The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague unanimously adopted the draft resolution on the restoration of Syria's full rights and privileges under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The OPCW said in an official statement that the move came to end the decision to suspend Syrian rights taken in 2021 as a result of violations by the former regime, noting that the restoration of membership is based on the new political transition in Syria and the new authorities' adoption of concrete measures and structural changes to dismantle the banned chemical legacy and fully fulfill international obligations.
Behind the Scenes of the Decision
According to official statements issued by the OPCW, the draft resolution was sponsored by 66 Member States from different geographical groups, the largest number of sponsors of a single draft resolution in the history of the OPCW.
The adoption came after the State of Qatar submitted the draft resolution with the direct diplomatic support of its embassy and ambassador Mutlaq al-Qahtani in The Hague, where the decision was based on the progress made by the new Syrian authorities in cooperation with the organization's technical secretariat, facilitating verification and inspection work, participating in investigations and tracking suspects.
The WHO statement quoted Director-General Fernando Arias as saying the decision represents an important step towards the complete and verified elimination of all remaining weapons associated with the previous era.
Foreign Ministry: Syria welcomes the decision
In an official statement issued today, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the consensus of the Executive Council, and considered that the broad international support reflects the confidence of the international community in the structural transformation that the country is witnessing and the efforts of its current institutions.
The ministry stressed that this path is closely linked to redress for the victims, holding those responsible for previous chemical crimes accountable and ensuring that they do not recur, expressing Damascus' appreciation to the supporting countries, especially the State of Qatar, and its diplomatic efforts.
In the same context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Al-Shaibani, announced on the (X) platform that the restoration of rights and privileges is a historic milestone that reflects the restoration of Syria's international status, thanking the Syrian mission in The Hague and the supporting countries.
Syria's representative to the organization: The organization's decision is an important step in favor of Syria
For his part, Syria's Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Mohammed Ktoub, stressed that the resolution adopted by the OPCW today, which calls for the restoration of Syria's rights and privileges under the NPT, represents an important step that reflects the progress made in implementing its commitments, and constructive cooperation with the OPCW's technical secretariat in addressing the legacy of the chemical program dating back to the era of the former regime.
"The new Syria will deal positively with the organization and the member states, within the framework of a policy based on cooperation and openness with all," Ktoob said in a television interview, explaining that the draft resolution was supported by 66 member states, without registering any objection, which reflects the international community's welcome for Syria's return to the international system, and confirms that the international community is now dealing with a new country that represents the victims of the use of chemical weapons, not the country that committed those crimes.
He stressed the importance of not attributing the legacy of the use of chemical weapons to the Syrians or to the Syrian Arab Republic, stressing that these crimes were committed by the former regime, which left a heavy legacy that the Syrian state deals with today with the utmost transparency and responsibility, with the aim of getting rid of its effects, providing justice to the victims and fulfilling international obligations.
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