Syria submits initial declaration and general plan for destruction of its chemical weapons programme

27 October 2013 - On 23 October 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted to the OPCW its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapons programme. Syria’s submission is in line with the deadline set by the OPCW Executive Council in its decision of 27 September 2013 requiring a complete initial declaration by 27 October 2014. Such declarations provide the basis on which plans are devised for a systematic, total and verified destruction of declared chemical weapons and production facilities.

The document from Syria includes a general plan of destruction for consideration by the OPCW Executive Council.

Under the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention, new States Parties are also required to submit a declaration covering activities and facilities that are not prohibited under the Convention but can be subjected to routine verification measures as a confidence building measure and to establish the peaceful intent of commercial activities. Syria has also submitted such a declaration.

The first monthly report on the work of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria has been issued to States Parties by the Director-General and forwarded for submission to the Security Council through the UN Secretary-General. It covers the progress made since inspections began in Syria following the deployment of the advance team on 1 October. This work included the priority task of making inoperable chemical weapons production facilities, and mixing and filling plants.