TheOPCWConference of States Parties, convened in The Hague, authorized the Executive Council to review the suspension of Syrias rights and privileges. The move was based on a draft resolution submitted by Syria in cooperation with Qatars delegation and sponsored by 45 countries. The resolution was adopted by consensus without the need for a vote.

Syrias Permanent Representative to the OPCW, DrMohammad Katoub, stressed, on November 26, during the 30th Conference of States Parties in The Hague that Syria is committed to strengthening mutual cooperation with the organization as part of efforts to restore its rights.

He noted that Syria today no longer poses the same threat it did during the Assad era, and is different from the country that was stripped of its privileges in 2021. Its current focus, he said, is on the interests of victims and survivors and on eliminating any remaining chemical weapons.

Katoub expressed Syrias desire to make progress within the OPCW by initiating discussions on restoring its rights and privileges through a vote of the Conference of States Parties, rather than waiting another year for the next session. He thanked all countries that sponsored the draft resolution and those supporting the process of chemical weapons destruction and facilitating Syrias efforts in that regard.

MHD Ibrahim