Syrian Defence Minister Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra met with Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Sabrina Dallafior on 13 October to discuss the status of the chemical weapons file. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani conducted separate talks with Sabrina Dallafior in Damascus during the same period. Regarding the ongoing cooperation with the organization, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani stated, "The authorities had granted access to sites, records and witnesses, provided more than 100,000 official documents, and taken steps to correct gaps in the declaration inherited from the former regime." These diplomatic engagements between Syrian officials and the OPCW leadership represent a formal effort to address outstanding requirements concerning chemical inventory declarations and regulatory compliance within the country.
The discussions held in Damascus between Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and Director-General Sabrina Dallafior focused on the procedural aspects of the chemical weapons file. During these separate talks, the parties reviewed the administrative requirements necessary for the ongoing verification process conducted by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The presence of Director-General Sabrina Dallafior in the capital facilitated direct communication between the international body and the Syrian government, allowing for a focused review of the specific technical and legal milestones currently under negotiation.
Cooperation on Outstanding Documentation
Syrian authorities have submitted more than 100,000 official documents to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons as part of the ongoing administrative process. These records aim to address long-standing inquiries regarding the country's chemical inventory and declaration history. By providing this extensive volume of documentation, the state aims to fulfill its obligations regarding the transparency of its former chemical capabilities. The submission of these more than 100,000 official documents serves as a primary component of the current collaboration between the Syrian government and the international organization, intended to resolve discrepancies that have persisted in the chemical weapons file.
Legal proceedings are active within the country concerning individuals linked to past chemical weapons activity. Currently, 18 suspects, including senior military officers, remain in detention in Syria. These 18 suspects, including senior military officers, are currently in detention in Syria facing proceedings before a specialised court. This specialised court was specifically established to handle matters related to the chemical weapons file, ensuring that the judicial process is managed with the necessary oversight. The detention of these 18 suspects, including senior military officers, notes the internal efforts to address historical actions through the established domestic legal framework.
Syria has joined the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons. This move aligns the country with a coalition of nations focused on identifying and holding accountable those responsible for the use of chemical agents. Membership in the initiative marks a shift in the approach of the Syrian government toward international regulatory frameworks and transparency regarding the chemical weapons issue. By participating in this partnership, the government seeks to demonstrate a commitment to the standards upheld by the international community while continuing its dialogue with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons regarding the closure of the outstanding chemical files.
