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U.S. Suggests Getting Tougher With Syria on Chemical Weapons Deadline U.S. Suggests Getting Tougher With Syria on Chemical Weapons Deadline
(about 1 hour later)
The United States suggested on Tuesday that the global organization responsible for overseeing the ban on chemical weapons would have to take more assertive action than a simple condemnation concerning Syria, which is likely to miss a June 30 deadline for the destruction of its chemical munitions and has been accused of using chlorine-gas bombs in its civil war. The United States suggested on Tuesday that the global organization responsible for overseeing the ban on chemical weapons would have to take more assertive action than a simple condemnation concerning Syria, which will miss a June 30 deadline for the destruction of its chemical munitions and has been accused of using chlorine-gas bombs in its civil war.
Robert P. Mikulak, the American permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said to its executive council that the Syrian government had failed to honor a “parade of timelines” in the destruction plan, despite the help and expense borne by other members of the organization, including the use of ships to export the chemicals for disposal.Robert P. Mikulak, the American permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said to its executive council that the Syrian government had failed to honor a “parade of timelines” in the destruction plan, despite the help and expense borne by other members of the organization, including the use of ships to export the chemicals for disposal.
“It was certainly the expectation of the United States and other members of the council that the elimination of Syria’s entire chemical weapons program would be completed by June 30, 2014,” Mr. Mikulak said in his statement, posted on the State Department’s website. He added: “Syria has deliberately frustrated the council’s efforts to complete destruction by June 30. The council will need to acknowledge that Syria has not met its obligations to remove these dangerous materials so that they can be destroyed.”“It was certainly the expectation of the United States and other members of the council that the elimination of Syria’s entire chemical weapons program would be completed by June 30, 2014,” Mr. Mikulak said in his statement, posted on the State Department’s website. He added: “Syria has deliberately frustrated the council’s efforts to complete destruction by June 30. The council will need to acknowledge that Syria has not met its obligations to remove these dangerous materials so that they can be destroyed.”
Mr. Mikulak did not specify what response he envisioned.Mr. Mikulak did not specify what response he envisioned.
Syria’s government agreed last September to renounce its cache of chemical weapons and join the treaty that bans them under an agreement negotiated by Russia and the United States. The Syrian pledge followed a deadly chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs Aug. 21 that the United States and its allies said had been carried out by the Syrian military. President Bashar al-Assad blamed insurgents.Syria’s government agreed last September to renounce its cache of chemical weapons and join the treaty that bans them under an agreement negotiated by Russia and the United States. The Syrian pledge followed a deadly chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs Aug. 21 that the United States and its allies said had been carried out by the Syrian military. President Bashar al-Assad blamed insurgents.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations have been collaborating on policing Syria’s compliance with its pledge, and 92 percent of its self-declared chemical materials have been destroyed or placed on ships. But the official in charge of that collaboration, Sigrid Kaag, acknowledged June 4 that the remaining chemicals were unlikely to be exported in time.The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations have been collaborating on policing Syria’s compliance with its pledge, and 92 percent of its self-declared chemical materials have been destroyed or placed on ships. But the official in charge of that collaboration, Sigrid Kaag, acknowledged June 4 that the remaining chemicals were unlikely to be exported in time.
The Syrian government also has not destroyed all the production facilities as required, and must resolve discrepancies between its declared inventory of chemical weapons materials and what has been documented.The Syrian government also has not destroyed all the production facilities as required, and must resolve discrepancies between its declared inventory of chemical weapons materials and what has been documented.
It is also facing accusations that on multiple occasions, Syrian forces have dropped bombs containing chlorine, which is not on the list of banned chemical substances in the treaty but would constitute a violation if used as a weapon. Syria has denied these accusations.It is also facing accusations that on multiple occasions, Syrian forces have dropped bombs containing chlorine, which is not on the list of banned chemical substances in the treaty but would constitute a violation if used as a weapon. Syria has denied these accusations.
A fact-finding team the organization dispatched aborted its investigation when it was attacked May 27. The team nonetheless prepared a preliminary report, the organization said Tuesday, asserting that it “lends credence to the view that toxic chemicals — most likely pulmonary irritating agents, such as chlorine — have been used in Syria.”A fact-finding team the organization dispatched aborted its investigation when it was attacked May 27. The team nonetheless prepared a preliminary report, the organization said Tuesday, asserting that it “lends credence to the view that toxic chemicals — most likely pulmonary irritating agents, such as chlorine — have been used in Syria.”
Mr. Mikulak said: “The council has repeatedly condemned use of chemical weapons by anyone, and we will need to do it again. But the council will also need to consider whether that is truly enough under these circumstances.”Mr. Mikulak said: “The council has repeatedly condemned use of chemical weapons by anyone, and we will need to do it again. But the council will also need to consider whether that is truly enough under these circumstances.”