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Middle East and North Africa

Germany supplied Syria with 360 tons of chemical agents until 2011

These agents could have been used to manufacture chemical weapons

Photo EPA/UWE ZUCCHI

Photo EPA/UWE ZUCCHI

BERLIN, September 30. (Itar-Tass) – Up until April 2011, Germany was supplying Syria with chemical agents. The country’s Ministry of Economics and Technology announced that these agents can potentially be used in creation of chemical weapons.

From 1998 to 2011 German shipped around 360 tons of chemicals to Syria – almost three times than the previously estimated amount. These goods are so called dual-use products – goods which are supposed to be used for peaceful purposes, but can also be militarized.

Germany ceased chemical shipments after the Syrian civil war broke out. As the Ministry noted, it does not doubt that the agents were used only for civilian purposes. Specifically, chemicals were used for such applications as jewelry production, water fluoridation and toothpaste production.

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