Turkey unsatisfied with process of elimination of Syrian chemical weapons

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said it is not fully satisfied with the process of elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal in a written statement, claiming the Syrian government has yet to destroy all of its facilities.

Turkey will continue to follow the developments with regard to the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria, the ministry said on June 27.  

The ministry welcomed Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal being taken out of the country, with the last on June 23. Yet, the goal of eliminating the Syrian regime’s entire chemical weapons program has not been achieved and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2118 has not been completely fulfilled said the statement.

“The Syrian regime, which is responsible of delays in the time table for the elimination of its chemical weapons arsenal, in contrary to Resolution 2118, is resisting against destroying chemical weapons production facilities,” said the ministry.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that findings regarding the difference between the amount of chemical weapons the regime claimed and what it actually possess should be examined as soon as possible.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) finding that chlorine war gas was systematically used in attacks, particularly in the areas of the Syrian opposition, and that the Syrian regime has such a capacity to produce these weapons, indicate the Syrian regime is in charge of these attacks, said the statement.