Syria still has nearly 8% of its chemical stockpile: OPCWMay 19, 2014 - 16:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria is still in possession of nearly 8 percent of its chemical weapons arsenal, the director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) told reporters on Monday, May 19, according to RIA Novosti. Around 92 percent of the country's chemical weapons have already been loaded onto Danish and Norwegian vessels to be destroyed, Ahmet Uzumcu said in Minsk, adding that 8 percent of the material is still located in areas with complicated security conditions. The weapons are to be later handed over to a United States navy ship for destruction in international waters. Uzumcu said he hopes that Syrian authorities secure the delivery and shipment of the remaining weapons soon. Last October, the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established a joint mission to eradicate Syria’s chemical arsenal in the safest and most secure manner possible. Syria’s most dangerous chemicals, which include 20 tons of mustard gas, were scheduled to be removed from the country by March 31 and destroyed by the end of June as part of a cooperative effort to defuse international tensions related to its ongoing civil war. The original deadline was pushed back because of security concerns in the Middle Eastern country, technical issues and poor weather conditions. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | 17 bridges collapse as a result of floods in Armenia As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. Ex-mayor of Karabakh capital arrested in Yerevan Ex-mayor of the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Stepanakert David Sargsyan has been arrested for 20 days. 269 people evacuated amid severe floods in Armenia’s north According to the Interior Ministry, 269 people have been evacuated from their homes in Lori and Tavush provinces. Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. |