooperating and facilitating the experts’ work, he added.
According to a UN resolution, Syria’s chemical weapons production equipment must be destroyed by 1 November.
Next Story
