Syrian Defence and Foreign Officials Meet OPCW Chief to Advance Chemical Weapons File Closure

Syria’s Defence Minister, Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra, met on Tuesday with Sabrina Dallafior, Director‑General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to discuss the country’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the remnants of its chemical weapons programme and the role of the Defence Ministry in that process.

According to a statement released by the Defence Ministry on its official social media channels, the talks centred on the measures taken to address the remaining elements of Syria’s former chemical arsenal and the technical steps required to ensure its complete removal.

Foreign Minister’s Talks and Press Conference

The meeting followed earlier discussions in Damascus between Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shibani and Dallafior, which focused on the requirements for bringing Syria’s chemical weapons file to a definitive close and ensuring accountability for those responsible for chemical attacks carried out under the ousted regime.

At a joint press conference, Shibani reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to full cooperation with the OPCW, stating that 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.

He also disclosed that 18 suspects, including senior military officers, are currently in detention and facing proceedings before a specialised court, and confirmed that Syria has joined the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons.

Shibani stressed that closing the chemical weapons file requires more than technical compliance; it also demands justice for the victims of chemical attacks, accountability for perpetrators and guarantees that such weapons will never be used again.

Dallafior welcomed the progress made by Syria, reaffirming the OPCW’s commitment to provide technical support, investigate past chemical attacks, gather evidence and identify those responsible, with the ultimate aim of bringing the file to a final and conclusive end.

Broader Cooperation to Close the File

The talks form part of Syria’s wider cooperation with the OPCW to settle the chemical weapons issue once and for all, including developing an action plan with a clear timetable for addressing outstanding matters, identifying and securing sites linked to the former chemical weapons programme and destroying any remaining chemical agents or munitions.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.