A first batch of priority chemical materials in Syria’s stockpiles was moved from two sites to the port of Latakia to be carried abroad for destruction, UN coordinator for elimination of Syria’s chemical arms Sigrid Kaag said on Tuesday.
The Danish commercial vessel carrying the chemicals now awaits more priority material in international waters, escorted by vessels from China, Denmark, Norway and Russia, Kaag said in a written statement.
A mixture of adversities from bad weather and the ongoing conflict caused a delay in the removal of the deadliest portion of Syria’s stockpiles, originally planned for the last day of 2013.
The UN statement says the rest of the timeline will be observed and the entire chemical arsenal will be moved to locations outside Syrian territory for total elimination by June 31, 2014.
The joint mission between the United Nations and Organization for Prohibiting Chemical Weapons (OPCW) called the move “further progress” made towards the removal and elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons program.
The Middle East country is encouraged “to continue its efforts to complete the removal of chemical materials as soon as possible in a safe and timely manner,” the UN statement says.
Due to the complexity of the operation and the security situation in the country, the joint mission will continue to assist Syria in fulfilling its obligations, the statement adds.
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