Chemical weapon prohibition chief: Israel may join treaty

The Director-General of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says that the change in the Mideast security landscape brought about by the Syrian war may ultimately lead Israel to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, which was first signed 19 years ago today.

Ahmet Uzumcu, speaking on the anniversary of the signing, says the organization is attempting to bring on board four remaining countries that have not joined the treaty — Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan.

Uzumcu believes it is only a “matter of time” before South Sudan joins and says the developments in Syria may lead Israel and Egypt to join as well.

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government declared a 1,300-ton chemical weapons stockpile and 14 production facilities, triggering an unprecedented international operation to remove weapons and chemicals from the war-torn country and destroy them.

The weapons have been destroyed, as have 11 of the production plants, Uzumcu said, but member states of the OPCW have repeatedly questioned whether Assad declared everything in 2013.

“We are not yet there,” Uzumcu says. “There are still questions. I am not able to say whether Syria has declared everything or whether Syria continues to possess some chemical weapons or some munitions. I hope that we will be able to clarify the remaining questions.”

— with AP