OPCW to send more chemical weapons inspectors to SyriaOctober 8, 2013 - 18:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The global chemical weapons watchdog said on Tuesday, Oct 8, it would send more inspectors to Syria to help destroy President Bashar al-Assad's stockpile of toxic munitions, according to Reuters. Assad's government, fighting a civil war in which more than 100,000 people have died, agreed to destroy the arms after a sarin gas attack on the outskirts of Damascus killed hundreds of people in August. The head of the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ahmet Uzumcu, said in a statement Syria had made "a constructive beginning for what will nonetheless be a long and difficult process". The OPCW sent in its first team of inspectors to verify a declaration of chemical weapons Syria submitted to the organization last month. The list is confidential, but Western intelligence agencies have said they believe Syria possess 1,000 metric tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve gas. Syria has been given until November to destroy production facilities and weapons-filling equipment. It began that process in the past last week, the OPCW said. It did not say how many extra inspectors it would send to oversee destruction of Syria's entire chemical arsenal, a task which is supposed to be completed by the end of June 2014. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |