Türkiye Calls for Sustained Global Support to Eliminate Syria’s Chemical Weapons
HAMILTON, Canada
Türkiye has urged the international community to maintain long-term support for efforts to eliminate Syria’s remaining chemical weapons, stressing that the issue remains a major security and humanitarian concern.
Speaking at a UN Security Council session on chemical weapons in Syria on Thursday, Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ahmet Yildiz, welcomed steps taken by Syria’s new authorities. However, he emphasized that much work still lies ahead.
Yildiz noted that Syrians marked the first anniversary of their December 2024 liberation last month with renewed hope. He said Türkiye recognizes the reforms and measures introduced by the Syrian government and welcomed its commitment to stability, effective governance, and public welfare.
Chemical Weapons Remain a Critical Challenge
Despite these positive developments, Yildiz said eliminating Syria’s remaining chemical weapons capabilities must remain a top priority.
He stressed that removing chemical weapons is not only a legal duty under the Chemical Weapons Convention but also a vital requirement for regional security and a humanitarian necessity.
At the same time, he underlined that Syria cannot complete this task alone. He said the scale, technical demands, and financial costs exceed the country’s current capacity.
As a result, Yildiz called on the international community to seize what he described as a “historic opportunity” to support Syria through sustained and long-term assistance.
Türkiye Reaffirms Support for Syria and OPCW
Reiterating Ankara’s position, Yildiz said Türkiye remains ready to contribute, as it has done in the past. He added that Türkiye will continue to support Syria and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to achieve this shared goal.
Concerns Over Regional Military Actions
Addressing regional tensions, Yildiz criticized Israel’s continued airstrikes and hybrid military activities in Syria. He said such actions damage former chemical weapons-related sites, endanger civilians, and disrupt OPCW missions.
Therefore, he urged the international community to ensure restraint to prevent further setbacks to disarmament efforts.
Background on Syria’s Chemical Weapons Record
In August 2013, the Assad regime launched sarin gas attacks on Ghouta near Damascus, killing more than 1,400 people, including hundreds of children. Two months later, Syria joined the OPCW.
In 2021, OPCW member states suspended some of Syria’s rights after investigations confirmed chemical weapon use in attacks on Al-Lataminah in 2017 and Idlib in 2018.
More recently, in February 2025, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met in Damascus with an OPCW delegation led by Director-General Fernando Arias Gonzalez.
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December 2024, ending decades of Baath Party rule.
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